Christmas tree cupcake cake decorated with green and white frosting, candies, and a gold star on top, perfect for Christmas parties.

Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake (Pull-Apart Design)

by

Festive, fun, and easy Christmas cupcakes in tree form 🎄

Make your holidays sparkle with this Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake a stunning pull-apart dessert made from soft, fluffy cupcakes arranged into a festive tree shape! Each cupcake is topped with creamy frosting swirls and colorful decorations for that magical Christmas charm. ✨ This design is perfect for parties, potlucks, or kids’ holiday gatherings, and the best part? You don’t even need to cut a cake just grab, pull, and enjoy! 🍰 With its simple setup and impressive presentation, this recipe is guaranteed to be the centerpiece of your holiday dessert table.

Time Breakdown

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Bake Time: 18 minutes
  • Decorating Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 58 minutes
  • Servings: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients List

For the Cupcakes

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)

For the Frosting

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Green gel food coloring (for the tree)
  • Yellow and brown food coloring (optional, for the star and trunk)

For Decorating

  • Mini M&Ms or edible pearls (as ornaments)
  • Gold star candy or fondant star topper
  • Small piping bags and star tip (for frosting design)

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.

  • 2 standard muffin pans (12-cup each)
  • Paper cupcake liners
  • Mixing bowls (large & medium)
  • Hand or stand mixer
  • Measuring cups & spoons
  • Rubber spatula
  • Cooling rack
  • Piping bags and tips (#1M or star tip)
  • Large tray or cake board (for arranging cupcakes)

Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions

  1. Preheat & prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line muffin pans with cupcake liners.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Cream butter & sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  4. Add wet ingredients: Mix in eggs and vanilla until combined.
  5. Combine: Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk, beginning and ending with the dry mix. Mix until smooth.
  6. Bake: Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners and bake 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Cool: Let cupcakes cool completely before decorating. ❄️
  8. Make frosting: Beat butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until fluffy. Tint green with food coloring.
  9. Arrange cupcakes: Place cupcakes in a Christmas tree shape on a large tray (triangle form with a 2-cupcake trunk).
  10. Frost: Pipe green swirls onto each cupcake to mimic tree branches.
  11. Decorate: Add candy ornaments and a gold star on top for a magical finish. 🎄

💡 Pro Tips

  • Make ahead: Bake cupcakes a day ahead and decorate the next day. Store covered at room temperature.
  • Frosting shortcut: You can use store-bought vanilla frosting and tint it green for convenience.
  • Color variations: Add white frosting accents for a “snowy” effect or silver sprinkles for sparkle! ✨
  • Serving idea: Place cupcakes on a round board with mini marshmallows around the base as “snow.”

Nutrition Table

Serving SizeCaloriesProteinCarbsFatFiberSugar
1 cupcake2203g28g11g0g20g