I love making these candy cane cupcakes around the holidays because they’re easy to make and always a hit. They’re soft, rich, and feel festive and are perfect to get you into the holiday mood. I like that they work for parties, family gatherings, or just a regular night at home. They’re simple, easy to make, and the kind of dessert people usually ask for again.

Why You Will Love This Candy Cane Cupcakes Recipe

• When I make these, I love how easy it is to get that holiday look without complicated piping or techniques. You will love that a few sprinkles make them instantly festive.
• The frosting is creamy and smooth. My preference is an off-white frosting because it makes the red and white marbles pop beautifully. You will notice how pretty they look even if you don’t go crazy with decoration.
• Perfect for gifting or just snacking. I like wrapping a few up in a little box for friends or coworkers, but you will enjoy eating them straight from the kitchen too. They feel special but still fun and casual.

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk

Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For decoration

• Red and white marble sprinkles or crushed candy cane pieces

How To Make Candy Cane Cupcakes

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
4. Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture until just combined. Don’t overmix.
5. Divide the batter into the cupcake liners and bake for 17-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool completely.
6. For the frosting, beat the butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust consistency as needed.
7. Frost the cooled cupcakes with an off-white swirl of frosting. My preference is a casual swirl so they look homemade and cozy.
8. Sprinkle red and white marble sprinkles over the frosting. You can play around and let each cupcake have its own fun look.

Tips For The Best Candy Cane Cupcakes

• Don’t stress about perfect swirls.
  When I make these, I just swirl the frosting casually. You will see that it gives them a cozy, homemade vibe instead of looking too polished.
• Use fresh sprinkles for color pop.
  I like bright, festive sprinkles because they really stand out against the off-white frosting. You will love how cheerful they look with just a few added.
• Try a subtle candy cane flavor.
  If you want, you can add a tiny drop of peppermint extract to the frosting.

More cupcake recipes

• Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Hot Chocolate Cupcakes 
• Best Raspberry Cupcakes
• Apple Crisp Cupcakes
• Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes