Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake is a fun and festive way to display your holiday cupcakes. The green food coloring frosting and decoration makes this the perfect holiday dessert.

Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake topped with sprinkles
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We love making all the holiday candies, cookies, and cupcakes for our holiday baking. It really gets us all the Christmas mood with all the fun desserts and decorations. This Easy Christmas Tree Pull Apart Cupcake cake is one of our favorites.

If you are hosting the holiday dinner this year, this Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake would be perfect to make. It is would be ideal as a centerpiece on your dessert table. Check out more Christmas Cupcake Recipes – Santa Hat Cupcakes, Eggnog Cupcakes and The Grinch Cupcakes Recipe.

Why We Love This Recipe

If you are looking for a fun and festive holiday cupcakes, make these cupcake cake. You can use store bought cupcakes or make your own. It is great for your holiday table or any holiday parties.

These cupcakes can be made in a variety of ways. Have fun and make memories making this easy holiday cupcake cake.

Ingredients

Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake Ingredients - Cupcakes, vegetable shortening, butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, milk, green food coloring, cocoa powder

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variation Ideas

  • Buttercream Frosting – Feel free to use different frosting to make this recipe. You can make a vanilla frosting, white frosting or a cream cheese frosting to top the cupcakes.
  • Cupcakes – We used a box cupcake mix to make the cupcakes but you can make homemade cupcakes. You can even make chocolate cupcakes.
  • Decorate – You can easily add your own decorations to these cupcakes.

How to Make Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake

Vanilla Cupcakes on a baking sheet

Step 1 – Prepare Cupcakes – Prepare a batch of at least 24 cupcakes and cool completely. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until cooked in cupcake liners. Place on cooling rack or wire rack until cooled.

Stick of butter and shortening in a large bowl

Step 2 – Whip Butter – Using the paddle attachment, whip the butter and vegetable shortening. Mix for 5-7 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally, beating until the butter is very fluffy. We recommend using a stand mixer or a hand mixer.

Adding powdered sugar to the butter and shortening mixture

Step 3 – Add in Powdered Sugar – Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and mix on low speed. Mix until incorporated into the butter then add the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Beat for about 60 seconds.

Icing mixed together in a bowl

Step 4 – Continue with Powdered Sugar – Next, add an additional 2 cups of powdered sugar. Add the last 1 cup powdered sugar along with milk. Increase speed to medium-high. Then beat for another 3-5 minutes to whip additional air into the frosting.

Cocoa Powder in a small bowl with frosting

Step 5 – Separate Frosting – Separate out ¼ cup of the finished frosting. Mix in 2-3 teaspoons cocoa powder until well combined. You may need to add 1 teaspoon milk to help incorporate the cocoa powder. 

Green Frosting in a large bowl

Step 6 – Dye Frosting – Dye the rest of your remaining frosting green.

Cupcakes shaped into a tree topped with a dollop of green frosting
  • Step 7 – Start with Trunk – Set up your cupcakes in the shape of a tree with 2 cupcakes for the trunk. Place a small dollop of frosting on each cupcake. Then spread evenly with an angled spatula.
Green frosting spread over cupcakes and brown frosting on two cupcakes

Step 8 – Spread Brown Frosting – For the bottom two cupcakes, spread the brown frosting evenly across. Then use a fork to create downward strokes to create a rough texture to give the look of tree trunks. 

Topping the Cupcakes with star frostings

Step 9 – Piping Bag – Place the remaining green frosting into a piping bag. Using a large star tip, pipe large stars over all of the cupcakes. Making sure to fill in all the holes. 

Sprinkles topped the Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Step 10 – Top with Sprinkles – Top with Christmas Sprinkles to look like ornaments. 

Recipe Tips

  • Cake Board – To easily shape the cupcakes into a tree, use a cake board.
  • Piping Tips – Use piping star shaped tip to create star like shapes on top of the cupcakes.
Christmas Tree Cupcake on a plate

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Best Cupcakes to Use?

We usually use chocolate cupcakes or vanilla cupcakes made from a box cake mix. But you can make a cake from scratch. Use what you prefer.

How to Store Leftover Cupcakes

Store the leftovers in a cupcake pan with a lid to store. Store at room temperature in the fridge. These cupcakes will last about a week.

Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake

More Christmas Tree Shaped Desserts

We love to hear from you. If you make Pull Apart Christmas Tree Cupcakes, please leave us a comment or a star review.

Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake

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Christmas Tree Cupcake Cake is a fun and festive way to display your holiday cupcakes. The green food coloring frosting and decoration makes this the perfect holiday dessert.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 284

Ingredients

  • 24 vanilla cupcakes prepared – can be chocolate too
  • 3/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
  • 3/4 cup butter or margarine softened
  • 2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 6 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • Green gel food coloring
  • 2-3 teaspoons cocoa powder
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Instructions

  • Prepare a batch of at least 24 cupcakes and cool completely.
  • Using the paddle attachment, whip the butter and vegetable shortening for 5-7 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally, beating until the butter is very fluffy.
  • Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and mix on low speed until incorporated into the butter then add the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Beat for about 60 seconds.
  • Next, add an additional 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes.
  • Add the last 1 cup powdered sugar along with milk.
  • Beat on low until the ingredients start to mix together.
  • Increase speed to medium-high and beat for another 3-5 minutes to whip additional air into the frosting.
  • Color the frosting.
  • Separate out ¼ cup of the finished frosting. Mix in 2-3 teaspoons cocoa powder until well combined. You may need to add 1 teaspoon milk to help incorporate the cocoa powder.
  • Dye the rest of your remaining frosting green.

Assemble the Cupcakes:

  • Set up your cupcakes in the shape of a tree with 2 cupcakes for the trunk. For the cupcakes you’ll be frosting with green frosting, place a small dollop of frosting on each cupcake and spread evenly with an angled spatula spreading the icing across all the cupcakes to make them look like one cake.
  • For the bottom two cupcakes, spread the brown frosting evenly across. Then use a fork to create downward strokes to create a rough texture to give the look of tree trunks.
  • Place the remaining green frosting into a piping bag. Using a large star tip, pipe large stars over all of the cupcakes making sure to fill in all the holes.
  • In the end the frosting should cover the tree entirely looking like a cake.
  • Top with Christmas Sprinkles to look like ornaments.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve. Allow your guests to pull apart the cupcakes to enjoy.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 284kcal, Carbohydrates 56g, Protein 2g, Fat 20g, Saturated Fat 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat 4g, Monounsaturated Fat 8g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 16mg, Sodium 187mg, Potassium 46mg, Fiber 0.4g, Sugar 15g, Vitamin A 202IU, Vitamin C 0.1mg, Calcium 59mg, Iron 1mg

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About the Author

Hi! We are Carrie and Christina! Welcome to Christmas on a Dime!

We  are sisters and love everything about Christmas. We are here to help you celebrate the magic of Christmas all year long!

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