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Fun and easy Snowman Cupcakes are super cute and perfect for Christmas or any other wintertime celebration! These are made with a chocolate cupcake base and simply decorated with marshmallows and frosting.
Christmas is all about baking tasty Christmas cookies, cakes, and cupcakes, and of course, making homemade candy!
Every year, we bake at least 30 types of cookies and other baked goods in just a few days. It’s a family tradition that we love and cherish.
These Snowman cupcakes have been on rotation in the Christmas Dessert list for years! They’re so cute, and the kids love decorating them.
Adorable Christmas Cupcakes! Whether you’re celebrating the holiday or just enjoying the season of winter, these super cute snowman cupcakes are sure to bring the smiles.
Fun to Decorate: Not only are these snowman super easy to create with frosting and marshmallows, they are fun to make too! Use colored sprinkles or decorator’s icing to create all of the details, and a bit of orange fondant for the carrot noses.
Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes: I’ve updated and perfected this simple chocolate cupcake recipe, and I know you’re going to love it! These little cakes are rich and fudgy with a tender crumb.
Key Ingredients
I’ve been using this simple chocolate cupcake base for many of the cupcakes that I’ve been making for the season. Check out my Christmas Tree Cupcakes where I made cupcakes that look like Christmas trees and these cute Polar Bear Paw Cupcakes that you can also make for Christmas.
The cupcakes turn out moist and fudgey and everything you expect from a really good chocolate cupcake. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Dry Ingredients: All purpose flour, unsweetend cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and white sugar.
Wet Ingredients: Large eggs at room temperature, vegetable or canola oil, vanilla extract, and milk.
Frosting: My vanilla buttercream comes together quickly with softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.
Decorations: Pick up a bit of orange fondant, a tube of black icing, some sprinkles, and regular sized marshmallows.
How to Make Snowman Cupcakes
Start by preheating the oven to 325°F/160°C and line a cupcake/muffin tin with paper liners.
1. Combine Eggs and Sugar: Whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract.
2. Stir in the Milk.
3. Add Dry Ingredients: Add the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt to the same bowl.
4. Whisk to Combine: Don’t overmix the batter, but combine the ingredients until you can no longer see any dry streaks in the bowl.
5. Portion: Divide the batter into 12 cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ of the way full.
6. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Make Carrot Noses: Start by rolling orange fondant into small balls.
8. Shape: Use your fingers to press the fondant balls into cone shapes that look like carrots.
9. Add Frosting: Once the cupcakes are cooled, add a rounded dollop of frosting to each one.
10: Decorate: Add a marshmallow to one side of each cupcake, and stick on the nose with a bit of water. Use black icing for the arms and details and sprinkles to make buttons.
Recipe Tips
For the Nose: If you can’t find orange fondant, you can just as easily make snowman carrot noses out of orange jimmies or round orange sprinkles.
Frosting the Cupcakes: For the white frosting, I used a spoon to spread it on the cupcakes and then added the marshmallows. If you want a slightly different look, you can use a piping bag fitted with a 1A tip and pipe out the frosting. The full recipe for my vanilla buttercream is in the recipe card below.
Piping the Details: I transferred the black frosting into a small piping bag with a tiny round tip (Wilton #1). I found that I had more control that way, as the opening on the frosting tube was much larger.
Cupcake Storing Tips
If you’re making them ahead of time, it’s easier to store unfrosted cupcakes than frosted ones. The marshmallows on these snowman cupcakes will be best when they are fresh and soft, so wait to add them just before you want to serve them.
At Room Temperature: Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored for up to 1 week in a sealed container.
In the Fridge: This is the better choice for storing frosted cupcakes. In an airtight container, they will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
In the Freezer: Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in the freezer and will keep well for up to 2 months. You can store the buttercream separately in the freezer as well. Allow both to thaw in the fridge overnight, then whip the frosting again and decorate.
Recipe FAQs
How do you make the noses?
There are three easy ways to make the noses. First, use some orange colored icing to draw a carrot nose on each snowman face. Second, try making the nose out of orange sprinkles or jimmies.
Finally, and my preferred way, is to use pre-made orange fondant! Take a little bit and roll it into a log, then narrow one end until it resembles a carrot. It’s easy and fun!
Don’t feel like baking cupcakes from scratch today? No worries, you can add marshmallow snowmen to cake mix cupcakes too!
Can I keep decorating?
Yes you can! Add scarves made out of licorice or top hats made from mini Reese’s cups or Rolo’s. Use shredded coconut or powdered sugar to make a snowy scene! You can have so much fun with this recipe.
Thanks to everyone who has tried the recipe, and took a minute to review it on Pinterest by uploading a picture or sending it directly to me, and writing their reviews. I really enjoy seeing how you guys recreate my recipes!
Everyone’s snowman cupcakes are so cute!
