White chocolate snowflake cupcakes are pretty much winter on a plate. Soft, fluffy white chocolate cupcakes with little pockets of melty chips, a big swirl of vanilla frosting, and a dainty chocolate snowflake topper sitting right on top.
These Christmas themed cupcakes bring that winter wonderland feel to any holiday desserts table without much fuss. They’re a great pick for Christmas party desserts, school celebrations, Christmas movie night treats, or New Years Eve desserts.
Everyone gets their own, they travel well, and those edible cupcake toppers always get people talking. Add these cute festive desserts to your list of go-to winter cupcake recipes and they’ll probably end up on repeat all season long.
If you love cute holiday baking recipes, also try these Christmas tree sugar cookies, some gingerbread cake pops, or these fun ornament cupcakes.
Why You’ll Love This White Chocolate Snowflake Cupcakes Recipe
Homemade snowflake toppers: The white chocolate snowflakes are simply piped onto parchment and chilled, so you get a bakery-style finish with no special tools beyond a ziplock bag.
Light, tender crumb: Egg whites and sour cream keep these white cupcakes soft and fluffy, while the white chocolate chips folded through add little pockets of sweetness in every bite.
Festive and versatile treat: Whether you need sweet treats for a Christmas party, New Years Eve, or a winter birthday, these snowflake cupcakes are a great choice for celebrating.
Ingredients
To make white chocolate snowflake cupcakes you’ll need the following ingredients. I cover a few of the key ingredients here, but you can find the specific quantities and steps in the recipe card below.
- Vanilla bean paste: Vanilla paste has a richer flavor than extract, which is why it’s used in the cupcake batter to give them a deep vanilla flavor. However, you can substitute for vanilla extract if that is what you have on hand.
- Egg whites: Help bind the mixture, but also keep the cupcakes whiter than using whole eggs.
- Sour cream: Gives the cupcakes a tender, moist crumb.
- Nonpareils: Small white round sugar balls for decorating. You can also use white sprinkles.
How To Make White Chocolate Cupcakes
Here’s a quick overview of how to make winter white cupcakes. For the full recipe details, including ingredients and measurements needed, scroll down to the printable recipe card below.
You will need a large bowl, muffin pan, white paper cupcake liners, a baking sheet and parchment paper to get started.
Make the cupcakes: Prepare the cupcake batter according to the instructions in the recipe card below, folding the white chocolate chips in to the batter last.
Spoon the mixture into the cupcake liners, to about 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes at 350F, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on a wire rack. Leave to cool completely.
Make the snowflake toppers: Melt the white chocolate in either a double boiler or microwave. If using a microwave, heat in 20-30 second intervals, stirring each time, until just melted.
Carefully spoon the melted chocolate into a piping bag fitted with a fine round tip, or use a ziplock bag with a tiny corner snipped off one end.
Place a sheet of parchment paper on a small baking sheet.
Pipe 12 snowflake shapes directly onto the parchment paper. Start with 3 diagonal lines, then add small ends to each line to create the snowflake shape. They should be around 1 1/2 inches (3.75 cm) wide.
Place the tray in the refrigerator for the chocolate snowflakes to set.
Make the frosting: Use a hand or stand mixer with a paddle attachment to beat the frosting ingredients together until smooth and creamy.
Check the cupcakes are cooled completely before frosting.
Spoon the frosting into a piping bag with a large round tip or use another ziplock bag with a small hole cut in one end.
Swirl the frosting on to each cupcake. Decorate with the nonpareils or sprinkles.
Carefully peel the snowflake toppers off the parchment paper (a knife can help loosen them from the paper), and position one snowflake cupcake topper on top of each cupcake.
Recipe Tips For Success
Start with room-temperature butter. Both the cupcake batter and the frosting call for softened butter, which helps everything beat together smoothly and gives you a creamier texture.
Melt the chocolate slowly: Heat the white chocolate chips in short bursts and stir each time, since white chocolate can scorch or seize quickly in the microwave.
Keep the piping hole tiny: Snip only a very small corner off the bag so the snowflake lines stay thin and delicate. Starting with the diagonal lines first makes the shapes easier to build.
Give the snowflakes time to set: Chill them in the fridge while you make the frosting so they’re firm enough to lift off the parchment without breaking.
How To Serve Snowflake Cupcakes
As part of a winter wonderland dessert table. Set the gourmet cupcakes on a white or silver cake stand alongside some white chocolate fudge, peppermint bark, and gingerbread cake balls for a snowy, all-white theme that looks great at Christmas parties.
Boxed up as homemade gifts. Place a decorated cupcake in an individual clear cupcake box or a bakery box with cupcake inserts, then tie with a ribbon and a handwritten tag. They make a sweet Christmas food gift for neighbors, teachers, or party hosts.
With a cozy holiday drink. Enjoy a frosted cupcake with a peppermint mocha, a gingerbread latte, or an irish cream iced coffee.
How To Store Frosted Cupcakes
Store: Leftover cupcakes should be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Make ahead: You can make the snowflake toppers up to a week ahead and store them in the fridge. Then bake the cupcakes a day or two before and frost and decorate the snowflake cupcakes on the day of your event.
More Winter Dessert Ideas
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White Chocolate Snowflake Cupcakes
Ingredients
FOR THE CUPCAKES
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar white
- 2 large egg white
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ⅔ cup milk
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
FOR THE TOPPERS
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
FOR THE FROSTING
- ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- white nonpareils optional
Instructions
BAKE THE CUPCAKES
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (175℃) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with white paper cupcake lines. Set aside.
- Add the butter, sugar, egg whites, and vanilla bean paste to the bowl of a hand or stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat until fully combined.
- Add the flour, baking powder, and milk to the mixing bowl and mix until just combined.
- Add the sour cream and beat until smooth and creamy. Fold the white chocolate chips in to the batter using a spatula.
- Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners about ¾ full. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Remove the cupcakes from the pan and place on a wire rack to cool completely.
MAKE THE SNOWFLAKE TOPPERS
- Add the white chocolate chips to a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals until fully melted, stirring the chocolate after each interval.
- Pour the melted chocolate into a small ziplock bag and snip a very small corner off the bag, or use a piping bag with a very fine tip.
- Carefully pipe 12 snowflake shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The snowflakes should be around 1.5 inches wide. Start with diagonal lines and add small ends to each line.
- Place the snowflakes on the tray into the fridge to set while you prepare the frosting.
PREPARE THE FROSTING
- Add the butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and milk to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically with a rubber spatula to ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated. If the frosting is too dry, add an extra tablespoon of milk.
DECORATE THE CUPCAKES
- Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Swirl the frosting onto each cooled cupcake.
- Decorate with white nonpareils or sprinkles and place one snowflake topper on the top of each cupcake.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
