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Simple Christmas Cupcakes

These Simple Christmas Cupcakes are the ultimate holiday hack—rich chocolate cupcakes topped with fluffy cream cheese frosting that transforms into adorable Santa hats. Easy, festive, and guaranteed to make you look like the overachiever of the dessert table (without actually trying).
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Servings 12 cupcakes

EQUIPMENT (PAID LINKS)

Ingredients
  

  • 1 box Devil’s food cake mix plus the ingredients listed on the box—usually eggs, oil, and water
  • ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
  • 16 ounces 2 packages cream cheese, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Red food coloring
  • 2 tablespoons red sanding sugar

Instructions

  • Bake Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. Prepare the Devil’s food cake batter according to the package directions. Fill each liner about two-thirds full and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool completely before decorating.
    1 box Devil’s food cake mix
  • Make Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and cream cheese together with a mixer until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing until creamy and spreadable. Beat in the vanilla extract until well combined.
    ½ cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened, 16 ounces 2 packages cream cheese, softened, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Color the Frosting: Scoop about one-third of the frosting into a smaller bowl and set aside for the white trim. Add red food coloring to the remaining two-thirds of frosting and mix until you reach a bright red color.
    Red food coloring
  • Decorate the Cupcakes: Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip with the red frosting. Pipe tall, swirly cones on top of each cupcake to resemble Santa hats. Lightly sprinkle the red sanding sugar over the hats for a sparkly effect.
    2 tablespoons red sanding sugar
  • Add the White Trim: Fill another piping bag fitted with a small star tip with the white frosting. Pipe a ring of white frosting around the base of each red hat to form the fur trim, then add a small swirl on top for the pom-pom.
  • Serve and Enjoy: Admire your adorable creations before they disappear in seconds. These cupcakes are cute enough for Santa, but good luck saving him one.