Description
Delight in the festive spirit with these Christmas Light Cupcakes, featuring soft vanilla cupcakes topped with vibrant green buttercream frosting and decorated with mini M&Ms and black licorice strings to resemble colorful Christmas lights. Perfect for holiday parties and family gatherings, these cupcakes are both visually appealing and deliciously sweet.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 box vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box)
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Green food coloring
Decorations
- Mini M&Ms (red, green, yellow, blue)
- Black licorice string or black decorating gel
Instructions
- Prepare the Cupcakes: Follow the box directions to prepare the vanilla cupcakes, including the additional ingredients required. Bake as instructed, then allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Buttercream Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy using an electric mixer. Gradually add powdered sugar, 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until the frosting is smooth, fluffy, and well combined.
- Color the Frosting: Add green food coloring to the buttercream and mix thoroughly until you achieve an even, vibrant green shade suitable for the Christmas theme.
- Frost the Cupcakes: Using a piping bag or an offset spatula, spread or pipe the green buttercream evenly over the top of the cooled cupcakes.
- Create the Light Strings: Place a piece of black licorice string or draw a loose swirl across each cupcake with black decorating gel to mimic a string of Christmas lights.
- Add the Lights: Press mini M&Ms in various colors along the licorice or gel line, arranging them like colorful holiday lights.
- Serve and Enjoy: Present your festive cupcakes at holiday gatherings and enjoy the cheerful design and sweet flavors with family and friends.
Notes
- You can use chocolate or red velvet cupcakes as a flavorful and festive variation.
- If black licorice string isn’t available, substitute with black decorating gel or thin strips of fondant to create the light strings.
- Adjust the green food coloring amount to achieve your preferred shade of frosting.
- For a dairy-free version, use plant-based butter and milk alternatives.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 190 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
