Santa Cupcakes

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Makes

about 1-1/2 dozen

Updated: Aug. 09, 2022
My kids leave out at least one cupcake for Santa on Christmas Eve. These seemed appropriate! —Sharon Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota

Ingredients

  • 1 package white cake mix (regular size)
  • 1 can (16 ounces) vanilla frosting (about 1-2/3 cups)
  • Red gel or paste food coloring
  • Miniature marshmallows
  • Brown M&M's minis
  • Red Hots
  • Red jimmies
  • Sweetened shredded coconut

Directions

  1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes, filling paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; cool completely.
  2. Tint 2/3 cup frosting red with food coloring. Place 3 tablespoons white frosting in a food-safe plastic bag; cut a 1/4-in. hole in one corner and reserve for piping.
  3. Use remaining white frosting to cover two-thirds of each cupcake. For hats, cover remaining third of each cupcake with red frosting. Pipe fur trim with white frosting; add marshmallows for pompoms. Decorate with M&M's, Red Hots and jimmies for faces; add coconut for beards.

Nutrition Facts

1 cupcake: 276 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 249mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (28g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.