Easy and Fun Santa Hat Christmas Cupcakes

Bring in the Christmas spirit with these adorable Santa hat cupcakes! With a delicious cupcake base, vibrant red frosting, and topped with a cute pom pom of white frosting, these are the festive cupcakes to light up any holiday table. Dive into the magic of Santa Claus and Christmas time with this easy Christmas dessert!

FAQs:

1. Can I use a boxed cake mix?
   Absolutely! While homemade cupcakes have a distinct charm, a boxed mix is perfect when you’re short on time.
2. Could I substitute cream cheese frosting for the given frosting?
   Certainly! Cream cheese frosting adds a delightful tanginess that contrasts beautifully with the sweet cupcake.
3. Are red candy melts a good substitute for red food coloring in the frosting?
   It’s better to stick with red food coloring or red icing gel for a smoother frosting. Candy melts might alter the consistency.

Tips and Tricks:

1. Always ensure ingredients like butter and eggs are at room temperature for the best results.
2. When using a piping bag, cut the open end of the pastry bag for a smoother frosting application. Use a large round tip for the main part of Santa’s hat and a small star tip for the fluffy edge and pom pom.
3. Cool the cupcakes completely on a wire rack before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.

Variations:

1. Chocolate Cupcakes: Try a dark chocolate cupcake base or red velvet cupcakes for a rich flavor.
2. Christmas Tree Cupcakes: Using sugar cones, green food coloring, and mini marshmallows, transform these Santa cupcakes into delightful Christmas tree cupcakes.
3. Vanilla Frosting: If you’re not a fan of cocoa, simply replace cocoa extract with more vanilla for a creamy vanilla frosting.

Where to Serve:

1. Christmas Parties: These Santa hat cupcakes are the star of holiday parties!
2. Christmas Eve: A delightful treat while waiting for Santa.
3. School Festivities: Much fun for kids to enjoy their favorite Christmas cupcakes.

Storage: Place the frosted cupcakes in an airtight container to ensure they remain moist. They can be stored for up to 2 days.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them:

1. Frosting too runny: Add more confectioners’ sugar, a little at a time, until you achieve stiff peaks.
2. Cupcakes peeling away from paper liners: Ensure you don’t overfill the batter. Also, using quality parchment paper helps.

Tips for Making This Recipe with Kids:

1. Let them decorate using an icing bag, it’s their favorite time of year to get hands-on!
2. Children can place a small dot of white frosting on the top of each hat as the pom pom.
3. Allow them to sprinkle white sprinkles for an added touch of festive fun.

Topping Options:

1. Mini Marshmallows: Perfect for the edge of the cupcake, giving the illusion of Santa’s fluffy hat rim.
2. Red Food Coloring: To achieve the perfect Santa red icing.
3. White Icing: For the tip of the ice cream cone or the top of the cupcakes to mimic the fluff of Santa’s hat

Why This Recipe Works:

These cupcakes perfectly encapsulate the festive joy of the Christmas season. The combination of the fluffy cupcake base with the vibrant red and white frosting creates a visual and tasty treat that resonates with the holidays. Moreover, the fun design ensures they’re the center of attention at every holiday gathering.

What are some other fun Christmas Cupcake Recipes to try?

• Mickey Mouse Disney Christmas Cupcakes For The Holidays
• Incredible Christmas Cupcakes + Free Printable Cupcake Toppers
• Christmas Tree Chocolate Cupcakes – Using Cake Mix!
• Spiced Rum Eggnog Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Easy and Fun Santa Hat Christmas Cupcakes with Cocoa Buttercream Frosting

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

These festive cupcakes are fantastic for Christmas baking with the kids or Christmas parties!

Print

Ingredients

• Cupcake Ingredients:
• • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• • 2 cups white granulated sugar
• • 2 teaspoons baking powder
• • 1 teaspoon baking soda
• • 1 teaspoon salt
• • ½ cup butter, softened
• • ½ cup milk
• • ½ cup sour cream
• • 2 teaspoons vanilla
• • 3 large egg
• • 6 ounces of white baking chocolate
• • Green and red food coloring
• Frosting Ingredients
• • 1 stick room temperature unsalted butter
• • 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
• • 1/4 cup whole milk
• • 1 tablespoon cocoa extract
• • Red food color gel

Instructions

1. Directions for Cupcakes:
    
   Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
2. Whisk dry ingredients well.
3. Using a hand or stand mixer, cream together butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add in sour cream and mix on low speed for 1 minute. Add in milk and mix on medium for 1 minute.
4. On low, mix in eggs, one at a time.
5. Using the microwave, melt baking chocolate. Mix into the wet ingredients.
6. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
7. Divide batter evenly between 3 small bowls. Add green food coloring to one, red food coloring to the other and leave the third bowl uncolored.
8. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking
   liners.
9. Using a spoon, add each color of batter into the muffin tin until abut 2/3 full. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
   

Directions for Frosting:

Step 1:  In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and cocoa extract and beat until light and fluffy.

Step 2: Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of milk in between each cup.  for 1 minute or until creamy.

Step 3: Separate frosting into two bowls, adding
red food coloring to one and leaving the other without color. Place into two separate piping bags. Pipe the red frosting in a swirl. Next take the piping bag with the white frosting and add a tip to the top of the red swirl. Then pipe small swirls around the base of the red swirl.

Nutrition Information

Yield

12

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 680Total Fat 28gSaturated Fat 16gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 96mgSodium 485mgCarbohydrates 101gFiber 3gSugar 75gProtein 8g

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Do your kids help you bake during the holidays?  What is your favorite part of this holiday tradition?  Are you going to make Santa Hat Christmas Cupcakes?