Christmas Tree Cupcakes 16

I love baking and cooking with the boys.  It is something I did with my Mum and I am sure that she did with hers too.  I have had them in the kitchen with me since they could sit in a high chair and we always have lots of fun baking.  I especially love baking and making with them at Christmas.  Just take a look at these fabulous Christmas tree cupcakes that Mini made and decorated.  Another one of our annual traditions is making our not to gingery gingerbread, which we use to make Gingerbread houses and reindeer cookies.

This post was for a Fairy and Make-A-Wish® UK competition calling on the nation to get baking and share their festive recipes, as part of a competition to find the UK’s best festive cake.

Over the years we have made a number of festive bakes, ranging from Mini Christmas Cakes, to Jelly Baby Jesus cakes.  But it seems that Christmas cakes are no longer the nation’s favorite, in fact 35% of us don’t even like Christmas cake and only 16% of us know what Stir up Sunday is!

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes or Christmas Tree Fairy Cakes are a fabulous festive bake and easy to make with your kids and they look amazing

How to make Christmas Tree Cupcakes

I love making these delicious chocolate cupcakes with green frosting Christmas trees. They are so simple to make and the kids love decorating them

Ingredients

6 oz or 175 grams  of margarine or butter
6 oz or 175 grams  of caster sugar
2 eggs
6 oz or 175g of self raising flour (or 5 oz (150 grams) and 1 oz (30 grams) of cocoa powder)
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
half teaspoon of baking powder (if doing coco ones)
3 teaspoons of milk

We use the all in one method – where we basically throw all the ingredients into our mixer until it is the batter consistency.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C or 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

We use the all in one method – where we basically throw all the ingredients into our mixer until it is the batter consistency.

Allow the margarine or butter to come to room temperature before adding to the bowl!

I believe that it is important to use vanilla extract rather than flavouring as you get a better taste to your cakes.

Put into case cases and cook for 15 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.  We use an ice cream scoop to put the cake mix into the cake liners. That way you get a constant amount in each case allowing for an even bake. way they are much easier for kids to fill the cake cases. You can also use festive cupcake liners. Also there really is nothing wrong with using a box mix although I believe this really is as simple.

For the Buttercream

• 600g icing sugar, sifted
• 300g unsalted or salted butter, softened
• Green Food Coloring

Beat the icing sugar and butter together, with your chosen flavouring and green colouring until smooth. We like salted butter for our frosting.

Fill a piping bag with a large star nozzle and pipe a tree design onto your cupcake and then decorate with sprinkles.  We used tiny candy cane sprinkles, white chocolate stars and silver balls. Yes these cakes are icing heavy!

Print

Christmas Tree Cupcakes or fairy cakes

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 6 oz or 175 grams of margarine or butter
• 6 oz or 175 grams of caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 6 oz or 175g of self raising flour or 5 oz (150 grams and 1 oz (30 grams) of cocoa powder)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• half teaspoon of baking powder if doing coco ones
• 3 teaspoons of milk
• For the topping
• 600 g icing sugar sifted
• 300 g unsalted or salted butter softened

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C or 350 degrees fahrenheit.
2. Allow the margarine or butter to come to room temperature
3. Cream the sugar and margarine together, then add the rest of the ingredients.
4. Put into case cases and cook for 15 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. We use an ice cream scoop for filling the cases, that way they are much easier for kids to fill the cake cases.
5. Beat the icing sugar and butter together, with your chosen flavouring and green colouring until smooth. We like salted butter,
6. Fill a piping bag with a large star nozzle and pipe a tree design on to your cupcake and then decorate with sprinkles. We used tiny candy cane sprinkles, white chocolate stars and silver balls.