Description
Adorable and moist vanilla cupcakes topped with towering red buttercream frosting shaped like Santa hats, finished with a fluffy white pom-pom.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 3–4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)
- Red gel food coloring
- White frosting (standard buttercream)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
- Cream the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the milk, and mix until just combined.
- Distribute batter evenly among the liners and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- To make frosting, beat butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in vanilla, heavy cream, and red gel food coloring until a deep red is achieved.
- Pipe a ring of white frosting around the top edge of each cooled cupcake.
- Pipe a tall, pointed cone of red frosting in the center of the white ring, spiraling upward.
- Finish with a small dollop of white frosting on the tip of the cone and a small circle at the base.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American