Snowman Cupcakes
These Snowman Cupcakes are perfect for a winter-themed party, or just a fun way to celebrate the chilly season. You don’t need any fancy tools or techniques to make them- they’re simple enough that kids could even help out!
If you are looking for a fun snow day activity to do with your kids when school is out, this is the recipe for you. Pick up these supplies on your next trip to the store so that you have them on hand and ready to go for winter.
Table of contents
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fun and festive winter-themed cupcakes that will look great on your dessert table.
- Easy enough for kids to help make, plus you don’t any special equipment.
- Perfect for a snow day activity with the family to beat boredom.
🛒Ingredients
You only need simple ingredients to help you make these fluffy cupcakes. Pick up these ingredients on the next trip to the grocery store so you make this festive treat for your family and friends.
Cupcakes:
- unsalted butter
- granulated sugar
- sour cream
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- baking powder
- salt
- all purpose flour
Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting:
- unsalted butter
- marshmallow fluff
- powdered sugar
- heavy cream
Toppings:
- marshmallows
- Red cupcake liners
- Black edible pen
- Orange food gel
- Black fondant
See the recipe card below for quantities.
🔪 How to Make Snowman Cupcakes
Making these cupcakes takes a little effort, but they are so worth it. Plus, they will look amazing on your holiday dessert table this year.
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare your pan
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to the cupcake pan and set aside.
Step 2: Mix the wet ingredients
In a large stand mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar on medium speed for about 30 seconds. Add sour cream, vanilla, and eggs and continue to mix on medium speed until fully incorporated.
Step 3: Mix the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Turn the mixer speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until fully incorporated (careful not to overmix).
Step 4: Bake the cupcakes
Scoop 3 Tbsp of cupcake mixture into each liner and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick interested in the middle comes out clean. Once baked, transfer the cupcakes to a rack and cool completely before frosting.
Step 5: Cream the butter and sugar for the frosting
To make the frosting, add butter to a large stand mixing bowl and mix on high speed for 1 minute. Turn the speed to low and slowly add powdered sugar until mostly incorporated.
Step 6: Finish the frosting
Pause to scrape the sides of the bowl, add marshmallow fluff and heavy cream. Continue to mix on high speed for 1 – 2 minutes until a light and fluffy consistency has been achieved. Transfer frosting to a piping bag and set aside.
Step 7: Decorate the marshmallows
To decorate the cupcakes, use a black edible marker to draw eyes and mouth on the marshmallows. Use orange food gel to create the nose.
Step 8: Make the hat
To make a snowman hat, roll out the black fondant to a thin layer. Using the round end of a piping tip cut out small circles for the base. In your hand, roll a small amount into a ball and slightly press down to create the top of the hat.
Step 9: Decorate the cupcakes
When the cupcakes have completely cooled, add frosting, marshmallows, and a hat.
📝Variations
Do you want to change up this recipe and make it your own? Here are some ways that you can do that!
- Use different food colors and create a rainbow of snowmen cupcakes.
- Add mini chocolate chips for the “coal” buttons on the snowman’s belly.
- Swap out the marshmallow buttercream frosting for a cream cheese frosting.
If you are looking for another delicious snowman recipe to make this holiday season, then you may also enjoy this melted snowman bark recipe.
🥄 Equipment
- Cupcake pan
- Electric mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Piping bag
🥫 Storage
Store these cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you want to store them longer, freeze the cupcakes without frosting and add them on right before serving.
Serve With
These snowman cupcakes make a great addition to your holiday table. And, this Slow Cooker Hot Honey Ham and Spicy Green Beans are staples on our holiday dinner table.
💭 Tips
- Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature before mixing. This helps with even mixing and a better end result.
- Take the cupcakes out of the oven when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Overbaking will result in dry cupcakes.
- If you want to make these cupcakes ahead of time, just wait to frost them until the day you plan on serving them.
⁉️ FAQ
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
To frost domed cupcakes, first trim off the domed top using a serrated knife. Then, add frosting to the cupcake and smooth it out with an offset spatula or a butter knife.
It is recommended to completely cool cupcakes before frosting them. This usually takes about an hour but can vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen and the size of your cupcakes. To speed up the cooling process, you can place the cupcakes in the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes.
Yes, you can use store-bought frosting instead of making your own. Just make sure to choose a flavor that will complement the snowman theme, such as vanilla or cream cheese.
🍽 More Holiday Recipes
Do you enjoy holiday recipes? If so, try these delicious recipes:
🧾Recipe Card
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.
Snowman Cupcakes
Equipment
- cupcake pan
- Electric mixer
- mixing bowls
- Piping bag
Ingredients
Vanilla Cupcake Ingredients:
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter room temp
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- ¾ cup sour cream full fat
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temp
- 7 ounces marshmallow fluff
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
Toppings
- 12 marshmallow
- Red cupcake liners
- Black edible pen
- Orange food gel
- Black fondant
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to cupcake pan and set aside.
- In a large stand mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar on medium speed for about 30 seconds.
- Add sour cream, vanilla and eggs and continue to mix on medium speed until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
- Turn mixer speed to low and slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until fully incorporated (careful not to overmix).
- Scoop 3 Tbsp of cupcake mixture into each liner and bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick interested in the middle comes out clean.
- Once baked, transfer cupcakes to a rack and cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, add butter to a large stand mixing bowl and mix on high speed for 1 minute.
- Turn speed to low and slowly add powdered sugar until mostly incorporated.
- Pause to scrape the sides of the bowl, add marshmallow fluff and heavy cream.
- Continue to mix on high speed for 1 – 2 minutes until a light and fluffy consistency has been achieved. Transfer frosting to a piping bag and set aside.
- To decorate the cupcakes, use a black edible marker to draw eyes and mouth. Use orange food gel to create the nose.
- To make a snowman hat, roll out the black fondant to a thin layer. Using the round end of a piping tip cut out small circles for the base. In your hand, roll a small amount into a ball and slightly press down to create the top of the hat.
- When cupcakes have completely cooled, add frosting, marshmallow and hat.
Notes
Disclaimer
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
Snowmen are amongst some of my favourite “Christmas characters”, and these cupcakes are too cute! Bet they taste delicious too 😋
Aren’t they cute?! We love snowmen too!