Description
These Snowman Cupcakes are a fun and festive easy recipe that turns simple cupcakes into a charming holiday dessert. Made with moist chocolate cupcakes, creamy vanilla buttercream, and cute snowman decorations, they are perfect for Christmas parties, winter dessert tables, baking with kids, and sweet food ideas when you need cheerful dessert ideas that look impressive but are easy to make.
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened for frosting
1 teaspoon vanilla extract for frosting
2 tablespoons heavy cream
12 snowman heads made from fondant or large marshmallows
12 small black fondant hats
12 small orange fondant pieces for noses
12 blue fondant scarves
24 pretzel stick pieces for arms
24 candy eyes
1 tablespoon black decorating gel or melted chocolate
2 tablespoons white sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 12 cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
5. Add the dry ingredients in two additions, alternating with the milk, and mix until the batter is smooth.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about two thirds full.
7. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. To make the frosting, beat the butter until creamy, then gradually mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until fluffy.
10. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe a generous swirl onto each cooled cupcake.
11. Place a snowman head on top of each frosted cupcake.
12. Add candy eyes, orange noses, and smiles using black decorating gel or melted chocolate.
13. Add the black hats and blue scarves to each snowman.
14. Insert pretzel stick pieces into the frosting on each side to create arms.
15. Finish with white sprinkles for a snowy look, then serve or chill until ready to enjoy.
Notes
Use fully cooled cupcakes before frosting so the buttercream keeps its shape.
Chill the decorated cupcakes for 10 to 15 minutes if the snowman toppers feel soft or unstable.
You can make the cupcakes one day ahead and decorate them the day you plan to serve.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 31g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 58mg