These Christmas Ornament Cupcakes are such a fun way to bring a little extra holiday magic into the kitchen. With colorful frosting, festive candies, and a playful decorating step that kids love, these cupcakes feel more like a holiday activity than just a dessert. They’re perfect for classroom parties, cookie swaps, or a cozy afternoon of baking together at home.
The best part? You can use any flavor of cake mix you like, making this recipe flexible, approachable, and stress-free during a busy season.
Christmas Ornament Cupcakes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
1 box cake mix, plus ingredients listed on the box
1 cup salted butter, melted and at room temperature
4½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1–3 tablespoons milk
Green food coloring
Red food coloring
¼ cup gold sanding sugar
1 (1.7 oz) package M&Ms
1 (7.6 oz) package mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
3 piping bags
3 piping tips
Directions
Prepare and bake the cupcakes according to the directions on the box. Allow them to cool completely before decorating.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute using a stand mixer or hand mixer.
Add half of the confectioners’ sugar and mix until fully combined, then add the remaining sugar and beat until smooth.
Mix in the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk.
Continue adding milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
Divide the frosting. Place half into one piping bag.
Divide the remaining frosting between two bowls, tinting one with red food coloring and the other with green.
Mix until the colors are fully incorporated, then transfer each color to its own piping bag.
Cut 12 medium squares of parchment paper.
Pipe a single layer of plain frosting onto the center of each cupcake.
Gently press each cupcake upside down onto a piece of parchment paper to slightly flatten the top. Place the cupcakes in the freezer for 10–15 minutes, until firm.
Remove the cupcakes from the freezer and carefully peel away the parchment paper.
Decorate as desired. Roll some cupcakes gently in gold sanding sugar for a sparkling effect.
Use the red and green frosting to pipe festive designs, and decorate with M&Ms in patterns or mixed colors.
Press a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup into the top of each cupcake to create the ornament “hanger.”
Serve and enjoy!
New to baking? Find some handy baking tips here.
Notes
Baking time may vary depending on the cake mix you use.
Any flavor of cake mix works beautifully for this recipe, so feel free to use your family favorite.
FAQs
Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?
Yes. You can bake the cupcakes a day in advance and store them unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature. Decorate them the day you plan to serve for the best appearance.
How should I store decorated cupcakes?
Store decorated cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. If your kitchen is warm, you can refrigerate them, but allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture.
Can kids help make these cupcakes?
Absolutely. Kids can help with frosting, adding candy decorations, and rolling cupcakes in sanding sugar. Younger children may need help with piping bags, but decorating is very kid-friendly.
Can I use homemade frosting instead of buttercream?
Yes. Any sturdy frosting that holds its shape works well, including homemade vanilla or chocolate buttercream.
What if I don’t have sanding sugar?
You can skip it or substitute colored sprinkles, crushed candy, or even plain granulated sugar for a subtle sparkle.
Do these cupcakes need to be frozen?
The short freezer step helps flatten the tops for decorating, but it’s optional. If you skip it, the cupcakes will still taste great—just with a more traditional rounded top.
Kid-Friendly Decorating Tips
Set up a cupcake decorating station before you start. Place small bowls of M&Ms, sanding sugar, and other toppings within easy reach so kids can choose their own designs without waiting or spilling.
Use zip-top bags instead of piping bags for younger kids. Snip a tiny corner off the bag and let them squeeze frosting in simple lines or dots—it’s much easier for little hands to control.
Encourage creativity over perfection. Ornament cupcakes don’t need to match, and mixed colors or playful patterns only add to the charm.
If patience runs short, decorate in stages. Let kids frost the cupcakes first, then add candies and sanding sugar later once the frosting has set slightly.
Keep a damp paper towel nearby for sticky fingers and quick cleanups so decorating stays fun instead of frustrating.
More Christmas Treats:
- Gingerbread Face Cupcakes
- Christmas Tree Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Fudge
- Reindeer Linzer Cookies
- Reindeer Cake Pops
- Grinch Peanut Clusters
- Puff Pastry Candy Canes
- Melting Snowman Cookies
- Wafer Reindeer
Christmas Ornament Cupcakes
Equipment
- 3 piping bags
- 3 piping tips
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix plus ingredients listed on the box
- 1 cup salted butter melted and at room temperature
- 4½ cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 –3 tablespoons milk
- Green food coloring
- Red food coloring
- ¼ cup gold sanding sugar
- 1 1.7 oz package M&Ms
- 1 7.6 oz package mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Instructions
- Prepare and bake the cupcakes according to the directions on the box. Allow them to cool completely before decorating.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed for about 1 minute using a stand mixer or hand mixer. Add half of the confectioners’ sugar and mix until fully combined, then add the remaining sugar and beat until smooth.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk. Continue adding milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
- Divide the frosting. Place half into one piping bag. Divide the remaining frosting between two bowls, tinting one with red food coloring and the other with green. Mix until the colors are fully incorporated, then transfer each color to its own piping bag.
- Cut 12 medium squares of parchment paper. Pipe a single layer of plain frosting onto the center of each cupcake. Gently press each cupcake upside down onto a piece of parchment paper to slightly flatten the top. Place the cupcakes in the freezer for 10–15 minutes, until firm.
- Remove the cupcakes from the freezer and carefully peel away the parchment paper.
- Decorate as desired. Roll some cupcakes gently in gold sanding sugar for a sparkling effect. Use the red and green frosting to pipe festive designs, and decorate with M&Ms in patterns or mixed colors. Press a mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup into the top of each cupcake to create the ornament “hanger.”
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Any flavor of cake mix works beautifully for this recipe, so feel free to use your family favorite.
Nutrition
