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.

Course Christmas dessert, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword buddy the elf cupcakes, Christmas cupcakes, elf cupcakes

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 1

Cooling time 15

Total Time 1 30

Servings cupcakes

Calories 547kcal

Author Eileen Kelly

Equipment

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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 white 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

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