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Candy Cane Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Candy Cane Christmas Trees

I went to a Christmas party last weekend that ended up being the inspiration for these decorated cupcakes. The home of the party was filled with sugar and pink and the absolute sweetest decorations. Wait until you see. I’ll show you soon. Maybe tomorrow. I still need to edit all the photos I took because it really deserves it’s own post.

But back to cupcakes. I was playing around with decorating, so I just used a cake mix for these cupcakes. But if you decide to try them, use a recipe that is more dense, more pound-cake than fluffy because the weight of the trees can cause them to tumble if you’re not careful.

Anyway… Christmas Tree Cupcakes. You’ve seen them before, I’m sure.

Sugar Cones

They use sugar cones for the base of the tree. But all the ones I’ve seen use the entire cone and then rest it on the top of the cupcake like these from Martha Stewart. This would obviously make sense if I was smart.

Candy Canes

But no, I wanted them to be smaller … (go figure)… and stand above the cupcake with candy cane stems.

Candy Cane Christmas Trees

Just like this. Pretty cute.

But, just a little plain I think.

Snowflake sprinkles

So, I tinted some fondant and made little presents to go under the tree. And these snowflake sprinkles made perfect little bows.

See…

Candy Cane Christmas Tree Cupcakes

I think I could have stopped here and they would be just fine.

Instead, I added some pink, blue and white confetti sprinkles for decorations.

What do you think? Too much? or Too cute?

Candy Cane Christmas Trees

To decorate, you’ll need:

Cupcakes
Sugar Cones
White Candy Melts
White Sugar crystals
Frosting
Pink Sugar crystals
Candy Canes
Fondant
Icing colors (I used Wilton Dusty Rose & )
Snowflake Sprinkles
Confetti Sprinkles

  • Cut off ends of the sugar cones, so the tree section is around 3 inches long. Use a serrated knife to carefully saw through without shattering the cone.
  • Dip cone sections in melted white candy coating. If you use a tall plastic cup, it will be easier to coat the entire cone.
  • Remove and let excess coating fall off.
  • Sprinkle white sugar crystals or sanding sugar over entire surface of the cone. Sprinkle over a large bowl and you can reuse the sprinkles.
  • Set on wax paper to dry completely. When dry, you can redip the bottoms to make sure the cone is completely coated.
  • Use 6 inch long candy canes and break the handles off so you are left with a straight piece that’s around 5 inches.
  • Cover cupcakes with tinted pink frosting.
  • Fill a small dish with the pink sugar crystals or sanding sugar and press cupcake tops into the dish until the entire surface is covered with sugar cyrstals.
  • Dip one end of the candy cane in some of the melted candy coating and insert the other end straight into the cupcake.
  • Place a Christmas Tree on top of the candy cane and let the candy coating dry and work like a glue.
  • If you want decorations, it would be a good idea to add them before you attach the tree. Just dot a small amount of coating on the surface and attach a colored sprinkle.
  • For presents, tint white fondant and shape the fondant into small squares by hand. Then use some of the white fondant, roll it out and use a knife to cut thin strips for ribbon. Attach the white fondant ribbon to the presents with a small dab of water. Then attach the snowflake sprinkles the same way.
  • Remember, use dense cupcakes instead of light and fluffy ones so the trees will not want to tip.
  • Or skip the candy canes, use the entire sugar cone and make big trees. Then you won’t have to worry.

Either way… enjoy!

P.S. The baking cups are from confectioneryhouse.com in case you’re wondering,

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303 comments on “Candy Cane Christmas Tree Cupcakes”

  1. Oh no, these must be made as soon as possible.
    They are perfect right down to the last adorable sprinkle.

  2. Too cute…no question about it.

  3. These are gorgeous! I want to come to all your parties! :)

  4. Adorable!

  5. SO. ADORABLE. I love your blog so much.

  6. Cute! Love the presents. Looking forward to the next post. Merry Christmas!

  7. These are just allll kind of cuteness!! Visit your site and LOVE your creations. I just have to get up the nerve to try one.

