Christmas Light Cupcakes
Bring holiday cheer to your dessert table with these whimsical Christmas Light Cupcakes! Fluffy vanilla or chocolate cupcakes are topped with swirls of smooth buttercream frosting and decorated with playful strings of “lights” made from black icing and colorful candy bulbs. They’re fun to make, eye-catching on any holiday spread, and perfect for parties, cookie swaps, or baking with kids. These cupcakes don’t just taste like Christmas—they look like it too!
Christmas Light Cupcakes
Christmas Light Cupcakes are a delightful holiday treat. These festive cupcakes are decorated with frosting and colorful M&M's candies arranged to look like twinkling Christmas lights, bringing holiday cheer to every bite.
Method
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two muffin tins with 18 cupcake liners. Prepare your favorite cake mix according to the instructions on the package. Use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to fill each cupcake liner about ¾ full with batter. Don't overfill the liners, as the cupcakes will rise as they bake. Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, which should take about 18 minutes. Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the muffin tins before frosting.
- Make the frosting by first whipping the heavy cream. You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat the cream on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Be careful not to over-whip the cream. In a separate large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture is light and fluffy. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing, as this can deflate the whipped cream.
- Carefully transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with your favorite tip. Frost the cupcakes as desired. You can create swirls, rosettes, or any other design you like. Once the cupcakes are frosted, use a tube of decorating gel in a contrasting color (such as red, green, or blue) to draw a line or "string" around the frosting. This will be the base for your Christmas lights. Finally, add mini M&M's along the line of decorating gel to represent the "lights."
Nutrition
Notes
Ingredients:
- Cake Mix: Use your favorite flavor of cake mix. Chocolate, vanilla, and yellow cake all work well.
- Frosting: You can use store-bought frosting or make your own. A cream cheese frosting is a delicious and festive option.
- Decorating Gel: Choose a color of decorating gel that contrasts with your frosting. Red, green, and blue are classic Christmas colors.
- M&M's Minis: These colorful candies are perfect for creating the "lights" on the cupcakes.
- Cupcake Liners: Use festive cupcake liners to add to the holiday theme.
- Preheat the Oven: Make sure your oven is properly preheated to 350°F.
- Don't Overfill: Fill the cupcake liners about ¾ full to prevent the batter from overflowing as it bakes.
- Test for Doneness: Insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If it comes out clean, the cupcakes are done.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Piping Bag: Use a piping bag with your favorite tip to create beautiful frosting swirls.
- Decorating Gel: Apply the decorating gel in a thin line to create the "string" for the lights.
- M&M's Placement: Place the M&M's Minis along the line of decorating gel to resemble Christmas lights.
- Creative Variations: Get creative with the colors and patterns of the M&M's. You can also add other decorations, like sprinkles or edible glitter.
- Room Temperature: Store the decorated cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerate: If your frosting contains perishable ingredients like cream cheese, store the cupcakes in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Make it a Family Activity: Decorating the cupcakes is a fun activity for kids and adults alike.
- Use Different Flavors: Experiment with different cake and frosting flavors to create unique variations.
- Add a Festive Touch: Use holiday-themed sprinkles or edible glitter to add extra sparkle.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 (15 oz) box of Devil’s Food Cake Mix, plus ingredients called for on the box (see notes)
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tube black decorating gel (or green)
- 1 bag mini M&M’s
Image Gallery Christmas Light Cupcakes
Storage & Leftovers
Storage:
Room Temperature:
If the cupcakes are frosted with buttercream and not made with perishable fillings, they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.Refrigerator:
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Allow cupcakes to come to room temperature before serving for best texture and flavor.Freezer:
Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 2 months. Wrap each cupcake individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe bag or container.
Frosted cupcakes can also be frozen, but decorations may lose some detail. Freeze uncovered until solid, then wrap carefully.
Reheating (if needed):
Cupcakes should not be reheated for serving, but if you want to warm unfrosted cupcakes slightly, microwave for 5–10 seconds max to avoid drying out.
Pro Tips:
Store decorative toppings (like candy “lights”) separately if making ahead—they hold up better when added just before serving.
If frosting becomes firm in the fridge, let cupcakes sit out for 20–30 minutes to soften.
Keep away from direct heat or sunlight to prevent frosting and decorations from melting or sliding.
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