Name: Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 47 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups cake flour; ¼ tsp baking soda; ½ tsp baking powder; ½ cup salted butter, softened; 1 cup granulated sugar; ½ cup milk; 3 large eggs; ¼ tablespoon vanilla extract; 16 oz. green buttercream frosting; ¼ cup sequin-style rainbow sprinkles; 2-3 Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy, peeled into strings; Star shaped sprinkles; Confectioners sugar, optional

There’s something truly magical about these festive little treats that instantly brighten up the room. The Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe combines soft, fluffy cake with vibrant sprinkles and charming candy details that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

This image shows a single cupcake on a white marbled surface, with a green cupcake liner partially peeled down. The cupcake has a light beige cake base topped with a bright red icing ring, then a thick swirl of bright green frosting spiraled on top. The green frosting is decorated with round, colorful sprinkles in red, blue, orange, and green, adding bright pops of color. There is a light dusting of white powdered sugar over the frosting and the red icing ring. Scattered colorful sprinkles surround the cupcake on the surface. 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 Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe holds a special place in my holiday baking lineup. It’s approachable for bakers of all levels yet feels wonderfully festive and impressive when you present these cupcakes. Plus, the rainbow sprinkles add a playful pop of color that makes kids and adults alike smile.

Delightfully festive: The cupcake design doubles as adorable holiday decor for your dessert table.
Easy to personalize: You can tweak the frosting colors, sprinkles, or candy to match any holiday vibe.
Perfect for all skill levels: The step-by-step instructions ensure success whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned baker.
Family-friendly fun: Kids love helping to decorate, making this a memorable seasonal baking project.

A single cupcake sits on a white plate with a white marbled surface background. The base layer is a light beige sponge cake with a soft and slightly crumbly texture, showing a bite taken out from the front. On top, there is a thick layer of bright green frosting, piped in swirling, ridged patterns creating a spiral mound. Scattered on the green frosting are small, round colorful sprinkles in red, yellow, green, orange, and blue, with a single small yellow star-shaped sprinkle near the top center. The edges of the cupcake liner, visible under the frosting, are a deep red color. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here is chosen to give you moist, flavorful cupcakes with a smooth frosting perfect for decorating. Using cake flour keeps the crumb tender, while the green buttercream frosting is the star for creating the classic Christmas tree shape.

Flat lay of a small mound of pale cake flour, a pinch of baking soda and baking powder in a neat pile, a half cup of salted butter softened into a creamy block, a cup of granulated sugar in a small white bowl, a small white bowl filled with milk, three whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl holding clear vanilla extract, a tiny white bowl scattered with sequin-style rainbow sprinkles, a few twisted red candy strings peeled from Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel candy, a smooth swirl of vibrant green buttercream frosting on a white ceramic plate, a small white bowl with star-shaped sprinkles, and a dusting of fine white confectioners sugar arranged carefully—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

Cake flour: Lighter than all-purpose, it ensures your cupcakes are fluffy and delicate.
Baking soda & baking powder: These leavening agents work together for perfect rise and texture.
Salted butter: Adds rich, creamy flavor and balances sweetness.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake without overpowering the vanilla flavor.
Milk: Keeps the batter moist and helps dissolve dry ingredients evenly.
Eggs: Provide structure and richness to the cupcakes.
Vanilla extract: Key for warming the flavor and enhancing the overall taste.
Sequin-style rainbow sprinkles: Bring a cheerful, colorful crunch and holiday sparkle.
Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel Candy: Perfect for wrapping as a "tree skirt" with a soft texture.
Green buttercream frosting: Smooth and easy to pipe, it’s essential for shaping the iconic tree.
Star-shaped sprinkles: The perfect finishing touch at the tree tops.
Confectioners sugar (optional): Adds a snowy effect for extra seasonal charm.

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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

I love adding little twists to these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe — it keeps things fun and lets you match the cupcakes to your own holiday style. Whether you’re swapping colors for your favorite team or adding different candies, the possibilities are endless!

Flavor Variation: Sometimes I add peppermint extract to the frosting for an extra wintery touch — it’s subtle but festive and loved by everyone.
Dietary tweaks: You can easily swap the milk for almond or oat milk to make these dairy-free without sacrificing texture.
Sprinkle swap: If you want to tone down the rainbow sprinkles, metallic gold and silver edible pearls add a classy sparkle without overshadowing the green.
Alternative tree skirts: Instead of Twizzler candy, try red licorice strings or even a small fondant bow for a different look.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe

Step 1: Prep with purpose

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your muffin tin with cupcake liners. I like to use colorful liners to add a little festive flair even before decorating. While the oven heats, mix your dry ingredients — cake flour, baking soda, and baking powder — in a large bowl and set them aside. This keeps your workflow smooth and helps the leaveners distribute evenly throughout the batter.