  8. Your creations just make me smile a mile wide!

  9. You are one creative genius.

  10. These are ADORABLE!! I love them! I’m not talented enough to make them, but I love them!

  11. NOT too Much at all!! I LOVE these. One of my favorite things so far!!!

  12. This is really cute. Of course, I think it would be really nifty to make a mix of cake balls up (maybe chocolate cake with peppermint-flavored frosting), fill the cone, and dip and decorate the entire thing. Maybe I’ll do that for Christmas!

  13. Too cute! I don’t think I can resist from trying to make these.

  14. TOO CUTE! TOO CUTE!!

  15. TOO CUTE…hands down. And I love when people decorate with pastels instead of primary colors!! I’m crazy about them!

  16. Way too cute – as usual! :) Merry Christmas!

  17. I love bakerella. blessings

  18. If only to be inside of your head… Your creativity just amazes me.

  19. love them

  20. they are Adorable!! Your creativity amazes me :)

  21. Absolutely ridiculously cute! Love!

  22. i´m a sprinkle lover!! these are too cute!
    i think your sugar cones here are called “cucuruchos”.

  23. These are just the COOLEST!! I feel like they have been made by a who in Whoville!

  24. I think they’re perfectly adorable!

  25. Not to be mean but yours are way cuter than Martha’s! So flippin’ adorable!!

  26. Sometimes in grocery stores I’ve seen mini cones. Now I’m going to start looking for them. That would help with the size of the cones, I’m not too adapt at cutting cones. Your cupcakes are just too cute!!! They inspire me to try new things!! Thank you!!

  27. Absolutely ADORABLE, as always! You are so creative and such an inspiration! Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas!

  28. I love them. I like them better than Martha’s trees.

  29. These are too cute ! Thanks for all your inspiration….you’re amazing. Merry Christmas

  30. Oh man, those are just too darn cute!

  31. Perfect! I LOVE the presents and extra details! What a sweet Christmas treat!

  32. So cute! Don’t tell Martha, but I like yours better!

  33. Ugh, too cute!! I only say “ugh” because I’m jealous. Mine would look like sad little Charlie Brown tree cupcakes, and not in a cute “true spirit of Christmas” kind of way, but in the “eh, close enough, screw it” kind of way. :) Merry Christmas!!

  34. These are gorgeous cupcakes! I think the next best talent you have besides being an artist is your patience. Cupcakes like these are not only gorgeous they were a time consuming event with an attention to detail. Nice job. Thank you and Merry Christmas!

  35. Totally in love with these. So cute and perfect for a winter baby or bridal shower, too. Or with just a little change in color, I can definitely see these at woodland-themed birthday party. I’m all around in love. You’re amazing.

    Merry Christmas!

  36. amazingly too cute! you are inspiring~ where can i buy these J/K!!

  37. my first words when i saw these adorable treats was: ‘oh would you just please stop’!!!! i have no more time to do anymore baking but you keeping posting these MOST wonderful ideas! YIKES-how DO you do it? blessings and happy christmas to you! :)

  38. Dear Bonny Bakerella,
    I love them, my dear. You did it again! Everything is cuter when it’s tiny. I was just telling PW (for her contest) that we don’t put up a Christmas tree but I may take that back becuase these tiny trees would be totally my thing. Does eating them constitute ‘taking down the Christmas tree’? If so, I may be doing that every day ’til Spring. I’m thinking instead of messing with fondant I will buy the “Fave Reds” box of Starbursts and cut them to different sizes for the gifts. Starbursts are moldable if you warm them for just a second.
    Love,
    You got me tree-d in NE

  39. Really sweet! I would love to hear what kind of camera you use. I am in the market for a new one, and need to know what will take great pics like yours! Any photo tips? Thanks!!!

  40. Wow! I’d never have the patience for that, but I’m glad you do! These are beautiful!

  41. lovely, i’ll try this for Crhistmas Dinner

  42. i actually like these better than the one sitting right on the cupcake. too cute!!!

  43. They are adorable! You are so talented!

  44. Tres cute. So cute, I’d be afraid to eat them!

    … but I still would :)

  45. Once again you have out done yourself – these are adorable! I can’t imagine cutting through the cone without breaking the whole thing. Maybe I’ll give it a whirl…
    Thanks!!

