Santa Hat Cupcakes

Santa Hat Cupcakes are a fun, festive, and delicious treat for your Christmas celebrations! These cupcakes are easy to make and will definitely be a hit with both kids and adults. Here’s a simple recipe to create these adorable Santa-inspired treats.

Ingredients for the Cupcakes:

1 box of vanilla cake mix (or use your favorite homemade vanilla cupcake 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
Red food coloring
Mini marshmallows (for the pom-pom hat)
Sprinkles (optional, for extra decoration)

Instructions:

1. Make the Cupcakes:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar together 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. Begin 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 mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, and continue to beat on low speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add the vanilla extract, heavy cream (or milk), and pinch of salt, and continue to beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
Divide the frosting into two bowls. Leave one bowl white for the base of the frosting, and add a few drops of red food coloring to the other bowl, mixing until the frosting is a rich red.

3. Assemble the Santa Hats:

Frost the Cupcakes:
- Use a spatula or a piping bag fitted with a round tip to frost the top of the cupcakes with the white buttercream. Create a base around the edge of the cupcake to resemble the fluffy brim of Santa’s hat.
Shape the Red Frosting:
- Using a piping bag fitted with a star tip (or any piping tip of your choice), pipe the red frosting into a cone shape at the center of the cupcake to form the body of Santa’s hat. Make sure it’s tall enough to look like a hat.
Add the Pom-Pom:
- Place a mini marshmallow at the tip of the red frosting cone to create the pom-pom on Santa’s hat.
- If desired, you can add a little bit of white frosting around the marshmallow to make it look more like a fluffy pom-pom.

4. Decorate (Optional):

For extra festive flair, sprinkle some edible glitter or white sprinkles around the brim of Santa’s hat for a snowy effect.
You can also top with additional mini marshmallows or even a small candy cane for a little holiday touch.

5. Serve and Enjoy:

Your Santa Hat Cupcakes are now ready to be served! They make a perfect dessert for a Christmas party or as a fun family baking activity.

Tips:

Flavor Twist: If you want to give your cupcakes a little extra holiday flair, try adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or nutmeg to the cake batter for a spiced touch.
Red Frosting Tip: For a deeper red color, make sure to use gel food coloring. Liquid food coloring can alter the texture of the frosting.

🎅🧁 These Santa Hat Cupcakes are not only adorable but also delicious, with a soft vanilla base and a creamy frosting that will bring holiday cheer to your table. Enjoy baking and celebrating!