This is what you guys have been saying about this recipe on Pinterest:
Made 37 cupcakes out of this recipe AND THEY ARE SO GOOD – Becky
I was able to make them look exactly the same, they were well loved – Julie
This was great for when all my friends came around for a party! You should definitely try this party starter! – Izzy
Nice and easy to do – used writing icing for the detail and butter icing to stick the marshmallow on – Lorelei
Really pleased with these snowmen cupcakes – Lynda
I’m planning to bake a huge batch with the kids a few days before Christmas, as my nieces and nephews will be around and they love to bake with me!
Try this recipe, get the kids involved and you won’t regret it!
One last thought, these snowman cupcakes make a perfect Christmas gift! Just wrap them in cellophane paper and they will definitely put a smile on somebody’s face!
Preheat oven to 325°F/160°C (140°C for a fan oven) and line a cupcake/muffin baking pan with 12 cupcake liners.
In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla extract.
Stir in milk, then add the rest of the ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt), and mix until just combined but do not over mix. They batter won’t be very thick, sort of runny and that’s okay.
Pour the batter into liners, and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating.
Make the Frosting: Whip the softened butter for 2 minutes until it's light and creamy. Mix in the powdered sugar gradually, then increase the speed and whip for 1 more minute. Add vanilla extract and milk and mix again until combined.
To decorate:
Add a rounded dollop of frosting to each cupcake, and put a marshmallow on top, slightly to one side.
Draw faces and arms using the black icing, and make buttons with the sprinkles. Use orange fondant to sculpt a nose for each snowman.
Notes:
For the Nose: If you can’t find orange fondant, you can just as easily make snowman carrot noses out of orange jimmies or round orange sprinkles.
Frosting the Cupcakes: For the white frosting, I used a spoon to spread it on the cupcakes and then added the marshmallows. If you want a slightly different look, you can use a piping bag fitted with a 1A tip and pipe out the frosting.
Piping the Details: I transferred the black icing into a small piping bag with a tiny round tip (Wilton #1). I found that I had more control that way, as the opening on the frosting tube was much larger.
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Hi Sharon, I used Marzipan and orange food colouring but any orange candy will work! You could also just make a dot with orange icing to look like a nose, but it will look different. Happy baking!
Hi! I’m not a very good baker…but I can do cupcakes! Thanks for sharing this recipe. However,can you tell me how to make Vanilla frosting from scratch please? Wanted to make these for kids who visit our chapel on Christmas day. Thanks again.
Of course! You will need 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) of butter in room temperature, 5 1/2 cups (650 grams) powdered/caster sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and you will need some milk (around 2 tbsp). Using a mixer whip the butter until light and creamy (colour will become pale), then add the caster sugar and mix until it’s fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and milk, and beat on high speed. You could also add a pinch of salt to balance the taste. If it’s a bit too dry, add a bit more milk and mix again. I would recommend using the buttercream right away, but if you put it in the fridge it can stay there for up to 4 weeks but make sure that it’s in room temperature when you work with it. Happy baking!
Could you please tell me, how did you do the nose, what did you use and how is it sticking on. I want to try to make these, they are so cute, but I don’t have any baking experience, so I’m sorry if my question is so dumb.
We have done noses likes this before and a starburst or n orange tootsie roll work well. They cut quite easily with a nice and then you can roll and shape it between your fingers.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
What a fab xmas treat 🙂
Erin says
I have made the noses out of fondant. Now how do I get them to stick to the marshmallow?!?!
Diana says
You can either use a bit of water and that’s what I normally use, or sugar (fondant) glue, or shortening! Enjoy!
Sharon says
what did you use for the nose ?
Diana says
Hi Sharon, I used Marzipan and orange food colouring but any orange candy will work! You could also just make a dot with orange icing to look like a nose, but it will look different. Happy baking!
Roxanne says
Made the cupcakes didn’t turn out as pretty as your so fun making them tho wont let me add a pic
Susan Chups says
Hi! I’m not a very good baker…but I can do cupcakes! Thanks for sharing this recipe. However,can you tell me how to make Vanilla frosting from scratch please? Wanted to make these for kids who visit our chapel on Christmas day. Thanks again.
Diana says
Of course! You will need 1 1/2 cups (340 grams) of butter in room temperature, 5 1/2 cups (650 grams) powdered/caster sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and you will need some milk (around 2 tbsp). Using a mixer whip the butter until light and creamy (colour will become pale), then add the caster sugar and mix until it’s fully incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and milk, and beat on high speed. You could also add a pinch of salt to balance the taste. If it’s a bit too dry, add a bit more milk and mix again. I would recommend using the buttercream right away, but if you put it in the fridge it can stay there for up to 4 weeks but make sure that it’s in room temperature when you work with it. Happy baking!
Judy says
Could you please tell me, how did you do the nose, what did you use and how is it sticking on. I want to try to make these, they are so cute, but I don’t have any baking experience, so I’m sorry if my question is so dumb.
Sandy says
We have done noses likes this before and a starburst or n orange tootsie roll work well. They cut quite easily with a nice and then you can roll and shape it between your fingers.