  46. Very cute! You are so creative and PATIENT:)

  47. i’m loving that its not the typical red white and green! adorable.i love the confetti. sooo not too much

  48. oh my heck must go to the store now and getting stuff it is our friend party at my house tonight I am so making these the kids will flip running right now!!!!!! thanks for all your cute ideas you make us all look so good to our friends.
    Merry Christmas!!!!!!

  49. SOOOOO much cuter than the Martha ones!

    You amaze me!

    Thanks for all you do, and Merry Christmas!

  50. Definitely love them with the decorations on the trees! Cute cute cute!

  51. So adorable! How do you sleep at night with all of these awesome ideas swimming in that head of yours?!?! You’re amazing woman!

  52. This has got to be the MOST adorable cupcake creation I have ever seen!!!!!! I wish I had the time to re-create it before Christmas, I know my daughter and he cousins would be head over heels for them.

  53. You are so creative!! I love these.

  54. how cute! i love them! i have a picture of me (Flat Alice) with you from a book signing in Atlanta. i love it! it’s featured in a post on my blog :) the shadow of the cross. merry Christmas, Bakerella!http://theshadowofthecross.blogspot.com/2009/12/flat-alice-meets-pioneer-woman.html

  55. WOW, WOW, WOW! Soooo cute!

  56. Wow, I think this is one of the most impresive desserts I’ve ever seen, and of course the most impresive cupcake. Bakerella, you are GENIUS!
    You made me want to make my friends a christmas party with all those baking ideas you wrote, and I’m not even christian!
    I’m some 14 years old girl from Israel who is really in love with your ideas

  57. Adorable! I don’t think I could every make them, but they are absolutely adorable! Great job, you are so creative!

  58. Perfect little trees! Not too much at all, too cute!

  59. Definitely adorable. Hands down. They look like they’d be a perfect addition to any holiday party. I just wish I had a muffin tin so I could make some of my own!

  60. These are adorable! How does anyone manage to eat your creations? I’d have them lined up in my kitchen with a “do not touch” sign! Super creative!

  61. Adorable! Wish I had somewhere to take these so I would have an excuse to make them. I just made some “snowglobe” cupcakes inspired by Bakerella last year..so Maybe I will make these in 2010!

  62. I checked out Matha’s and yours are was more cooler!

  63. Oh they are fantastic! The minute I saw them I thought they looked very Dr. Seuss. I love them!

  64. never too much!! They are so cute, and I can’t wait to see the party pictures. On second thought, I might become jealous when I see them… so post when you may. Merry Christmas to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  65. These are adorable!!

  66. i just fainted from the the cuteness!!!!!!! love ya!

  67. This looks so amazing!

  68. My 10 year old is going to try these today ( with my assistance), if they turn out well she is goin to take them to our family dinner on christmas eve. Wish her luck, I will keep you posted. Thanks for the inspiration.

  69. Nah, they’re perfect! Over-the-top cuteness…which is always “just right”!!! They’re gorgeous Bakerella – but I’d expect nothing less! ;o)
    Merry Christmas!

  70. amazing as always! Love them!

  71. VERY cute! :D

    Have a Wonderful Christmas! ?

  72. Absolutely the cutest! How do you find the time? Happiest of holidays to you and yours!!!

  73. So pretty! Those are adorable!

  74. Why is it that anything in miniature form is just adorable???
    These are just that….adorable! I might have time to make them….in March Ü

  75. Way too cute! I want one, right now

  76. Adorable. I love them. Definately something I will do with my grandkids next year.

    pscole3467 at gmail dot com

  77. Those cupcakes are so cute! Can’t wait to see the pictures you post from the party!

  78. TWO WORDS: ADORABLY PERFECT or PERFECTLY ADORABLE !!!! Once again Bakerella–you hit the nail on the head!! THIS ARE SIMPLY PERFECT!! PS-loved your cupcake cookies too!! =}

  79. Love it! What a great idea.
    Maybe next year I will try that for the kids

    Merry Christmas

  80. So cute! This would be a fun family project for the holidays.

  81. Qué maravilla de árboles de Navidad.
    Me he quedado maravillada.
    Mil gracias a todo el equipo de Bakarella.

  82. dearest bakerella,
    you are extremely talented, very creative, gifted & i truly enjoy your site!
    wishing you a very joyous holiday season & i hope that santa fulfills my wish (& those of all your loyal fans) with a bakerella cookbook…inspiration book…for 2010!!

