Name: Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ¾ cup butter, room temperature; 1 ½ cups granulated sugar; ½ cup vegetable oil; 3 teaspoons vanilla extract; 4 large eggs; 1 ¼ cups whole milk; 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup butter, room temperature; 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups powdered sugar; 10 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes; 2 tablespoons milk; Red gel food coloring, amount as needed; Green sanding sugar, for topping

There’s something truly magical about biting into a cupcake that reminds you of the holidays—the scent of vanilla, that creamy frosting, and a festive look that brings a smile. This Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe is exactly that kind of treat, perfect for sharing joyful moments with friends and family.

The image shows a close-up of a cupcake with one main layer of yellow cake topped with a tall, swirled layer of light pink frosting. The frosting has a smooth and creamy texture with green sugar sprinkles scattered on top. Thin red stripes of icing run vertically down the frosting and onto the white cupcake liner below. The cupcake sits on a white marbled surface with a white cloth decorated with red, green, and gray dots underneath. In the background, there are a few more cupcakes with the same frosting and decoration, slightly blurred. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I still remember the first time I made this Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe — the way it looked like tiny festive trees topped with a swirl of creamy frosting was just irresistible. It’s more than just a cupcake; it brings that holiday spirit right to your kitchen.

Festive and Fun: The green frosting with red drizzle mimics a Christmas tree perfectly, making these cupcakes a hit at any holiday party.
Moist and Flavorful: The combination of butter, eggs, and whole milk ensures a tender crumb that's richly delicious.
Unique Frosting Twist: Adding crushed Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into the cream cheese frosting elevates it to a delightful, indulgent treat.
Make-Ahead Friendly: These cupcakes keep well in the fridge, letting you prep in advance and enjoy stress-free celebrations.

A close-up view of a cupcake with two main layers: the bottom layer is light yellow, soft, and spongy cake, and the top layer is a thick swirl of pale pink frosting that has a smooth and fluffy texture. The frosting is decorated with thin, bright red drizzle and small green sprinkles. The cupcake liner is white and the cupcake is placed on a silver fork, resting on a white marbled surface with a white cloth that has small red, green, and black dots. In the background, there are more similarly decorated cupcakes, slightly out of focus. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe plays a key role to ensure you end up with fluffy, moist cupcakes and silky-smooth frosting that tastes just like the holidays.

Flat lay of a small pile of unsalted butter cubes, two brown eggs with smooth shells, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl of clear vegetable oil, a few fresh whole vanilla beans, a small white bowl of whole milk, a small white bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl of baking powder, a small white bowl of fine salt, a small white bowl of cream cheese block, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, ten unwrapped Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes arranged neatly, a small white bowl of red gel food coloring, and a small white bowl of green sanding sugar, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Butter: It adds richness and moisture to the batter and the frosting, creating that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Granulated sugar: Sweetness with a bit of structure to give the cupcakes a tender crumb.
Vegetable oil: Helps keep the cupcakes super moist without weighing them down.
Vanilla extract: A flavor boost that always makes baked goods taste homemade and comforting.
Eggs: Provide structure and richness while helping the cupcakes rise.
Whole milk: Adds moisture and a slight creaminess to the batter, enhancing the texture.
All-purpose flour: The base of the cupcakes, giving them their body and bite.
Baking powder: The leavening agent that puffs the cupcakes up just right.
Salt: Balances out the sweetness and rounds all the flavors nicely.
Cream cheese: Used in the frosting for tanginess and a luscious smooth finish.
Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens frosting to the perfect frosting texture.
Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes: The secret star in the frosting, adding a touch of nostalgic holiday flavor and a creamy crumb.
Green sanding sugar: Adds sparkle and texture, making your cupcakes look like mini Christmas trees.
Milk (for frosting): Thins out the red-tinted frosting drizzle so it flows beautifully.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of my favorite things about this Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe is how easy it is to switch up the frosting or even the cupcake base to suit your taste or dietary needs. You really can personalize it without losing that festive charm.

Variation: I’ve swapped the vanilla frosting for a peppermint-flavored one a few times—it’s a refreshing twist that tastes like a winter wonderland.
Dairy-Free Option: For friends with allergies, try using dairy-free cream cheese and butter alternatives—they still hold up well in the frosting.
Chocolate Lover’s Version: Adding some cocoa powder into the cupcake batter turns these into little chocolate Christmas trees. Trust me, it’s decadent!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

Step 1: Mixing the Batter to Perfection

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two cupcake pans with paper liners—that’s key to easy cleanup and no sticking. Cream your room-temperature butter and sugar together on medium speed until fluffy; I usually set a timer for around 2 to 3 minutes to make sure it’s just right. Next, add eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, mixing until everything’s blended. When you add the milk, don’t worry if the batter looks a bit curdled—that's completely normal! Next comes the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix them in on low speed first, then bump it up to medium to combine fully—the batter should be smooth and thick, ready to make some golden cupcakes.

