Description
Celebrate the festive season with these delightful Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes. Moist cocoa cupcakes topped with creamy cream cheese frosting and shredded coconut snow, adorned with charming pretzel stick candy melt trees, make these cupcakes a perfect holiday treat for family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcake:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup HERSHEY’S Cocoa
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup canola oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Trees:
- 30 pretzel sticks
- 1 ¼ cup green candy melts
- non-pareil sprinkles
Frosting:
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 6 oz cream cheese or light cream cheese, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ½ cups shredded coconut
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcakes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line 30 muffin cups with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Mix wet ingredients: Add the eggs, milk, canola oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes to create a smooth batter.
- Add boiling water: Carefully stir in 1 cup of boiling water until fully combined. The batter will be thin, but this ensures moist cupcakes.
- Bake the cupcakes: Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake in the preheated oven for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely.
- Create the candy melt trees: Melt the green candy melts according to the package instructions. Transfer the melted candy into a piping bag. On a baking sheet lined with wax or parchment paper, lay out the pretzel sticks spaced 2 to 3 inches apart. Pipe the melted candy over the pretzel sticks in the shape of Christmas trees. Immediately sprinkle with non-pareil sprinkles. Let the candy set completely to harden the trees.
- Prepare the frosting: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and cream cheese until smooth and well blended. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar, beating just until combined and fluffy.
- Frost the cupcakes: Spread the cream cheese frosting generously over the cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the frosted cupcakes to resemble snow.
- Decorate and serve: Carefully lift the candy trees from the wax or parchment paper using an offset spatula. Insert the bottom of each pretzel tree into the top of the frosted cupcakes. Serve and enjoy these festive treats!
Notes
- Ensure the cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- For best results, use room temperature ingredients for the frosting for a smooth texture.
- You can substitute pretzel sticks with pretzel rods for larger trees.
- If green candy melts are unavailable, white candy melts can be tinted with food coloring.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
