Strawberry Gnome Cupcakes - Scrumptious vanilla cupcakes topped with sweet frosting and fresh strawberries make for a festive gnome-themed holiday treat that's adorable and absolutely delicious!
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These delightful gnome cupcakes with strawberry hats are festive delights that are perfect for the holiday season! This recipe is a super fun "mini" twist on classic cupcakes, and they serve as an irresistible holiday treat!
With the soft vanilla cupcakes, sweet and smooth icing, and fresh strawberries, not only are they delicious, but they look cute, too!
It’s a super simple and quick recipe that the entire family can get involved in, and it is sure to be a hit at any holiday themed party or get-together!
HOW TO MAKE STRAWBERRY GNOME CUPCAKES
Before you get started, make sure you have the following ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Butter
- Granulated white sugar
- Egg whites
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Milk
- Powered sugar
- Medium fresh strawberries
- Pink Skittles
MIXING UP THE MINI CUPCAKES
Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a mini cupcake pan by lining it with mini cupcake liners.
Then, follow the steps below for a super cute holiday treat recipe!
- In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt, then set it aside.
- Combine sugar, butter, and eggs in a bowl, then gradually add dry ingredients and milk in two parts, beating until smooth after each addition to create a uniform batter (for more detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post).
- Fill the cupcake liners ¾ full with batter.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before frosting.
FROSTING AND ASSEMBLING THE GNOME CUPCAKES
- Add butter, vanilla extract and powered sugar to a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. (If too thick, add a little bit of milk. If too thin, add a little bit more powdered sugar.)
- Using a knife, frost each cupcake, creating the beard of your gnome.
- Gently press a fresh strawberry into the frosting for the hat.
- Press a Skittle into the frosting for the nose.
TIPS FOR MAKING GNOME CUPCAKES
- If you want all of your cupcakes to look uniform, be sure to try and use strawberries that are similar sizes and shapes. Medium sized strawberries with a wider base work best to resemble the hats!
- For even more fun, you can use gel food coloring to dye your frosting and give each gnome a fun colored beard!
- If you prefer a different flavor of cake, feel free to switch it up and make your preferred flavor! This can range from chocolate cake to red velvet cake to strawberry cake!
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SAFELY TRANSPORT THE GNOME CUPCAKES?
If you're planning to transport these cupcakes and don't want to mess up the decorations, try using either a cupcake carrier or a container lined with paper towels.
Place the cupcakes close together to prevent them from sliding around in the container and protect them further by separating them with paper towels or cardboard pieces.
Try to keep the container level during travel and you should be all set!
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO STORE THE STRAWBERRY GNOME CUPCAKES?
To store your leftover gnome cupcakes, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
After 3 days, the strawberries can start to get mushy and lose their shape and freshness.
CAN YOU FREEZE THE GNOME CUPCAKES?
Yes you can, but you'll want to freeze them without any frosting or strawberries.
You can store the unfrosted cupcakes in the freezer for up to a month by storing them in an airtight container or freezer bag after they are completely cooled.
MORE CHRISTMAS SWEETS TO ENJOY!
- Christmas Tree Brownies
- Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Christmas Peanut Butter Balls
- Christmas Cool Whip Truffles
- Christmas Sugar Cookie Cake Bars
Gnome Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter (softened)
- 1 ⅓ cups granulated white sugar
- 3 egg whites and 1 whole egg
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
For the Frosting:
- 1 ¼ cups butter (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
Additional Ingredients for Garnish:
- 36 medium strawberries (tops cut off)
- 36 pink Skittles
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Prepare a mini cupcake pan by lining it with mini cupcake liners.
- In a medium bowl, add flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, and eggs.
- Add vanilla extract and beat again.
- Add half of the dry ingredients and half of the milk to sugar mixture. Beat until combined.
- Add remaining dry ingredients and remaining milk and beat again until smooth.
- Fill cupcake liners ¾ full with batter.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Add all ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth. (If too thick, add a little bit of milk. If too thin, add a little bit more powdered sugar.)
Assembling the Cupcakes:
- Using a knife, frost each cupcake, creating the beard of your gnome.
- Gently press a strawberry into the frosting for the hat.
- Finally, press a Skittle into the frosting for the nose.
Notes
- To store, place your leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To freeze, place in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to a month. Make sure to freeze them without frosting or strawberries, as they will not thaw properly.
- Feel free to change up the flavor of the cake that you use.
Alphabet
Awesome idea. We do a holoday cookie exchange. I plan to take these. Thanks!
Tonnie Moore
love all your receipes.
Tonnie
Sara
Aww, thank you, Tonnie!
Aussie Jo
These look so nice, I do like cupcakes