Description
Magical Christmas Light Cupcakes sparkle with festive charm, bringing holiday cheer to your dessert table. Sweet buttercream frosting and delicate sugar decorations create a merry treat you’ll cherish and share with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 1 box vanilla cake mix
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) water
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 cup (227 grams) butter, softened
- 4 cups (454 grams) powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 34 tablespoons (510 milliliters) milk
Decorative Ingredients:
- Gel food coloring (red, green, yellow, blue)
- Miniature chocolate chips or black candy for light bulbs
- Edible glitter (optional)
Instructions
- Craft the cupcake foundation by heating the oven to 350°F and positioning cupcake liners in a muffin tin.
- Carefully blend cake mix ingredients until achieving a silky, uniform consistency, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Gently dispense batter into liners, filling each approximately two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake according to package guidance, typically 18-22 minutes, then allow cupcakes to cool completely at room temperature.
- Whip softened butter in a spacious mixing bowl until achieving a creamy, smooth texture.
- Gradually incorporate powdered sugar, beating continuously until the mixture becomes light and airy.
- Introduce vanilla extract and milk, blending until the frosting reaches a perfect, pipeable consistency.
- Separate frosting into distinct bowls, allocating one for each festive color desired.
- Incorporate gel food coloring, stirring meticulously to create vibrant, evenly distributed hues.
- Select piping bags with round tips and skillfully apply frosting in decorative zigzag or swirled patterns across cupcake surfaces.
- Embellish each colored segment with miniature chocolate chips or black candies to mimic twinkling light bulbs.
- Optional: Dust cupcakes with edible glitter for an extra touch of holiday sparkle.
- Refrigerate briefly to stabilize frosting and enhance visual appeal.
- Present these whimsical, luminous treats at festive gatherings or as delightful seasonal gifts.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened at room temperature for smooth, creamy frosting that pipes perfectly without lumps.
- Use gel food coloring instead of liquid for more intense, true colors that won’t water down your frosting consistency.
- Practice your piping technique on parchment paper first to get confident with creating even, string-like light designs.
- Swap regular cake mix for gluten-free or vegan alternatives to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising festive charm.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 246
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg