Christmas Tree Cupcake Platter
A festive and fun dessert platter featuring cupcakes arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree, decorated with green frosting and sprinkles.
Equipment
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment
- Piping bag with large star tip
- Angled spatula
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 24 vanilla cupcakes (cooked)
- Sprinkles
For the Frosting
- 3/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
- 2 tsp clear vanilla extract
- 6 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 2 tbsp milk
- Green gel food coloring
- 2-3 tsp cocoa powder
Instructions
- Prepare a batch of at least 24 cupcakes and cool completely.
- Using the paddle attachment, whip the butter and vegetable shortening for 5-7 minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally, beating until the butter is very fluffy.
- Add 3 cups of powdered sugar and mix on low speed until incorporated into the butter then add the vanilla extract and mix to combine. Beat for about 60 seconds.
- Add an additional 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 3 minutes.
- Add the last 1 cup powdered sugar along with milk. Beat on low until the ingredients start to mix together.
- Increase speed to medium-high and beat for another 3-5 minutes to whip additional air into the frosting.
- Separate out ¼ cup of the finished frosting. Mix in 2-3 teaspoons cocoa powder until well combined. You may need to add 1 teaspoon milk to help incorporate the cocoa powder.
- Dye the rest of your remaining frosting green.
- Set up your cupcakes in the shape of a tree with 2 cupcakes for the trunk. For the cupcakes you’ll be frosting with green frosting, place a small dollop of frosting on each cupcake and spread evenly with an angled spatula spreading the icing across all the cupcakes to make them look like one cake.
- For the bottom two cupcakes, spread the brown frosting evenly across. Then use a fork to create downward strokes to create a rough texture to give the look of tree trunks.
- Place the remaining green frosting into a piping bag. Using a large star tip, pipe large stars over all of the cupcakes making sure to fill in all the holes.
- Top with Christmas Sprinkles to look like ornaments.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve. Allow your guests to pull apart the cupcakes to enjoy.
Notes
For best results, refrigerate the cupcakes after frosting to keep the decorations intact until serving.