Holly cupcakes are a festive holiday dessert that bring a touch of Christmas spirit to the table. Decorated with bright red “berries” and green “holly leaves,” they’re a playful, eye-catching treat perfect for Christmas parties, family gatherings, or as a sweet gift. These cupcakes combine a moist vanilla sponge base with a smooth buttercream frosting, topped with simple decorations made from fondant or candies. The result is a cheerful and delicious cupcake that captures the look and feel of the season.
Cooking Time: 1 hour (including decorating)
Serving: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients for Cupcakes
-
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
-
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
-
1/4 tsp salt
-
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
-
1 cup granulated sugar
-
2 large eggs
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
-
1/2 cup whole milk
Ingredients for Frosting and Decoration
-
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
-
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
-
2–3 tbsp milk or cream
-
1 tsp vanilla extract
-
Green food coloring
-
Red candies (red M&M’s, red jelly beans, or red fondant balls) for holly berries
-
Green fondant or piped green frosting for holly leaves
Step-by-Step Instructions
-
Prepare the cupcakes: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a muffin tin with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
-
Make the batter: Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well, then mix in vanilla. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk, mixing gently until combined.
-
Bake: Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before decorating.
-
Prepare frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then milk and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Reserve a small portion of plain white frosting if you’d like, then tint the rest with green food coloring.
-
Decorate: Spread or pipe green frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Place two or three red candies in a cluster on top to resemble holly berries. Use green fondant (cut into leaf shapes) or pipe leaf shapes with green frosting around the berries to complete the holly look.
Nutrition (per cupcake, approx.)
-
Calories: 320
-
Protein: 3 g
-
Fat: 14 g
-
Carbohydrates: 46 g
-
Fiber: 0.5 g
-
Sugar: 34 g
-
Sodium: 120 mg
Tips
-
For a stronger holiday flavor, add a teaspoon of orange zest or almond extract to the cupcake batter.
-
If using fondant, let the leaves dry slightly before placing them on the frosting so they hold their shape.
-
To save time, you can use store-bought cupcakes or frosting and just focus on the holly decorations.
-
Use a leaf piping tip for the most realistic holly leaf design if working with frosting.
-
Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
