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Frosty Snowflake Holiday Cupcakes are a winter wonderland in cupcake form! These cupcakes are perfect for spreading holiday cheer and are decorated with snowflake designs that will impress your guests. Here’s a recipe to make your festive season even sweeter:
Ingredients for the Cupcakes:
- 1 box vanilla or white cake mix (or your favorite homemade vanilla cake recipe)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Ingredients for the Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp heavy cream (or milk)
- Pinch of salt
- Gel food coloring (blue or light silver/white)
- Edible glitter or shimmer (optional, for snow effect)
- Silver or white sprinkles (optional)
- Snowflake decorations (edible, or use sugar snowflakes or a snowflake cookie cutter for a template)
Instructions:
1. Make the Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with festive paper liners.
- In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk. Start and end with the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full with the batter.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
2. Make the Buttercream Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Add the vanilla extract, heavy cream (or milk), and a pinch of salt, and continue to beat until light and fluffy (about 3-5 minutes).
- Divide the frosting into two parts. Leave one white and add a few drops of blue gel food coloring to the other. Mix until the color is fully incorporated. You can also use silver or white food coloring for a more wintery, frosty look.
- If you want a shimmery snow effect, add a little edible glitter or shimmer dust to the frosting.
3. Frost the Cupcakes:
- Base Frosting: Use a spatula or piping bag fitted with a round tip to frost the top of the cupcakes with the white frosting. Create a smooth, even layer of frosting on each cupcake.
- Snowflake Design: Use a piping bag with a star tip or snowflake tip to pipe a snowflake design on top of each cupcake using the colored frosting (blue or silver). You can also use a snowflake stencil and powdered sugar to dust a snowflake design over the cupcakes.
- Optional Sparkles: Add a light dusting of edible glitter or shimmer for that extra frosty, wintery touch.
4. Decorate the Cupcakes:
- Snowflake Toppers: To complete the snowflake theme, you can top each cupcake with edible snowflake decorations. If you don’t have edible snowflakes, you can use a snowflake-shaped cookie cutter as a stencil and sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the cupcake.
- You can also add silver or white sprinkles for extra sparkle, making the cupcakes look like they’re dusted with snow.
5. Chill and Serve:
- Let the cupcakes sit for a few minutes to let the frosting set before serving.
- Serve the cupcakes chilled for that extra frosty effect or at room temperature for a softer texture.
Optional Tips:
- Flavor Twist: You can infuse the frosting with peppermint or almond extract for a more festive flavor.
- For a Frosty Effect: Add a few candy canes or small edible snowflakes on top for extra holiday flair!
❄️🧁 These Frosty Snowflake Holiday Cupcakes are the perfect treat for your winter-themed holiday party! They’re not only beautiful but also delicious with a creamy, sweet buttercream frosting and a snowy touch that captures the essence of the season. Enjoy and happy holidays!
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