Description
Delicious festive holiday cupcakes topped with creamy frosting and decorated with fondant.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
- A pinch of salt (for frosting)
- Green fondant
- Red fondant
- Edible glitter (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
- Fill and Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about ⅔ full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and allow cupcakes to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat Butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add Cream and Vanilla: Beat in the heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Continue to beat the frosting on high speed until light and fluffy.
- Decorate Cupcakes: Once the cupcakes are cool, frost them using a piping bag with a large star tip.
- Prepare Fondant: Roll out the green fondant and cut into holly leaf shapes. Roll the red fondant into small balls to represent berries.
- Assemble: Place the fondant leaves and berries on top of the frosted cupcakes. Optionally, sprinkle edible glitter for extra sparkle.
Notes
- Ensure all your ingredients are at room temperature before starting, especially the butter, eggs, and milk.
- To make the fondant holly leaves shiny and add more festive flair, you can lightly brush them with a mixture of corn syrup and water.
- Adjust the consistency of the frosting by adding more powdered sugar if too thin or more cream if too thick.
- For best results, decorate the cupcakes on the day of serving to maintain their freshness and appearance.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake