The Big List of Winter & Christmas Cupcake Flavors & Recipes

Winter Cupcake Flavors

If you’re here to get your creative juices flowing with cupcake and frosting combinations ideas for the holidays, you’re in the right spot.

Before we jump into the recipes, here’s a quick list of popular flavors for winter and Christmas cupcakes.

• Gingerbread
• Chocolate Gingerbread
• Eggnog
• Peppermint
• Peppermint Mocha
• White Chocolate Peppermint
• Candy Cane
• Mint
• Hot Chocolate / Hot Cocoa
• Toasted Marshmallow
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Cranberry
• Cranberry Orange
• Sugared Cranberry
• Pomegranate
• Orange
• Chocolate Orange
• Spiced Apple
• Apple Cider
• Pear
• Chai
• Brown Butter
• Sugar Cookie
• Salted Caramel
• Maple
• Red Velvet
• Fruit Cake
• Fig
• Pumpkin
• Pumpkin Spice
• Sweet Potato
• Almond
• Hazelnut
• Chestnut
• Praline
• Pecan
• Butter Pecan
• Spiced Rum
• Buttered Rum
• Mulled Wine
• Rumchata
• Champagne

Gingerbread Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Gingerbread cupcakes are the perfect wintertime cupcake flavor, offering all the warmth and comfort of classic gingerbread cookies in a delicious, bite-sized package.

These tasty treats are infused with the rich flavor of molasses and the warming spice notes of ginger and cinnamon, creating a deliciously spiced base that’s sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

And since they’re topped with cream cheese frosting, these cupcakes have just enough sweetness to satisfy your cravings but not so much that you’ll feel weighed down.

Eggnog Cupcakes

Eggnog is a classic holiday beverage that is often enjoyed during the colder months of the year. It also makes a delicious and unique cupcake flavor!

Topped with snowy white eggnog frosting, these fluffy vanilla eggnog cupcakes provide the perfect sweet treat to enjoy as you cozy up next to the fire on a cold winter evening.

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

Nothing takes the chill out of winter like a mug of hot cocoa. These hot chocolate cupcakes are made with real hot chocolate in the batter, infusing each one with rich flavor. But that’s not all.

They are also filled with a generous helping of marshmallow fluff, adding a gooey sweetness that takes these tasty treats to a whole new level.

And of course, hot cocoa cupcakes aren’t complete without a swirl of decadent vanilla whipped cream frosting on top!

Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes

When it comes to winter flavors, nothing beats the rich and delicious taste of peppermint mocha. These homemade chocolate cupcakes are made with espresso powder and peppermint extract for a bold flavor.

They are topped off with a creamy whipped peppermint cocoa frosting that is infused with the cooling sensation of pure peppermint extract.

And to really get into the festive spirit, these cupcakes are decorated with a mini candy cane on top, making them a cute sweet treat for a holiday gathering or family celebration.

Peppermint White Chocolate Cupcakes

To make these delicious cupcakes packed with classic holiday flavor, you’ll start by using a white (or yellow) cake mix and stirring in some melted white chocolate.

The finishing swirl of red and white icing on top adds an extra dose of holiday cheer.

Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes

These gingerbread cupcakes with a twist feature a deliciously rich chocolatey flavor, combined with warming hints of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.

The cocoa powder and chocolate chips in the batter give these cupcakes a rich, decadent texture.

To top it all off, this tasty dessert is topped with a smooth and creamy homemade cream cheese frosting and festive sprinkles.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

With the deep red color of the cake and the crisp white cream cheese frosting, red velvet cupcakes are a fun and delicious way to kick off your winter celebrations.

The cream cheese frosting is silky, smooth, and creamy, providing the perfect complement to the tender, moist and vibrantly red cake.

Rumchata Cupcakes

Rumchata is the perfect winter cupcake flavor. The sweet creamy Rumchata is subtly spiced with traditional Christmas flavors like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

Plus it has just the right amount of sweetness to balance out its warming spices.

Buttered Rum Cupcakes

Buttered rum is a classic winter flavor that perfectly embodies the cozy, comforting feeling of the season. This flavor lends itself beautifully to cupcakes, with rich spiced rum flavors in every bite.

The batter is infused with rum, giving each cake a delicious and boozy taste. These cupcakes are then brushed with butter rum syrup to ensure an extra dose of warm, sweet flavor.

Finally, they are topped off with rich and creamy rum buttercream frosting for the perfect finishing touch.

Bourbon Eggnog Cupcakes

Whether you’re craving a rich, boozy treat to keep you warm on a long winter night or just in the mood for a festive, seasonal cupcake, bourbon eggnog is an excellent choice.

Slightly spiced with toasty nutmeg and topped with a little Christmas cookie, these tasty treats taste like a dream.

With their rich flavor and delicate texture, bourbon eggnog cupcakes might just become your new go-to wintertime recipe.

Ginger Cupcakes With Chai Cream Filling

The spicy chai flavors of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg give these cupcakes a warm, comforting feel that is perfect for cold weather.

The decadent mascarpone cheese frosting adds just the right touch of sweetness and ginger to pull everything together.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cupcakes

Sticky toffee pudding is a classic winter dessert that is beloved by many. So why not take this iconic winter flavor to the next level by transforming it into cupcakes?

They have all the great flavors of traditional sticky toffee pudding, but they’re made even more delicious with a lightly whipped caramel cream frosting and an extra drizzle of sticky, sweet caramel sauce.

Brown Butter Dirty Chai Cupcakes

With the cold weather settling in, nothing is quite as satisfying as a steaming mug of your favorite hot beverage. And if you’re a fan of chai spices or espresso, then dirty chai cupcakes are the perfect way to indulge this winter.

