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    Home » Recipes » Holiday Sweets and Treats

    Buddy the Elf Cupcakes

    Published: Dec 17, 2023 · Modified: Dec 9, 2024 by Eileen Murphy Kelly

    Jump to Recipe
    Pinterest pin for buddy the elf cupcakes

    Buddy the Elf Cupcakes are easy to make and perfect for a holiday party. If you are looking for a festive and kid-friendly dessert, these cupcakes are it.

    Jump to:
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • Instructions
    • Storage
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Variations
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Similar recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    • This Christmas Cupcake recipe is perfectly festive and fun to make with your children. These cupcakes are a great treat for the holiday season.
    • No need to spend $20 or more on cupcakes at a bakery when you can save money and make this holiday cupcake recipe at home.

    Ingredients

    Ingredients to make Buddy the Elf cupcakes with text overlay.

    Cupcake Ingredients

    • unsalted butter, softened
    • white granulated sugar
    • eggs
    • all-purpose flour
    • whole milk
    • vanilla extract

    Buttercream Frosting and Topping Ingredients

    • confectioners sugar
    • unsalted butter, softened
    • vanilla extract
    • splash milk
    • Holiday Sprinkles
    • mini candy canes
    • candy corn
    • Gum Drops
    • pure maple syrup

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Equipment

    • cupcake pan
    • cupcake liners
    • large mixing bowls
    • mixer
    • cooling rack
    • plastic bag or piping bag

    Instructions

    This is an overview of the recipe. The full step-by-step instructions are below in the recipe card.

    How to make the cupcake

    Steps to make Buddy the Elf cupcakes.
    1. Line a 24 cupcake pan or 2(12) cupcake pans with liners, set aside.
    2. In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure the ingredients are well blended. This can take about 5 -7 minutes to blend well.
    3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
    4. At a low speed, beat in flour, one cup at a time, alternating with milk, until just combined.
    5. Mix in vanilla extract.
    6. Divide batter evenly between 24 cupcake liners.
    7. Now, this is the most important part, YOU HAVE TO PUT THESE IN A COLD OVEN.
    8. Set the oven to 325°F and bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    9. Remove from the oven and let cool on a cooling rack.

    How to make the buttercream

    1. In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or using a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, whip the butter until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure all the butter gets light and fluffy.
    2. At low speed, slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Once incorporated add the vanilla extract
    3. Add in milk, 1 Tablespoon at a time until the frosting is a nice thick but pipeable consistency.
    4. Place the buttercream in a large plastic bag and snip off the end.
    5. Pipe the buttercream on each cupcake.
    6. Sprinkle all the cupcakes with holiday sprinkles
    7. Top 6 of the cupcakes with gumdrops, 6 of them with candy corn, 6 of them with mini candy canes and drizzle the remaining 6 with maple syrup.
    An overhead view of buddy the elf cupcakes with gumdrops, sprinkles, and candy corn.

    Storage

    These cupcakes will stay fresh for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight covered container.

    Elf cupcakes can be baked ahead of time and frozen unfrosted for about 2 months. Wrap them in plastic wrap and then in a freezer-safe storage bag. Be sure to push the air out of the bag before sealing it.

    Expert Tips

    Expert Tip: Do not preheat the oven for these cupcakes. You want to put them in a cold oven.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why do I put these cupcakes in a cold oven?

    Putting them in a cold oven will help them rise evenly when they are baked.

    What should I do if the cupcakes are not cooked all the way through?

    Put them back in the oven for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

    A

    Variations

    • Add ½ cup of cocoa powder to your cupcake batter for chocolate cupcakes.
    • The buttercream frosting is great as it is, but you can add in one teaspoon of peppermint extract for a peppermint frosting.
    • Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to your buttercream frosting for a chocolate buttercream frosting.

    Serving Suggestions

     Caramel Macchiato recipe.

    Irish Coffee

    Whisky Pecan Pie

    rugelach 

    spritz cookies 

    double chocolate peppermint cookies.

    Similar recipes

    No-Bake Melting Snowman Oreo Truffles

    Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

    Grinch Cupcakes ar

    Whipped Shortbread Cookies

    Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

    I love any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below.

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    Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.

    Eileen  xo

    If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.

    If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    📖 Recipe

    Buddy the Elf Cupcakes

    Enjoy festive easy from-scratch vanilla cupcakes topped with homemade buttercream. The toppings are elf-themed from the movie Elf, including gumdrops, maple syrup, candy corns, and candy canes.
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    Course: Christmas dessert, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: buddy the elf cupcakes, Christmas cupcakes, elf cupcakes
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Cooling time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 cupcakes
    Calories: 547kcal
    Author: Eileen Kelly

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

    Equipment Needed:

    • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
    • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    • 12-count muffin tin
    • Stand Mixer
    • Disposable Piping Bags
    • Star Piping Tip
    • Cooling Racks

    Ingredients

    How to make the cupcake

    • 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
    • 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
    • 6 large eggs
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract

    How to make the buttercream

    • 4 cups confectioners sugar
    • 3 cups unsalted butter, softened
    • ½ Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1-2 Tablespoons milk more, if needed
    • Holiday Sprinkles
    • mini candy canes
    • candy corn
    • Gum Drops
    • pure maple syrup

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    Instructions

    How to make the cupcake

    • Line a 24 cupcake pan or 2(12) cupcake pans with liners, set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream unsalted butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure ingredients are well blended. This can take about 5 -7 minutes to blend well.
    • Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
    • On a low speed, beat in flour, one cup at a time, alternating with milk, until just combined.
    • Mix in vanilla extract.
    • Divide batter evenly between 24 cupcake liners.
    • Now this is the most important part, YOU HAVE TO PUT THESE IN A COLD OVEN.
    • Set the oven to 325°F and bake for 60 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Remove from the oven and let cool on a cooling rack.

    How to make the buttercream

    • In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or using a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, whip the butter until fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure all the butter gets light and fluffy.
    • On a low speed, slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Once incorporated add the in the vanilla extract
    • Add in milk, 1 Tablespoon at a time until the frosting is a nice thick but pipeable consistency.
    • Place the buttercream in a large plastic bag and snip off the end.
    • Pipe the buttercream on each cupcake.
    • Sprinkle all the cupcakes with holiday sprinkles
    • Top 6 of the cupcakes with gumdrops, 6 of them with candy corn, 6 of them with mini candy canes and drizzle the remaining 6 with maple syrup.
    • Ready to serve!

    NOTES

    Be sure to check Expert Tips and FAQs above with important tips and questions that can help make a delicious recipe. 
    This is the most important part, YOU HAVE TO PUT THESE IN A COLD OVEN.
    Storage: These cupcakes will stay fresh for up to 3 days, stored in an airtight covered container.
    Elf cupcakes can be baked ahead of time and frozen unfrosted for about 2 months. Wrap them in plastic wrap and then in a freezer-safe storage bag. Be sure to push the air out of the bag before sealing it.
    I'm not a registered dietician, I do my best to provide the most accurate nutritional values. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation. Actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes
     

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 547kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 1148IU | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @Everyday_Eileen or tag #everydayeileen!

    More Holiday Sweets and Treats

    • Baileys cupcakes on a wooden cutting board.
      Baileys Cupcake Recipe
    • Little Debbie copycat Christmas tree cakes staked on a plate.
      Christmas Tree Cakes
    • A ramekin with pumpkin creme brulee.
      Pumpkin Creme Brulee
    • Pumpkin tiramisu in individual cocette ceramic bowls.
      Easy Pumpkin Tiramisu Cups

    Thank you for sharing!

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