Poinsettia Cupcakes {With Buttercream}

Quick and easy poinsettia cupcakes, homemade with simple ingredients and decorated with buttercream icing. These are the best Christmas holiday cupcakes.

Last December, I made these easy cupcakes. They are decorated fully with icing and no fondant is necessary. They are simple enough for beginners, and look fancy enough for guests! Here are a few more floral cupcakes ideas for you: Easy Flower Cupcakes (Fondant Pansy), Daisy Cupcakes, and this Flower Cupcake Bouquet.

How to make poinsettia cupcakes with buttercream icing?

1. Bake cupcakes- Cool completely.
2. Prepare the frosting- Color it.
3. Pipe green leaves- Using Tip# 104.
4. Pipe red petals- Using Tip# 366.
5. Add yellow dots- Using Tip# 3 in the center of the flower.

Variations for Christmas cupcakes

Try different frosting flavors- Such as Homemade Stabilized Whipped Cream, Marshmallow Frosting Recipe, or White Chocolate Buttercream Frosting.

Try different cupcake flavors- Such as Best Red Velvet Cupcakes {With Cream Cheese Frosting}, or Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (With Mint Frosting) or Gingerbread Cupcakes (With Cake Mix).

Use other colors of frosting- To make Summer floral cupcakes.

Use sprinkles- Instead of piping yellow dots in the center, toss some small round yellow sprinkles.

Add gold to the center- Use small bits of edible gold foil or even gold sprinkles instead of yellow dots for a more elegant or magical feel.

Tips and techniques for holiday cupcakes

Use gel colors for coloring icing- Because this will prevent your icing from being thinned out, which is what can end up happening with liquid food coloring.

Cool cupcakes completely before icing- Because this prevents the frosting from melting and sliding right off the cupcakes.

How to fill a piping bag with icing? The easiest way is to grab a tall drinking glass and insert the bag into the glass. Then fold the top of the bag over the edges of the glass. Fill the open bag with icing using a spoon or spatula- whichever you prefer.

How to pipe green leaf ruffles? Attach Tip# 104 to your green icing bag. Hold your bag at a 45 degree angle along the edge of the cupcake. Start moving your hand up and down while rotating your cupcake until you have a row of green ruffles.

How to pipe red flower petals? Attach Tip# 366 to your red icing bag. Hold the bag at a 45 degree angle along center of the cupcake. Squeeze your bag until icing comes out and pull away. Continue to do this until you have one row of petals. Move your bag inwards and hold your bag at a 45 degree angle again. Squeeze your bag until icing comes out and pull away. Continue to do this until you have another of petals.

How to pipe yellow dots? Attach Tip# 3 to the yellow icing bag. Hold your bag at a 90 degree angle. Squeeze and quickly pull up.

Storage of decorated cupcakes

Refrigerate– Leftovers can be stored in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Freeze– Unfrosted cupcakes and frosting can be stored in sealed containers for up to 1 month. When you are ready to enjoy these cupcakes, thaw to room temperature and decorate, as per instructions below.

More Christmas cupcakes

• Easy Christmas Tree Cupcakes
• Snowman Cupcakes
• Snowflake Cupcakes (Winter Cupcakes)
• Reindeer Cupcakes (Rudolph Cupcakes)

Recipe