Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Transform vanilla cupcakes into festive Christmas trees by inverting ice cream cones, covering them in green frosting, and decorating them! Christmas Tree Cupcakes are so easy that even novice decorators can make them. Your holiday dessert table will shine and get rave reviews!

I love how fun these Christmas tree cupcakes are!

And I know what you’re thinking: “those are great for someone who’s a trained cake decorator or a mom with endless amounts of time.” (as if a mom like that exists 😂)

You couldn’t be MORE wrong!

These little Christmas tree cupcakes are deceptively EASY to make. Basically, all you have to do is cover an ice cream cone in star-shaped dollops! Besides a piping bag and tip, you don’t need any special tools!

Whether you want to add these to your holiday dessert table or serve them at a Christmas party, no one (kids or adults) will be able to resist these über-cute Christmas tree cupcakes! 

Pair them with our Bite-Size Christmas Tree Brownies and Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Christmas Trees for a Christmas tree-themed dessert selection!

Or serve them alongside Christmas cookies, Cream Cheese Strawberry Santas, or Spice Eggnog Cake Recipe for a well-rounded sweets selection!

Christmas Tree Cone Cupcakes

Cupcakes are a popular holiday dessert option since they’re super easy to make and ultra-delicious.

But, sometimes, they can look a little plain.

So, how about we dress up plain cupcakes to look like Christmas trees that just burst with holiday cheer?

I’m a firm believer in the ability to create cute holiday dishes without completely putting yourself out.

So, that’s why I look for shortcuts and ways to make treats like that easier.

The sprinkles and nonpareils bring them to life as lights and snow on the “trees”.

Is anyone opposed to impressing their friends and family (without breaking a sweat)? Not me!

How To Make Christmas Tree Cupcakes

You’re seriously going to be shocked at how easy these cupcakes are!

Ingredients Needed To Make Christmas Tree Cone Cupcakes

• Cupcakes – premade, box mix, or make them from scratch!
• Sugar cones – the small pointy-tip sugar cones, NOT the plain flat-bottom cones or waffle cones.
• White frosting in piping bag
• Green frosting in piping bag with star tip
• White sprinkles
• Multi-colored sprinkles
• Blue & white sprinkles
• Star sprinkles
• Powdered sugar

Christmas Tree Cupcakes Instructions

1. Frost cupcakes with white frosting then dip into white sprinkles
2. Use the green frosting to cover the sugar cones using the star tip, leave the tip of the cone unfrosted until you place it on top of the cupcake
3. Once the cone is frosted, apply the sprinkles in desired colors
4. Place the cone on top of the cupcake and frost the tip and apply additional sprinkles, then place the star sprinkle on top
5. Dust with powdered sugar to create snow

Tips For Terrific Christmas Tree Cupcakes Every Time

• Have fun with the decorations you add to your tree cupcakes! Use different colored and shaped sprinkles and nonpareils. Or dust your trees with powdered sugar to look like snow. Or all the above!

• Find little sugar ornaments and add them to your tree. I tried it but found them to be more work than I was willing to do on a large scale. Besides, I love the way the sprinkles look!

• If you feel like your frosting star dollops aren’t covering your cone enough, you can add a rough coat of frosting up and down the cone before adding the start dollops.

• Make sure you allow the cupcakes to cool fully before applying the frosting so it doesn’t melt.

• Fill the cones with a fun surprise by adding candy (such as holiday M&Ms) BEFORE you attach the cone to the cupcake!

• If you’re baking cupcakes, use red or green foil liners for that extra pop of color and festivity!

• Change up the “snow” by using shredded coconut instead of powdered sugar. You can use the shredded coconut on both the white frosting and sprinkled on the tree.

Christmas Tree Cupcakes FAQs

If you have questions about making these Christmas tree cupcakes, check to see if I’ve already answered them below. Don’t see your questions? Leave them in the comments so I can answer them!

Can I Use Baking Shortcuts for This Recipe? 

Yes! I’m all about using my time wisely. Picking and choosing where I spend my time is the very essence of using my time wisely.

When I feel like it and have time, I might bake the cupcakes from scratch.

But most days I would use a cupcake mix.

And the days when I’m REALLY pressed for time? Well, those are the days, I pick up plain cupcakes from my local grocery store bakery and just decorate them! If I can’t find plain cupcakes, I’ll get ones with white frosting and build up from there.

It’s an easy-peasy shortcut for anyone who wants to shave off a time-consuming step. The holidays are absurdly busy for everyone, but that doesn’t need to mean that you miss out on cute treats! 

Then, just remove any excess white frosting and go from there.

Can I Make Different Cupcakes? 

Of course! I made white cupcakes for these. But you could easily make:

• yellow cupcakes
• chocolate cupcakes
• red velvet cupcakes
• funfetti cupcakes

You can literally make whatever flavor you want (or mix and match) because the cupcake liners will cover up the flavor so you have beautifully decorated mystery-flavored Christmas tree cupcakes!

What kind of ice cream cones should I use? 

Use the small sugar cones – NOT the flat bottom cake cones – for this easy Christmas cupcake recipe. They’re the ones that will provide the correct shape. 

Can I use whipped cream instead of frosting?

Yes, you can. BUT store-bought whipped cream won’t work as well as homemade whipped cream. Go with homemade because you can beat it until you get very stiff peaks which will help you get the right shape when you pipe it.

The store-bought stuff isn’t firm enough.

Just make sure your mixing bowl and heavy whipping cream are VERY cold before beating it.

And you’ll want to eat them quickly because once the whipped cream warms up, it can lose its shape and even start running down your cones. So make sure to keep them refrigerated until you’re ready to serve them.

Although you can use whipped cream, I think frosting works the best.

How do I store Christmas tree cupcakes?

I recommend storing them in the fridge – especially if you use homemade whipped cream. If you keep them in an airtight container in the fridge, they should stay good for 4-5 days.

If you try these cupcakes, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you thought in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

More Christmas Inspiration

• Reindeer Oreo Pops
• Candy Cane Cherry Danish
• Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
• Andes Mint Hot Chocolate Bombs
• DIY Marshmallow Mugs
• Homemade Candy Christmas Tree Pretzels