  83. These are sweet! I have my final fondant cake decorating class tonight, and I have to make a two tiered cake. I was stumped on ideas of how I can incorporate a winter theme (instead of just turning the cakes into fondant wrapped gifts). I have green candy melts and coloured sugar, so I will try with those, and add them to the top! :) I hope they turn out as pretty as yours.

    Thanks for inspiring me! And thank you to my patient wife, who actually let us get rid of our dishwasher to give me more space for baking stuff :o) Behind every great woman, there’s usually, well, another great woman! :) Happy Holidays Bakerella!

  84. So sweet!!!!!!!!!

  85. Wow these are so good!! So pretty and festive I love them!

  86. TOO CUTE! My two boys even loved them!

  87. too cute!!! absolutely love these…am going to have to try my hand at this one!

  88. You are featured in the Sunday Sweets section today on cakewrecks.com. They did a feature on awesome Christmas cupcakes and 2 of yours are featured.

  89. Very cute! You could also use Starburst candies for presents.

  90. Definitely TOO CUTE!! Love them. I love pink in Christmas things, makes it so retro.

  91. I made EGGNOG cupcakes today from Natalie, a new bakerella friend in the UK, I think I will decorate them like this tomorrow and post later this week! You inspire something higher in me Bakerella, Merry Christmas!

  92. AH! THOSE ARE ADORABLE!!!!!! I WANT THEM!

  93. WAY WAY cute :)
    You are a hoot Love it
    Cheers
    Catie

  94. Oh my gosh they are awesome!!!!

  95. are the sugar crystals you used extra fine or are they just the normal size?
    and, if theyre extra fine, where can one find those?

  96. These are the most adorable Christmas cupcakes EVER! I love your blog!!!

    Happy Holidays!

  97. ps….yours are way cuter than those ones on Martha Stewart!

  98. I LOVE THEM!! they are TOO CUTE! but I must admit I don’t think I would dare to give it a try, they look too hard, specially the part of cutting the sugar cones. Anyway, they look fantastic!
    Merry Christmas Bakerella!
    PS: Today I did your red velvet cake balls with my best friend to give out for Christmas. We spent the whole day doing our holiday baking and they came out awesome and delicious!

  99. Definitely TOO CUTE! These are definity on my MUST BAKE list for next year!!

  100. Oh my! You are truly a genius! Too cute.

  101. Oh my, these look wonderful! Too scrumptious to eat!

  102. absolutely gorgeous!!!

  103. I think that the confetti sprinkles are the perfect touch to those cupcakes! They’re so stinkin’ cute!

  104. Too darn cute…like always!!!

  105. Okay, I think I love you.

    But seriously, these are the CUTEST little cupcakes I have ever seen. Really. You are so incredibly awesome.

  106. These. Are. Too. CUTE!!! I am a new reader of your blog, and am addicted, you are amazing!! First those cupcake sugar cookies and now this…I showed my husband, and i was like, “who does this?” I LOVE em’ Don’t know if I will try them..I tried to make some sugar cookies with the siver balls, like on the good housekeeping mag, well mine looked far from those!!!
    Merry Christmas!

  107. I think it’s hilarious that you think I could do that! You even list things I would need and directions! You can do amazing things with cupcakes and sugar, but let me tell you, I’ll do better to just stand back and watch. Seriously, those little presents? Where do you find the time??

  108. I found you some square candy! Fondant is good, but candy is better. Especially if you go all sorts of nutty and make your own square gummy candy or marshmallows…. I’ve never tried, but I heard it isn’t too terribly hard.

  109. These are so adorable! Way cuter than Martha’s!

  110. Definitely too cute!! Love how they turned out, I like them better than the big trees resting right on the cupcake.

  111. wow.. they look absolutely festive …. i love your wesite… this one is brilliant.. you have left me craving for those cupcakes early in the morning… love your work….

