45 Easy Christmas Cupcakes That Are Loaded With Holiday Flavors
These festive sweet treats are perfect for any dessert table.
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'Tis the season — for baking, that is. With the holidays nearly here, we're dreaming of all the delectable Christmas desserts that will be on the table soon. Christmas cookies might get a lot of the praise (and for good reason!) but there are plenty of other Christmas treats to look forward to. We're talking pies, tarts, and of course, delicious cupcakes.
The best part about making cupcakes is how creative you can be. Your cupcakes can look like a gorgeous wreath, a snowman, a portrait of Santa Claus, snowflakes and so much more. With that said, we've rounded up some of the best Christmas cupcake recipes for you to try this season.
Baking and decorating these cupcakes can also double as a fun holiday activity. If you're looking for a way to spend the day with kids, these cupcake recipes will keep everyone entertained. Even tweens and teens will have fun with some of the more elaborate ideas, though little kids are also sure to have a blast. Cupcakes are also a great treat to bring to any holiday party. But if you're not sure whether your baking skills are up to snuff, you can always bring a batch of Christmas cocktails instead. That's almost always a contribution that's sure to be appreciated!
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Everyone's favorite pie, now in cupcake form. The apple compote is key.
Get the Apple Pie Cupcakes recipe.
Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Ginger Meringue
Sweet potato isn't just a side dish this year — it's also part of your dessert course! No one will be able to resist the toasted ginger meringue.
Get the Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Ginger Meringue recipe.
Chocolate-Pecan Cupcakes
These rich chocolatey cupcakes have a crunchy caramel-pecan filling. They'll be gone before you know it.
Get the Chocolate-Pecan Cupcakes recipe.
Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes
Mix things up this year with these creative and eye-catching cupcakes. The DIY pineapple flowers are sure to impress anyone.
Get the Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes recipe.
Holly Cupcakes
Match your cupcakes to your Christmas decorations by topping each one with some holly leaf cookies and a candied cranberry.
Get the Holly Cupcakes recipe.
Cupcake Wreath
The prettiest holiday wreath to make this season ... but you get to eat it instead of just hanging it on your front door.
Get the Cupcake Wreath recipe.
RELATED: 81 Stunning Christmas Wreaths to Bring Cheer to Your Front Door
Pecan Cupcakes with Spiced Vanilla Frosting
Spice up your Christmas feast by making these cupcakes for dessert, full of warm, holiday-inspired flavors.
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Just when you thought that red-velvet cupcakes couldn't get any better, these have an extra bit of festive piped icing on top of the regular cream cheese frosting.
Get the Red Velvet Cupcakes recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Hey, your pumpkin cravings don't go away when Thanksgiving ends. Keep it going through Christmas, too.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.
RELATED: 44 Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Recipes to Make This Fall
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcakes
Use a pastry bag to easily pipe the luscious peanut butter filling into simple chocolate cupcakes.
Get the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: 25 Easy and Creative Chocolate Desserts That You Haven't Tried Yet
Mr. Claus Pull-Apart Cupcakes
Try a pull-apart cupcake recipe depicting the King of Christmas himself.
Get the Mr. Claus Pull-Apart Cupcakes recipe from Woman's Day.
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
The present under this tree? An upside down ice cream cone covered in icing and sprinkles.
Get the Christmas Tree Cupcakes recipe from Country Living.
Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting
If you are a fan of Peppermint Bark, go ahead and try these cupcakes with crushed peppermint mixed in the frosting — perfect for Christmas!
Get the Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting recipe from The Pioneer Woman.
Vanilla-Coconut Snow-People Cupcakes
For anyone with a serious sweet tooth, these incorporate all of your favorite candies for an adorable holiday dessert.
Get the Vanilla-Coconut Snow-People Cupcakes recipe from Woman's Day.
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
These trees may not be lush, but they're far more chocolatey and delicious than your average evergreen.
Get the Christmas Tree Cupcakes recipe from Woman's Day.
Scrooge Cupcakes
The only Scrooge you'll want around this Christmas is one that's made of warm spiced cupcakes.
Get the Scrooge Cupcakes recipe from Woman's Day
Christmas Light Cupcakes
Simply add some decorating gel and Mini M&M's atop frosted cupcakes for an easy (yet super impressive!) Christmas lights effect.
Get the Christmas Light Cupcakes recipe from Delish.
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Making these festive Christmas tree toppers is so much easier than you think (plus, shredded coconut makes for the perfect snow!).
Get the Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Cupcakes recipe from Woman's Day.
Grinchy Pull-Apart Cupcakes
Even the biggest holiday grouch will love these ultra-festive cupcakes.
Get the Grinchy Pull-Apart Cupcakes recipe from Delish.
Peppermint Bark Cupcakes
Because why wouldn't you want to eat your favorite holiday treat — peppermint bark — in cupcake form?
Get the Peppermint Bark Cupcakes recipe from Delish.
Gabriella is a freelance writer and recipe developer based in Lakeland, Florida. She writes a weekly column for Cool Beans, a climate-action recipe newsletter on Substack from the creators of one5c. She's also the co-owner of Bandidas Bake Shop, a bakery and cafe in Lakeland, Florida. Before returning to the panhandle, she spent a decade in NYC working in test kitchens for Epicurious, Good Housekeeping, and Cherry Bombe. She also served as the Culinary Director and Head Baker at the beloved Smith Canteen coffee shop in Brooklyn.
Caroline is a writer and editor with almost a decade of experience. From 2015 to 2019, she held various editorial positions at Good Housekeeping, including as health editor, covering nutrition, fitness, wellness, and other lifestyle news. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism and dreams of the day Northwestern will go back to the Rose Bowl.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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