These adorable Santa Cupcakes are the perfect festive dessert for your next holiday party! Soft red velvet cupcakes, creamy white icing and a fluffy mini marshmallow pom pom create the cutest Santa hat cupcakes that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

Whether youβre hosting a Christmas party, baking with kids, or looking for a simple way to spread holiday cheer, these cupcakes will steal the show on your dessert table.
We are sharing tips to help you get the best results when making this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and printable recipe card.
β€οΈ Why Youβll Love These Santa Hat Cupcakes
- πΒ Festive & FunΒ β The red frosting and marshmallow βpom pomβ make them perfect for theΒ Christmas season.
- π©βπ³Β Super EasyΒ β Start with aΒ boxed cake mixΒ and simple decorationsβno fancy baking skills needed.
- π Β Crowd FavoriteΒ β TheseΒ easy Santa hat cupcakesΒ look impressive and taste amazing.
- π§Β Make AheadΒ β Store them in anΒ airtight containerΒ and theyβll stay fresh for yourΒ next holiday party.

π§Ύ Ingredients for Santa Cupcakes
π Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with quantities and step-by-step instructions!
Cupcakes
- 1 boxΒ red velvet cake mixΒ (plus ingredients listed on the box)
- Cupcake liners
Frosting & Decorations:
- 2 tubs white frosting (or cream cheese frosting)
- Red food coloring
- ΒΌ cup cocoa powder
- Mini marshmallowsΒ (for the hat pom pom)
Tools Youβll Need
πͺ How to Make Santa Hat Cupcakes
Step 1: Bake the Cupcakes
Preheat oven and line aΒ muffin tinΒ withΒ cupcake liners.
Prepare theΒ cupcake batterΒ according to the instructions on theΒ boxed cake mix.
Fill liners halfway full andΒ bake cupcakesΒ until a toothpick comes out clean.
Transfer to aΒ wire rackΒ and let cool completely. (This is keyβif theyβre warm, your frosting will melt!)
Step 2: Make the Red Frosting
In aΒ large bowl, add one tub ofΒ white frosting.
Mix in about 10 drops ofΒ red food coloringΒ using anΒ electric mixerΒ onΒ low speed.
Add ΒΌ cup ofΒ cocoa powderΒ to deepen the red color, then mix again.
Keep adding red coloring until you get your desired deep red shade.
Spoon into aΒ piping bagΒ fitted with yourΒ preferred large piping tip.
π Pro tip: If you want a richer flavor, swap canned frosting for homemade buttercream frosting or cream cheese frosting.
Step 3: Decorate Your Santa Hats

UseΒ white frostingΒ to pipe a thick ring around theΒ edge of the cupcakeβthis forms the brim ofΒ Santaβs hat.

Fill the center with yourΒ red frosting, spiraling upward to form aΒ hat shape.

Add aΒ small dotΒ of white frosting on theΒ top of each hatΒ and place aΒ mini marshmallowΒ on top.
Sprinkle withΒ powdered sugarΒ for a little snow effect if desired!
Youβll instantly see those Santa hats come to lifeβand theyβre almost too cute to eat!

π Tips for the Best Santa Cupcakes
- β Β Cool completelyΒ β Always decorateΒ cooled cupcakesΒ to prevent melting frosting.
- β Β Use room temperature frostingΒ β It pipes more smoothly.
- β Β Donβt overfill linersΒ β Half full gives the perfect height for frosting.
- β Β Get creativeΒ β Try usingΒ strawberry Santa hatsΒ instead for a fruity twist.
- β Β Store smartΒ β Keep in anΒ airtight containerΒ at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5.

πΒ Fun Variations
- π« UseΒ chocolate cupcakesΒ orΒ white cake mixΒ for different looks.
- π Top with hulled strawberries for aΒ Santaβs hat lookΒ without frosting.
- βοΈ PipeΒ snowflakes or Christmas treesΒ on extra cupcakes for variety.
More Delicious Recipes To Try

More Christmas Recipes
- Christmas Tree Cupcakes
- Christmas Oreo Cupcakes
- Peppermint Bark Christmas Cupcakes
- The Best Christmas Toffee Bars

π Santa Hat Cupcakes (Easy Red Velvet Christmas Cupcakes)
Ingredients
- 1 box Red Velvet Cake Mix and the ingredients box calls for
- 2 tubs White Icing
- Red Food Coloring
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
- Mini Marshmallows
Directions
- Start by preparing your red velvet cake batter according to the box instructions. This usually involves oil and eggs; you know the drill!
- Fill cupcake liners 1/2 of the way full and bake according to the box instructions. You will not want to overfill these because it will interfere with how you do your icing, and you need a thick layer for the Santa hat.
- While the cupcakes are baking, you can prepare your red icing.
- Place 1 tub of white icing in a large mixing bowl. Add about 10 drops of red food coloring (it takes quite a bit for a deep red color) and mix until well blended with a hand mixer.
- At this time, your icing is probably pretty close to pink, and no problem!
- Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder, which will darken the mixture, and mix well.
- Add in ten more drops of red food coloring and mix until well blended.
- Repeat this process until you have achieved the color red you desire.
- I chose to use a piping kit for my icing. At this time, I filled one icing bag with white icing and one with red icing.
- Let cupcakes cool completely after baking and before icing.
- Now start on your Santa hats by icing just the outer edge of each cupcake with white icing.
- Fill in the center of each cupcake, working your way up into a hat shape, with red icing.
- You should see your Santa hat take form.
- Top each hat off with a mini marshmallow.
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