  112. Adorable, of course! I don’t have the time and patience this year to make them, so I’ll have to be content with just looking. I will go back and make the pumpkin/chocolate chip/cream cheese/etc. pie from Thanksgiving, though– yummy! And better baking for someone who can’t sit still long enough to decorate anything right now!

  113. super cute and so whimsical! These just make me happy. Good job!

  114. You have way too much time on your hands!! Kidding, of course. Not too much at all. They were too plain without the confetti. Very cute.

  115. WOW! I am just blown away with these! sooo awesome! keep these great ideas coming!

  116. very very cute bakerella! you’re awesome at what you do!! Merry Christmas :o)

  117. YOU ARE CRAZY RIDICULOUS COOL. Did you actually ask at the end of your post “too much or too cute?” Too cute. No question! These are marvelous. My 40th birthday is Tuesday December 22nd. Will you come to my house with these cupcakes? It would make this old girl very, very happy! Love what you do. Keep rockin’ it!

  118. My kids and I are going to make these tomorrow! I absolutely love them and they are going to be perfect for little hands to decorate. Thanks for the inspiration. Merry Christmas!

  119. So cute. Love the color theme. Thank you for sharing your talented ideas.

  120. Wow, I think these are hands-down my favorite of all of your creations. Have you seen the movie “Down with Love”? Because this perfectly captures that kitschy ’60s Who-ville Christmas feeling. Love love L-O-V-E love it!

  121. wow these are adorable.
    you never fail to amaze me

    i think i’ll have to hold off my other projects until i make these. christmas is coming soon and i won’t have any other reason to make these once december’s over. :]

  122. Like everyone else, I think these are so cute and I love your website. To say that you have inspired and changed the way I bake sounds cheesy and generic, but I sincerely mean it. Do you have a book, or are you thinking of doing one soon?

  123. I am having a sugar high just looking at them. :) You never cease to make me smile!

  124. Definitely too cute–I’d never be able to make those! Just adorable.

  125. Oh my gosh, these are now my favorite thing made by you! These are jaw-dropping incredible and adorable, Bakerella!

  126. These are really cute! To cut down on time you could use starbursts for the presents instead of fondant and I think it would look pretty similar. Love your site, and Merry Christmas!

  127. You are sooooo creative!!!! Love these!!! Great work as always!

  128. How cute! I wish I could come up with a fraction of the things you do. You’re amazing!!!!

  129. These are soo cute! You are so creative Bakerella :)

  130. looooove these! ADORABLE!

  131. Absolutely adorable!!!

  132. You always make things look so easy, but when I do things they look like crap.

  133. they’re adorable… i love ’em! Merry Christmas :)

  134. You are amazing to me! I can’t thank you enough for your amazing creations and for sharing them with all of us! Thank you and Merry Christmas!

  135. Ooooo, Martha Stewert’s going to be BUMMED! Two questions: did you take a lot of care frosting the cupcakes or just get it on & dip it in the sugar? #2 from start to finish how long did it take you? These are the Nth degree of cuteness, well done.

  136. TOO CUTE!!!! I love your blog! Thanks for sharing your delightful creations!!!

  137. Too Cute, of course!

    Love those presents!

  138. OMG! i SOOO love ur creations!!
    I wish i could be JUST LIKE YOU

  139. These are adorable! You are so creative!

    Merry Christmas!

  140. Too cute! I love the little presents.

  141. Those are soo adorable!!! I have ton’s of baking to do this week and I think I am going to have to give those a try!! You are so creative!
    Take a look at my blog. You have inspired me to blog about some of my own baking adventures!
    http://flowersandflour.blogspot.com/

  142. spectacular! and…you can NEVER add too much.

  143. Way cute!!!

  144. Yours are definitely cuter than Martha’s.

  145. OK… while you officially rule and should take over the world, my husband blames you for our expanding waist sizes…… :) I can’t help but to look at your blog and then run out to buy goodies to make all this stuff. You are amazing and have helped me become a hit at some family/friend/co-worker parties with your ideas!! THANK YOU BAKERELLA!

    ps…. my Christmas wish? To be a fly on your kitchen wall and watch you work…. and to meet you…. :) Let me know if you are ever going to be traveling to the NW!

