Cupcake Christmas Tree Centerpiece (Print Version)

Tower of vanilla cupcakes with green buttercream frosting arranged in a tree shape, topped with colorful ornaments and a gold star.

# Recipe Ingredients:

→ Cupcakes

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - ¾ cup whole milk

→ Buttercream Frosting

10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2-3 tablespoons whole milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Green gel food coloring

→ Decorations

15 - Multicolored round sprinkles
16 - Edible gold star topper
17 - Mini candy canes or sugar pearls (optional)
18 - Shredded coconut (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
04 - Add dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with milk. Begin and end with flour mixture. Mix until just combined.
05 - Fill liners 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack.
06 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk as needed. Tint with green food coloring.
07 - Pipe buttercream in tall swirls on cooled cupcakes using a large star tip.
08 - Arrange cupcakes in tree shape: 7 at base, then 6, 5, 4, finishing with 2 and 1 at top to form triangle.
09 - Add sprinkles as ornaments. Place gold star at peak. Add candy canes, pearls, or coconut for extra decoration.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This centerpiece steals the show at every holiday party and people honestly cannot believe you made it yourself
  • The cupcakes stay moist for days so you can build ahead and actually enjoy your own party
02 -
  • Cold ingredients will wreck your batter so take everything out at least an hour before you start baking
  • Over mixing develops gluten which makes tough cupcakes so stop as soon as the flour disappears
03 -
  • Use a rotating cake stand or turntable if you have one to make piping the frosting so much easier
  • Make your cupcakes and frost them a day ahead then assemble the tree right before your party

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