Description
Decorating Christmas Cupcakes has never been easier! Use this classic vanilla buttercream recipe in 8 fun and festive cupcake ideas, featuring Santa cupcakes, reindeer cupcakes, Christmas trees, and more!
Ingredients
- 1 Recipe for Vanilla Cupcakes or Chocolate Cupcakes
For the Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 ½ cups (339 g) (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cold from the fridge
- 5 cups (650 g) powdered sugar
- 2 ½ teaspoons (12 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) heavy whipping cream (or milk)
Instructions
- Back a batch of cupcake and cool completely.
For the b=Buttercream
- Cut the butter into pieces. Using the paddle attachment, whip the butter for 5-7 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally. Beat until the butter looks light in color.
- Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and mix on low speed until incorporated into the butter. Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Beat for about 60 seconds.
- Next, add an additional 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes.
- Add the last cup of powdered sugar along with the heavy whipping cream. Beat on low until the ingredients start to mix together. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for another 3-5 minutes to whip additional air into the frosting. Wait until your cupcakes are cool, then frost them as desired!
Notes
- Dividing the Frosting: One batch of my frosting makes 4 1/2 cups, enough to generously frost 24 cupcakes. The 3 primary colors used in this tutorial are white, red, green, and chocolate (or brown) frosting. As a general rule of thumb, I dye at least 1 ½ cups each of red and green buttercream. For the brown frosting, use my recipe for chocolate frosting if needed.
- Frosting Flavors: If you’d prefer to flavor this frosting with something other than vanilla, try almond or peppermint extract.
- Additional tools for decorating:
- Large or small piping bags
- Couplers (for switching out smaller piping tips)
- Piping Tips: Wilton #21, Wilton #12, Basketweave tip #47, Ateco 808, Ateco 846, Ateco 864 (Available in a 6-pc set, or bought individually)
- Angled spatula
- AmeriColor gels or Wilton Color Right Gels
- Sweetapolita Christmas Sprinkles
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 47g
- Sodium: 118mg
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: .4g
- Protein: 3.1g
- Cholesterol: 57mg