  146. TOO cute!! They’re adorable!

  147. Way, way, way too cute!! I love it!

  148. Amazing- I love these!!!

  149. Those are wonderful! I actually was surprised at home many pink Christmas decorations I saw on the internet this year. I love what you did with these and look forward to seeing the other post.

  150. These are seriously too cute! Makes me wanna climb on top of the cupcake and throw some snowballs!

  151. Honey, I just wanna fedex you (and your cupcakes) over here right this instant!

  152. unbelievable how talented you are bakerella!

    love, love, love these!

  153. I keep thinking that you can’t possibly come up with anything to surpass your latest creation, and then you do. Every time. These are. Just. Too. Cute. You really are just SO talented and inventive. Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays!

  154. super cute!!! I think they are too cute!

  155. Oh my word! They are too cute to eat! I want to decorate with these!

  156. AWWW look how cute… Adorable little trees.

  157. These are adorable! You have such an artistic mind and come up with such adorable ideas. Thanks for continuing to share them with all your fans/followers.I look forward to checking your site every Sunday evening. I am hooked and have encouraged so many friends to check out your site.

  158. Super cute!! I just can’t wait to get baking for Christmas myself!

  159. Bakezilla – No they’re empty inside except for the candy coating used to attach the cone to the cane

  160. These are the CUTEST cupcakes I have ever seen in my LIFE! I can’t cook worth a darn but if I’m ever feeling cupcake-brave this will definitely be one I’m going to want to try!!!!

  161. And just when I thought I was done with my holiday baking, BAM- this comes along!! I am SO making these. If I didnt spend 9 hours in the kitchen today I woul make them right now, but it will wait until tomorrow. You are super talented Bakerella… Merry Christmas to you!

  162. Oh man! What little tiny confection fairies live in your head?!!! These are so cute!

  163. Way too cute!!! One of these days (maybe Christmas break) I’m going to try one of these adorable recipes!

  164. I’m on the too cute band wagon. Christmas trees NEED ornamentation.

  165. Did you fill the cones at all like other recipes do? Or are the cones empty?

  166. This is the reason why I LOVE your blog!!!!! You constantly amaze me with your absolutely precious, yet still delectable desserts! Thank you for another great idea that I can’t wait to get into the kitchen and try out!

  167. Oh. My. Gosh. These are so cute. I’m such a sucker for these. We’ve been using ice cream cones for trees on our gingerbread houses for years. Can’t wait to make these.

    Just so you know – you have turned me into a bakerella groupie. I rearranged a drawer this morning in my kitchen to boot out all the unused playdough toys and make room for my growing collection of sprinkles.

  168. So precious…I haven’t seen them before!

  169. Felicia – good call. I just updated the directions. Basically, you saw through the cone slowly. If you rotate and saw, its like scoring the cone and it will break pretty easily.

  170. Oh and how did you cut off the cone without totally crushing it?

  171. Cutest thing EVER!!!! Martha’s are put to shame next to these!

  172. Ummm….TOO CUTE…as always.

  173. much cuter than the ones from Martha!

  174. Those are the cutest Christmas trees ever! And they even look pretty easy without the presents.

  175. Not too much – Just right. Soo Cute! :)

  176. I think I’m going to have to boycott your site from now until next June… about the amount of time it’s going to take me to work off all these pounds I’m gaining by attempting to copy all your yummy looking treats!!!

    <3 you Bakerella!!! Those are too flipping cute!

  177. Soooo not too much – I love the finished product the most!
    I also love that you call the curl in the candy cane “the handle” hee hee, it’s cute. No wonder you make such cute sweets… you’re cute by nature!

  178. These are very cute!

  179. SO STINKING CUTE!!! I ADORE them and wish I had time to make them!

  180. you kept my heart warm with those lovely sweet things!!

  181. why is everything you do so stinking cute!? too bad i dont have the patience to make these :(. maybe one day when im retired…

  182. So cute!

  183. Definitely not too much, absolutely cute!!! The only thing I worry about is if they would be yummy. For me, flavor is more of a bigger priority than how it actually looks.

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