Step 2: Cream and combine

In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. It usually takes about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. This step is crucial because it helps trap air for a tender crumb. Then whisk in your eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and vanilla extract. Once everything is mixed, gently fold your wet ingredients into the dry until you have a smooth, luscious batter.

Step 3: Bake and cool

Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling about two-thirds full to give them room to rise. Bake for approximately 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. The baking time can vary, so keep an eye on them starting around 20 minutes. When done, let your cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before decorating. It’s tempting to frost warm cupcakes, but if you don’t wait, the frosting will melt and lose its shape.

Step 4: Frost like a pro

Fill a piping bag fitted with an open star tip (or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped if you’re improvising) with green buttercream. To get that perfect Christmas tree shape, start from the center of the cupcake by piping a small circle the size of a quarter. Now swirl the frosting from the outside edge towards the center, layering slightly on the previous swirl. Finally, push the tip down into the top center and quickly pull it up to form the tree’s peak — this little detail really brings it to life.

Step 5: Decorate & delight

Wrap a string of Twizzler Pull 'n' Peel candy just around the base of each cupcake to serve as a cute tree skirt. Sprinkle on the sequin-style rainbow sprinkles to mimic ornaments, and top each tree with a star-shaped sprinkle. For an extra festive touch, a light dusting of confectioners sugar gives the illusion of freshly fallen snow — it never fails to wow my family and guests.

Top Tip

I’ve made these Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe many times, and a few little tricks make all the difference between good and great results. Here are some tips I've picked up:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and milk are at room temperature so they combine seamlessly, giving you a smooth batter.
Don’t Overmix: When combining wet and dry ingredients, mix just until smooth to avoid tough cupcakes from gluten overdevelopment.
Steady Piping: When frosting, keep your pressure consistent and rotate the cupcake slowly for an even, neat tree shape.
Cooling is Crucial: Patience here pays off — frosting on warm cupcakes melts and ruins the design, so cool completely before decorating.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe

Christmas Tree Cupcakes - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually stick with star-shaped sprinkles and rainbow sequins because they’re festive and colorful, but sometimes I swap the stars for edible silver balls to add a little shimmer. A quick dust of powdered sugar gives a snowy effect that’s just plain magical when the light hits it.

Side Dishes

These cupcakes shine on their own, but I love pairing them with a warm cup of spiced hot chocolate or a classic eggnog to complete the holiday vibe. For holiday parties, they also go wonderfully alongside a charcuterie board with rich cheeses and nuts.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged the cupcakes on a large platter shaped like a Christmas tree, garnishing the empty spaces with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs to mimic branches. It was a hit at our family gathering and instantly festive. You could also place them on cupcake stands decorated with tinsel or fairy lights for a magical effect.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftovers tightly covered in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. This keeps the cupcakes moist and prevents the sprinkles from getting sticky. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate them but take them out about 30 minutes before serving to let them soften up.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these cupcakes before with great success. Freeze undecorated cupcakes wrapped individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer bag. When ready, thaw completely and then frost and decorate. Frosted cupcakes don’t freeze as well unless you’re okay with a slight change in texture.

Reheating

For leftover cupcakes that are refrigerated or frozen, I let them come to room temperature naturally. If you want a slightly warm cupcake, 10 seconds in the microwave does the trick without melting the frosting too much.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular sprinkles instead of sequin-style rainbow sprinkles?

Absolutely! Regular rainbow sprinkles work just fine and still deliver that festive color pop; the sequin style just adds a bit more dimension and shine.

What if I don’t have a piping bag or an open star tip?

No worries! Using a ziplock bag with the corner cut off works well in a pinch, and while the frosting swirls might not be as perfectly textured, you’ll still get that charming tree shape.

Can I prepare these cupcakes in advance?

Yes you can prep the cupcakes a day ahead, store them undecorated at room temperature in an airtight container, and frost them just before serving for the freshest look and taste.

How do I prevent sprinkles from melting into the frosting?

Make sure the cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting and that your frosting is firm but still soft enough to pipe. Also, avoid overly humid environments, which can cause sprinkles to dissolve.

Final Thoughts

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes with Rainbow Sprinkles Recipe have become my go-to holiday treat because they bring everyone together — the baking, the decorating, and the smiles when the cupcakes make their grand appearance. I can’t recommend them enough if you’re looking for a little sweetness and a lot of festive cheer. Give them a try and watch your kitchen fill with holiday magic!