Santa Hat Cupcakes are a fun, festive treat for the holiday season. The cupcakes start with a boxed cake mix for convenience, but the homemade frosting gives them a special, homemade finish.
These Santa Hat Cupcakes make an easy and adorable Christmas dessert. My kids look forward to making them every year — they’re simple to assemble and always a hit at holiday parties.
Santa-themed desserts are a favorite with kids. If you enjoy these, try other holiday ideas like Santa Hat Brownies or Strawberry Santa Hats. If you prefer autumn flavors, pumpkin pie cupcakes are another great option.
What’s in this post: Easy Santa Hat Cupcakes
- Why this recipe works:
- Ingredients:
- Variations
- How to Make Santa Hat Cupcakes:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Christmas Cupcake Treats:
- Santa Hat Cupcakes Recipe
Why this recipe works:
This recipe is straightforward and delivers a festive dessert that looks like you spent a lot of time, while actually taking less than 30 minutes to decorate. Using a boxed chocolate cake mix keeps the cupcakes moist and consistent; the homemade frosting (shortening and butter based) pipes beautifully and holds its shape for decorating.
Choose any cake mix flavor you like — chocolate is classic here — and finish with an easy, bright red frosting and a small amount of white piped details to create the Santa hat look.
Ingredients:
For the Cupcakes:
- Chocolate cake mix
- Red cupcake liners
For the Icing:
- 1 cup solid vegetable shortening
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 tsp clear vanilla extract
- 8 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- 4 Tbsp milk
- Red gel food coloring
The full recipe with quantities and instructions appears in the recipe card below.
Variations
- Mini marshmallows: Top the cupcakes with mini marshmallows for extra texture.
- Sprinkles: Add festive sprinkles around the base or on the white trim for a playful look.
- Cake flavor: Use your favorite cake mix — vanilla, red velvet, or pumpkin all work.
- Frosting: Swap in cream cheese frosting for a tangy alternative (keeps best chilled).
How to Make Santa Hat Cupcakes:
Step 1. Prepare and bake the cupcake batter according to the package instructions, using red cupcake liners. Let cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and softened butter until smooth. A stand mixer or hand mixer works fine.
Step 3. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, about 1 cup at a time, on low speed until the frosting reaches a soft but pipeable consistency. Add vanilla and milk and mix until combined.
Step 4. Divide the frosting into two bowls: about 70% in one bowl (for red) and 30% in the other (for white trim). Add red gel coloring to the larger portion and mix until you have a vibrant red.
Step 5. Fit a piping bag with a large round tip and fill it with the red frosting. Pipe a tall swirl on each cooled cupcake to form the body of the Santa hat.
Step 6. Put the white frosting in a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe small star shapes around the base of the red swirl to create the white trim, and add a small star or dot at the top of each swirl to mimic the pom-pom on Santa’s hat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start by piping the red frosting with a large round tip to create a tall swirl on each cupcake. Then use a star tip and white frosting to pipe the trim around the base and a small dot or star on top for the pom-pom.
Store cupcakes in an airtight container that’s deep enough so the lid doesn’t touch the frosting. This keeps them light and prevents smudging.
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cupcakes stay fresh for up to one week.
More Christmas Cupcake Treats:
- Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Eggnog Cupcakes
- Christmas Tree Cupcakes
These Santa Hat Cupcakes are easy to make and perfect for starting a holiday tradition. If you try them, consider leaving a rating to share your feedback.
Santa Hat Cupcakes
Ingredients
FOR THE CUPCAKES:
- 1 Chocolate Cake Mix
- *Plus the ingredients to prepare the cake mix based on the package instructions
- Red Cupcake Liners
FOR THE ICING:
- 1 cup Solid Vegetable Shortening
- 1 cup Butter, softened
- 2 tsp Clear Vanilla Extract
- 8 cups Confectioners’ Sugar, sifted
- 4 Tbsp Milk
- Red Gel Food Coloring
Instructions
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Prepare the chocolate cake mix according to the package directions, using red cupcake liners. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.
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In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and butter until smooth.
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Slowly add the confectioners’ sugar, about 1 cup at a time, mixing on low until combined.
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Stir in the vanilla extract and milk until the frosting reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency.
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Divide the frosting into two bowls, placing about 70% in one bowl and 30% in the other. Color the larger portion with red gel food coloring until vibrant.
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Place the red frosting in a piping bag fitted with a large round tip and pipe a swirl on each cupcake.
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Put the white frosting in a piping bag with a star tip. Pipe small stars around the base of the red swirl and a small star or dot on top to mimic the pom-pom.
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Serve and enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition Facts
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