Step 2: Baking & Cooling Your Cupcakes

Fill each liner about half to two-thirds full with batter (I use a cookie scoop to get even portions). Pop them into the oven for about 14 to 16 minutes or until the edges turn a lovely golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Cooling is just as important here—trust me on this. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting to avoid frosting meltdown and to keep that perfect shape.

Step 3: Crafting the Cream Cheese Frosting with a Twist

For the frosting, beat together butter, cream cheese, and salt until luxuriously smooth. Then add vanilla and powdered sugar on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud; watch your mixer for that dreamy creamy consistency. The real magic? Crumbling up the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes into a food processor until nearly creamy, then blending that into your frosting. This adds a nostalgic, velvety texture you won’t find in ordinary frosting—and it’s worth every pulse. If you don’t have a food processor, a hand mixer works; just expect it to be a bit more textured.

Step 4: Decorating Your Cupcakes Like a Pro

Divide the frosting and mix some with red food coloring and a little milk to make a soft drizzle. Pipe the green frosting using a large star tip for a tall, fluffy tree shape, and then gently drizzle the red over top to mimic festive ornaments. Finish by sprinkling green sanding sugar for that extra sparkle. It’s surprisingly easy, and everyone will ooh and ahh at how cute these little trees look!

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to getting this Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe just right without any stress—these little tips can save you from trial and error and help your cupcakes shine at your celebration.

Butter Temperature Matters: Always use room temperature butter—it creams better with sugar and results in that fluffy base everyone loves.
Don’t Skip Cooling: Frosting warm cupcakes can cause the frosting to melt or slide off, so take patience here; cool completely before decorating.
Food Processor for Smoother Frosting: Blending the Little Debbie Cakes in a food processor makes the frosting smooth and creamy, not lumpy.
Gentle Piping: When drizzling the red frosting, apply gentle pressure and move your hand back and forth for that charming festive look.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I personally adore using green sanding sugar for the “tree” sparkle, but sometimes I add tiny edible pearls or festive sprinkles to mimic ornaments on the tree. It’s fun to get creative here, and kids especially love choosing their own decorations.

Side Dishes

These cupcakes are rich enough to stand alone, but if you’re serving a spread, they pair beautifully with warm spiced cider or rich hot cocoa. A light fruit platter can balance their sweetness nicely as well.

Creative Ways to Present

Try placing your cupcakes on a tiered stand decorated with pine branches or holiday ribbons for an eye-catching centerpiece. I’ve even arranged them in a Christmas tree shape on a platter for a show-stopping effect at parties!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Because this recipe uses cream cheese frosting, I always store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge. They keep their freshness and flavor for up to 5 to 7 days—you’ll still get that creamy, indulgent taste even after a few days.

Freezing

I’ve frozen leftover cupcakes by wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap and then placing them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge and bring to room temperature. They hold up surprisingly well!

Reheating

For the best experience, serve these cupcakes slightly chilled or at room temperature. If you like your cupcakes warm, gently warm the un-frosted base in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before frosting—but avoid heating the frosted cupcake to keep the frosting’s texture intact.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different kind of cupcake for this recipe?

Absolutely! While this recipe uses a classic vanilla cupcake base, you can substitute with chocolate or even spice cake to give the Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe a different twist. Just ensure the cupcake is moist and not dry for the best results.

What if I don't have Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes?

No worries at all! These cakes add a unique flavor and texture to the frosting, but you can leave them out or try crumbling a different festive cake or cookie. The frosting will still be delicious and creamy.

How do I prevent the frosting from melting on warm cupcakes?

Make sure your cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting. If the cupcakes are even slightly warm, the frosting can melt and lose its shape. Cooling on a wire rack helps air circulate and cools faster.

Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time for a party?

Definitely! These cupcakes actually taste better after a day or two as the flavors meld nicely. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge and frost just before serving if possible, or keep them frosted and chilled if time is short.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Cupcake Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s simple, festive, and always gets rave reviews every time I bring it to a gathering. It’s a sweet way to add some sparkle to your holidays with little effort but big rewards. Honestly, once you try this recipe, you’ll keep coming back to it every December — as will your friends and family!