20 Christmas Cupcakes to Make the Season More Festive

Elf Cupcakes

Add these cupcakes to your Christmas baking countdown! These rich and buttery vanilla Christmas cupcakes have a tender crumb and make a perfect base for these whimsical elves lost in fluffy frosting. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Miniature Christmas Fruitcakes

I’ve found that people who normally won’t eat fruitcake make an exception when they sample these. Using mini muffin pans for baking creates fun, single-serving cakes. —Libby Over, Phillipsburg, Ohio

Coconut Dream Cupcakes

My daughter, Elizabeth, came up with this incredible recipe. The cream cheese in the middle is a fun surprise when someone takes their first bite. —Julie Flournoy, Laurelville, OH

Cherry Cheese Cupcakes

I love making these pretty Christmas cupcakes. The holidays were the sweet inspiration for their cheery garnish of cherries. —Leanne Beagley, Rochester, New York

Nana’s Chocolate Cupcakes with Mint Frosting

Even though she is no longer with us, Nana’s Christmas treats bring me so much joy every time I bake them. For a more indulgent version, double the frosting and pile it on high! —Chekota Hunter, Cassville, Missouri

Chai Cupcakes

You'll get a double dose of the spicy blend that's frequently used to flavor tea in these moist cakes. Both the cupcake and frosting use the blend, which combines some of the best flavors of the season. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes

These luscious cupcakes have a touch of semisweet chocolate in the batter and white chocolate in the filling. They melt away fast at our house. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania

Santa Cupcakes

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

Little Holiday Cakes

My college friend shared these Christmas cupcakes that have pie crust on the bottom, raspberry jam in the middle and cake on top. —Dana Beckstrom, Salt Lake City, Utah

Creme de Menthe Cupcakes

We use creme de menthe liqueur (the term means "mint cream" in French) to add a cool touch to these impressive mascarpone-frosted cupcakes. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

These flavorful pumpkin cupcakes are wonderful year-round. —Amber Butzer, Gladstone, Oregon

Yuletide Eggnog Cupcakes

If I want a creamier frosting on these, I add more eggnog. The nog lovers in your life won't complain! —Salina Moore, Woodward, Oklahoma

Pumpkin Chip Cupcakes

I love these cupcakes that are loaded with chocolate chips and chopped walnuts. My mom makes them for dessert on special occasions. —Jacinta Ransom, South Haven, Michigan

Chocolate Ganache Peanut Butter Cupcakes

I've been baking cakes for years and enjoy trying new combinations of flavors and textures. For this peanut butter cupcake recipe, I blended peanut butter and chocolate. As soon as I took the first bite, I knew I had created something divine! —Ronda Schabes, Vicksburg, Michigan

Red Wine and Chocolate Cupcakes

Red wine and chocolate make an amazing pairing, especially in these rich, elegant cupcakes made for my mother’s birthday. She adores them! —Candace Cheney, Fort McMurray, Alberta

Cream Cheese Chocolate Cupcakes

Smooth cream cheese inside makes these cupcakes so rich. The classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate chips comes through in every yummy bite. You'll be asked to make them again and again. —Shirley Dunbar, Mojave, California

Chocolate Macaroon Cupcakes

A delightful coconut and ricotta cheese filling is hidden inside these chocolate Christmas cupcakes. —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania

Special Mocha Cupcakes

Topped with a fluffy frosting and chocolate sprinkles, these extra-rich, extra-delicious cupcakes smell wonderful while baking and taste even better! —Mary Bilyeu, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Maple Carrot Cupcakes

I come from a line of family cooks and have liked to cook and bake since I was young. Mother and Grandmom were always in the kitchen cooking up something delicious. These carrot cupcakes were Grandmom's specialty, and we always have them at family gatherings. —Lisa Ann Panzino DiNunzio, Vineland, New Jersey

Salted Caramel Cupcakes

To help balance the sweetness of this brown sugar cupcake, our Test Kitchen experts created a unique salty frosting. It's the best of both worlds! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen