Decorating Cupcake Ideas For Christmas

three O Tannenbaum Cupcakes with tree toppers

Get creative with Christmas cupcakes using one of our recipes or cute cupcake decorating ideas. We have tons of treats perfect for the holiday season, including darling snowman toppers, festive flavors like cocoa and gingerbread, and showy Christmas tree cupcakes.

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O Tannenbaum Cupcakes

three O Tannenbaum Cupcakes with tree toppers

What's the secret to this Christmas tree cupcake's leafy topping? An ice cream cone! Who knew you needed this item in your stash of Christmas cupcake decorations? Place the cone upside down atop snowy white-frosted cupcakes, then pipe on some green frosting for the leaves. Carefully placed edible pearl candies make the perfect ornaments for your Christmas tree cupcakes.

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Santa Hat Cupcake

red Santa Hat Cupcake with white decorative frosting as rim and ball

Welcome Santa down the chimney with a little extra flair by including these Santa-approved cupcakes on your Christmas Eve menu. All it takes is the use of a pastry bag to make these easy Christmas cupcakes. You can try to save some for Santa if you want, but don't be surprised if your friends and family make them disappear before he arrives.

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Melty Snowman Cupcake

Melty Snowman Cupcake with chocolate hat

This frosty cupcake will melt in your mouth. If you're not having a white Christmas, you can still help your little ones decorate these snowmen indoors if there's no snow for building outside. This is one of our most popular Christmas-theme cupcakes.

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North Pole Christmas Cupcakes

North Pole Christmas Cupcakes with candy cane flag pole

Santa will feel right at home if you use this Christmas cupcake idea on your plate of goodies Christmas Eve. The North Pole is marked by a small candy cane added to snowy white frosting atop whatever Christmas cupcake flavor you desire. Make the candy cane cupcakes in no-time by using purchased baked cupcakes and canned frosting. Or make it entirely from scratch on a wintery baking day.

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Giant Green Christmas Tree

Giant Green Christmas Tree made out of multiple cupcakes

Here's another opportunity to decorate your Christmas tree! Frost and arrange these cupcakes in the shape of a tree, then decorate any way you want. It's a different take on a Christmas tree cupcake than the usual. Whatever you do, don't forget the star on top.

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Christmas Ornament Cupcakes

Christmas Ornament Cupcakes in white boxes with tree ornaments

Box 'em up and send 'em along! These cheery ornament cupcakes are meant to be shared. Some Christmas cupcake decorating ideas you'll want to try for variety: fondant icing, colorful frostings, shoestring licorice, and gumdrops.

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Mini Gingerbread House Cupcakes

three Mini Gingerbread House Cupcakes with different house toppers

Credit: Kritsada Panichgu

Transform your dessert tray into Santa's village using simple pantry staples. These sweet little Christmas-theme cupcakes are made from granola bars, crackers, and chocolate-covered wafer sandwiches. Have you ever seen such cute gingerbread cupcakes?

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Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

Hot Cocoa Cupcakes with marshmallow frosting

Credit: Jason Donnelly

What's better than the sweet, rich flavor of classic hot chocolate? Try the winter drink in dessert form with our chocolate cupcake recipe. Bonus: this is one Christmas cupcake decorating idea that works all season long.

Try some of our warm and cozy winter drink recipes.

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Frosty Cupcakes

Frosty Cupcakes with red scarf and chocolate hat

Your holiday guests will love being treated twice with our creative snowman cake pops. Candy embellishments and white sprinkles transform your frosty friends into impressive Christmas cupcake toppers.

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Winter Wonderland Cupcakes

three different Winter Wonderland Cupcakes

Shake up your holiday cupcake routine with these snow globe-style treats! These Christmas-theme cupcakes feature adorable caramel gingerbread men, marshmallow snowmen, and peppy candy trees. Roll the edges in sugar for a glistening effect.

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Red Velvet Raspberry Cupcakes

Credit: Scott Little

Rudolph's ruby-red nose inspired us to top these red velvet Christmas cupcakes with a fresh, sweet raspberry. Thanks to its rich red color, red velvet is the perfect Christmas cupcake flavor, although we're happy to eat it year-round.

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Chocolate Bow Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes with pink bows

This adorable dessert works as a Christmas cupcake idea, birthday cupcake treat, baby shower dessert, or any occasion you'd decorate with bows. Color them to match your color scheme and watch guests ooh and aww.

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Chocolaty Peppermint Cupcakes

Chocolaty Peppermint Cupcakes with frosting and crushed peppermints

When you combine rich chocolate with Santa's favorite candy, you get the ultimate Christmas cupcakes. Crushed candy canes add crunch to the fluffy peppermint frosting sandwiched between layers of cocoa.

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Caramel Gingerbread Cupcakes

Caramel Gingerbread Cupcakes with cookie topper and drizzled caramel

We'd never dream of letting Christmas pass us by without making these gingerbread cupcakes. But we didn't stop at just gingerbread cupcakes, we added indulgent ginger-toffee ice cream (don't worry, it starts with purchased vanilla ice cream) and a caramel drizzle to satisfy even a Santa-size sweet tooth.

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Jolly Little Elf Cupcakes

three Jolly Little Elf Cupcakes with pointed hats

Your guests will love these cute Christmas cupcakes! Put on the seasonal tunes and gather the kiddos for a jolly holiday baking session. Let them decorate our delicious peppermint-fudge cupcakes with piped frostings, fun candies, and a dipped ice cream cone for the tall hat.

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Bonus Cupcake Decorating Idea: Swirled Cupcake Topper

stacked glass jars of red velvet cupcakes with red and white swirl topper

Add a bit of red food coloring to your pastry bag before filling it with white frosting, then pipe onto your cupcake of choice for a swirled peppermint look. Package these Christmas cupcakes individually in jars or festive boxes, then wrap them in ribbons and bows before sending them home with holiday party guests.

Make Cupcakes from Scratch: Red Velvet Cupcakes

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