Candy Cane Cupcakes

Name: Candy Cane Cupcakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 16 min
Total time: 31 min
Ingredients: 1 ¾ cups (225g) All-purpose flour; 1 ½ teaspoon Baking powder; ½ teaspoon Baking Soda; 1 cup (200g) Sugar; ¼ teaspoon Salt; 1 cups (240ml) buttermilk; ½ cup (95ml) Oil; 1 Egg; ½ teaspoon Peppermint extract; 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract; 1 cup (226g) Unsalted Butter; 3 cups (340g) Powdered Sugar; ½ Tablespoon Vanilla Extract; 2-3 Tablespoons Fresh Cream; Red Gel food coloring (as desired); Candy canes (as desired)

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These festive two-tone candy cane cupcakes are full of holiday spirit! They’re perfect for serving at Christmas parties, giving as edible gifts, or simply enjoying all season long.

Suitable for vegetarian diets.

the completed candy cane cupcakes ready to be served.

I always spend the current season planning the next season’s recipes. Yeap, I start on my Christmas baking in the fall. Ok, ok, fine I start it in the summer and my kids are veeeeery happy. Looking at you, Christmas tree cupcakes.

This year, a bag of leftover candy canes, peppermint extract, and some Christmas spirit got me thinking about candy cane in some Christmas cupcakes form. A few attempts and a whole load of bowl-licking later, I present to you these pretty, two-toned, fluffy candy cane cupcakes.

Table of Contents

Fun Festive Cupcakes

These fun and festive peppermint cupcakes, are made mostly with pantry ingredients, can be prepped ahead and look almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Double or triple the recipes, freeze some, share the rest with neighbors in July and you will make best friends for life.

And if you like Christmas treats, then check out these gingerbread cupcakes, colorful Grinch popcorn, and these healthier Grinch kabobs.

one of the finished cupcakes on a serving platter with Christmas decor nearby.

Ingredient Notes

Oil – You would need to use canola oil or other flavorless oils.
Candy canes – If adding crushed candy canes to the batter, use either large or small ones and crush them first. Add a bit of flour to the crushed candy and shake to coat so it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the cupcakes.
Peppermint extract – This has a stronger flavor than vanilla extract, so start with the recommended amount and see what you think. You can always add more (or less) on your next baking attempt.
Buttermilk – If you don’t have store-bought on hand, you can make your own homemade buttermilk easily with milk and lemon juice.
Butter – Make sure to use unsalted butter that is at room temperature.

the ingredients for making this candy cane cupcake recipe.

Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!

For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

How To Make These

Get complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card further below.

Make the cupcakes

top down view of the cupcake ingredients.

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C / gas mark 4 and line your cupcake tray with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt and set aside.

the dry and wet cupcake ingredients ready to be whisked together.

Step 2. Next, add oil, egg, vanilla extract, peppermint extract, and buttermilk to another bowl and combine with an electric hand-held mixer until you get a homogeneous mixture.

the cupcake batter inside a mixing bowl.

Step 3. Add the combined dry ingredients, working in batches, and mix gently just until incorporated. Do not overmix. If adding in crushed candy canes, then gently stir them in.

Step 4. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out the batter and fill each liner to ¾ full, then bake for 16-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. When done, remove from the tray and let them cool completely on a cooling rack before frosting.

Make the candy cane frosting

the ingredients for making the cupcake frosting.

Step 1. In a bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand mixer, cream the butter until light and creamy. Add vanilla extract, cream, and powdered sugar (in batches) and beat until you get a smooth and fluffy consistency. This will take about 5-6 minutes.

the two colors of frosting divided into separate bowls surrounded by the cupcakes.

Step 2. Divide the frosting into two equal parts. Tint one part with red gel food color and keep one part as it is (white). Add each color frosting to a different piping bag.

Decorate the cupcakes

the two colors of frosting placed on plastic wrap.

Step 1. Place some plastic wrap on your counter. In the center, pipe a thick line of red frosting, and pipe a thick line of white frosting next to it. You can also add it with a spatula if you want. Carefully roll and then wrap the frosting into a log shape, being careful not to put too much pressure on it. Seal both ends by twisting.

the candy cane frosting being piped onto a cupcake.

Step 2. Insert one end of this wrapped frosting log in a large piping bag fitted with an open star tip nozzle and pull all the way through. Cut the end and pipe swirls on your cupcakes. Add a few candy canes on top for decoration.

Bintu’s Tips

Measure your flour correctly. Use a knife to level the flour if using a measuring cup, or use your scales.
For the best results, fill cupcake liners to ¾ full so they don’t dry out from having too little batter, or overflow from too much batter.
Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before using them.
Don’t over-mix the batter; you want to stop once it is light and fluffy, or you will end up with dense cupcakes.
Use a small ice cream scoop to fill the paper liners evenly and easily.
A cooling rack will allow your cupcakes to cool evenly and at the same rate.
Make sure your cupcakes are cooled completely before you add the icing. Otherwise, you will end up with runny icing, and that ain’t fun.
Adjust the amount of gel coloring you use till you get the desired bright shade in the frosting.
If your frosting is too thick, then beat in an extra tablespoon or two of fresh cream.
To make life easy, feel free to start with some cupcake mix or even some store-bought cupcakes.

the finished cupcakes decorated with candy canes.

Storage

These will stay fresh for 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I suggest only piping the ones you want to eat/serve and storing the rest unfrosted.
You can also store the extra frosting in the fridge for 4-5 days; allow it to come to room temperature before using it again.

FAQs

How to crush candy canes?

Simply place them in a Z iploc bag, and bash them using something like a rolling pin. I tend to use my closed and full olive oil bottle.

Can I make these without piping bags?

You totally can. Just grab a freezer bag, cut a small hole in the corner and use it. Alternatively, my kids like just using knives to frost. They will not look like they do in these pics, but friends they will still taste awesome.

Do I need to add the candy canes to the batter?

I prefer to add candy canes only as a topping at the end. However, other friends like adding them to the batter before baking. Try it both ways and see what you like.

Can I start with a box mix?

You certainly can; your cupcakes, your way. Add peppermint extract and crushed candy canes to your cake mix batter and bake away.

one of the cupcakes topped with a candy cane and served on a black plate.

More Christmas Dessert Recipes

This no-bake funfetti cake batter dip, topped with Christmas sprinkles.
Gingerbread cupcakes
Best Grinch popcorn.
Really easy Grinch kabobs.

Serving Suggestions

Alongside these best ever selection of Christmas cookies.
I love serving with this fruit Christmas tree and Christmas fruit salad.

two cupcakes placed next to a pinecone and other holiday decor.

Recommended Tools

Measuring cups and spoons to ensure you use the right amounts.
An awesome stand mixer or electric hand-mixer for combining your ingredients.
Good quality vanilla extract to give these cupcakes the best flavor.
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.

Thank you for reading my candy cane cupcakes recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Candy Cane Cupcakes

Fun Festive Cupcakes