🎄 Christmas Buttercream Cupcakes

A festive, fluffy vanilla cupcake topped with creamy peppermint buttercream and holiday sprinkles.

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🧁 Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs (room temperature)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup whole milk (room temperature)

For the Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 3 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
• 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp peppermint extract (optional for a festive flavor)
• Red food coloring (gel preferred)
• Christmas sprinkles

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🥣 Instructions

1. Make the Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a bowl, whisk together:
   • Flour
   • Baking powder
   • Salt
3. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla.
5. Add half the dry ingredients to the mixture and mix gently.
6. Pour in the milk, then add the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
7. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
8. Bake for 16–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Let cool completely before frosting.

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2. Make the Buttercream Frosting

1. Beat the butter on medium speed until creamy.
2. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time; mix slowly to avoid a sugar cloud.
3. Add vanilla, peppermint extract, and 2 tbsp cream. Mix until smooth.
4. If frosting is too thick, add more cream 1 tsp at a time.
5. Scoop half of the frosting into a separate bowl and tint it red.

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3. Decorate

• Fit a piping bag with a star tip.
• Fill one side of the bag with white frosting and the other with red frosting to create a candy-cane swirl.
• Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
• Add Christmas sprinkles.

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🎁 Tips & Variations

• Substitute peppermint extract with cinnamon for a warm holiday twist.
• Add mini crushed candy canes on top for extra crunch.
• Store cupcakes in an airtight container up to 3 days.

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Happy baking & Merry Christmas! 🎅✨

Video link: watch here