Elf Hat Cupcake Tower (Printable)

Festive cupcake tower topped with colorful elf hat decorations for joyful holiday celebrations.

# What You Need:

→ Cupcakes

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1 cup whole milk

→ Buttercream Frosting

10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
13 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
14 - Gel food coloring (red, green, yellow, blue)

→ Elf Hat Decorations

15 - 24 sugar cones
16 - Colored fondant or modeling chocolate (red, green, yellow, white)
17 - Edible glitter or sprinkles (optional)
18 - Mini marshmallows or white chocolate chips (for hat pom-poms)
19 - Piping gel or melted white chocolate (for attaching decorations)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Incorporate eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
04 - Alternate adding the dry flour mixture and milk to the butter mixture, starting and ending with the flour. Mix until just combined.
05 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
06 - Beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, then blend in vanilla and milk. Beat until fluffy. Divide and tint with gel food coloring as desired.
07 - Pipe a swirl of colored buttercream on each cooled cupcake using a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
08 - Cover each sugar cone with colored fondant or modeling chocolate. Decorate with stripes, dots, and brims. Attach mini marshmallows or white chocolate chips to the tip using piping gel or melted chocolate, adding edible glitter or sprinkles if desired.
09 - Place each elf hat gently atop the frosted cupcakes to secure.
10 - Arrange cupcakes on a tiered stand to form an elf hat cupcake tower centerpiece.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • A festive and eye-catching centerpiece that doubles as a delicious dessert.
  • Customizable buttercream colors and elf hat decorations to match any holiday theme.
  • Vegetarian-friendly with classic American flavors everyone will enjoy.
  • Perfect for serving a crowd, with 24 cupcakes that can easily be shared.
02 -
  • Use an electric mixer for creaming butter and sugar to achieve the best texture in cupcakes and frosting.
  • Line your muffin pans with liners to ensure easy cupcake removal and neat presentation.
  • Divide buttercream into portions and tint with gel food colors to create a rainbow of festive swirls.
  • Attach elf hat decorations carefully using piping gel or melted chocolate to keep them secure.
  • Arrange cupcakes on a sturdy tiered stand to safely display your tower as a stunning holiday centerpiece.
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