As their name suggests, these cupcakes are made with an indulgent brown butter chai spice cake base that’s infused with rich brewed espresso.

But what really takes these cupcakes to the next level is the decadent brown butter chai spice frosting that’s piped on top.

Apple Cider Cranberry Cupcakes

These delicious cupcakes perfectly blend two rich, seasonal flavors: tart cranberries and sweet apple cider. The apple cider cupcakes are topped with a velvety smooth, cranberry Swiss meringue buttercream.

Each cupcake is finished with a sugared cranberry for an extra dash of sweetness and holiday cheer.

Orange Cranberry Cupcakes

For this recipe, you’ll start off with fresh cranberries, which infuse the cupcakes with their sweet, tangy flavor. The cranberry is complemented with a hint of orange zest in both the cake and frosting. The frosting gets an extra dose of flavor with a splash of real orange juice.

To make these cupcakes even more irresistible, they are finished off with a sugared cranberry on top for a beautiful burst of color and texture.

Sweet Potato Cupcakes

Sweet potatoes may not be the first flavor that comes to mind when you’re thinking about winter treats, but they are a perfect choice for that time of year.

The sweet potato cupcakes have all of the cozy, comforting flavors that really capture the essence of winter, with hints of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon mingling together in each bite.

And let’s not forget about their creamy marshmallow frosting, which adds just the right amount of sweetness and decadence.

Apple Pie Cupcakes

Apple pie always has a place at the holiday dessert table. This year, mix it up a little with apple pie cupcakes!

These sweet treats are the ultimate combination of spice cake and apple pie, with a mouthwatering spiced apple topping and creamy cinnamon icing.

Funfetti Christmas Cupcakes

Homemade Funfetti Christmas cupcakes are the perfect treat for a cold and snowy winter day. These light and fluffy cupcakes have a deliciously sweet vanilla flavor.

They are packed full of colorful holiday sprinkles that add a festive burst of color to any dessert spread.

To top it all off, these cupcakes are topped with a smooth, creamy layer of rich vanilla buttercream that makes each bite even more delicious.

Tree Forest Winter Cupcakes

These creative treats will add a festive flair to your dessert table. They are truly showstoppers that look complicated but are actually so easy to make.

The cute little winter trees are made with fresh rosemary and a dusting of powdered sugar that looks like fresh, fallen snow.

Frozen Themed Cupcakes

Inspired by the Frozen movies, these cupcakes are topped with a swirl of white and blue frosting and decorated with pretty icing snowflakes to create a magical effect.

Polar Bear Cupcakes

These cute little treats are made with a delicious homemade chocolate cupcake that is decorated with pieces of peppermint patty, shredded coconut, and chocolate-covered raisins to mimic the shape of a polar bear paw.

Grinch Cupcakes

These delicious treats start with a classic peppermint cupcake base and are then topped with Grinch-inspired Santa hats made out of rich and creamy peppermint buttercream.

With their bright green and red colors and fun, whimsical design, Grinch cupcakes are a perfect way to add some cheer to any winter gathering or celebration.

Santa Hat Cupcakes

These delicious homemade vanilla cupcakes are topped with fluffy red and white frosting, to form a perfectly festive Santa hat! These cute cupcakes are quick, easy and fun for the kids to help with.

Disney Mickey Mouse Christmas Cupcakes

These adorable sweet treats are covered in red and green fondant Mickey mouse decorations, complete with holly sprinkles and crushed peppermint candy. This recipe is a fun one for the kids to help with too.

Wreath Cupcakes

With plenty of sweet flavors and eye-catching decorations, a wreath-decorated cupcake is a perfect way to celebrate the season.

These festive cupcakes are made with green, white, and red buttercream frosting, and they’re topped with colorful Christmas sprinkles to really bring out the holiday spirit.

Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes

These cute Christmas tree cupcakes start with a chocolate cake mix, which is then topped with delicious homemade vanilla buttercream and dusted with coconut for extra “snowy” sweetness.

The tasty green Christmas tree toppers are made from melted white chocolate and Pocky sticks.

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

In this version of Christmas Tree cupcakes, the trees are made from sugar cones that have been turned upside down. They form the perfect base for the green Wilton Candy Melts that get poured over the top.

To finish off the look, these cupcakes are topped with sprinkles and a candy snowflake for some extra holiday sparkle!

Rudolph Reindeer Cupcakes

Get ready to have a blast decorating these adorable reindeer faces! These cute reindeer cupcakes are surprisingly easy to create.

To decorate, you’ll need chocolate buttercream frosting, pretzels for the antlers, candy eyes, some vanilla wafers for the face and a red M&M’s Rudolph’s nose.

You may also like: Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats (Easy Christmas Recipe)

Reindeer Cupcakes

These adorable little reindeer look like they just hopped right out of the snowy forest.

There’s no need to use tricky fondant to create this festive design. Just a trusty piping bag, some homemade vanilla and chocolate frosting, and your imagination will do the trick.

Snowman Cupcakes

These cute, festive snowman cupcakes are made with a delicious chocolate cupcake base covered with vanilla frosting.

Add a marshmallow to create the snowman’s head and add details with sprinkles and draw adorable faces and arms using black icing.

Gluten-Free Christmas Cupcake Flavors

With the growing popularity of gluten-free diets these days, many people are on the hunt for delicious and festive holiday cupcake recipes to fit their lifestyles.

Luckily, there are tons of tasty and creative options out there to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.

Vegan Christmas Cupcake Flavors

If you’re looking for something special that works with your diet to enjoy this holiday season, why not try out one of these yummy vegan cupcake recipes?