Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Serves 24

Ingredients:

Cream Cheese Frosting

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin pans with baking cups (recipe makes 24 cupcakes)
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the butter and sugar. Use the paddle attachment to beat until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat until well combined, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla mix until well combined.
4. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and ½ of the milk and continue to mix. Once the batter starts coming together, add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and the other ½ of the milk and continue to mix. End by adding the last 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat until well combined.
5. Use a cookie scoop to add the batter to each muffin cup, filling about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
6. Make the tree toppers while the cupcakes cool. Melt the green candy melts according to package instructions. Transfer to a piping bag or squeeze bottle. Place the pretzel sticks on wax paper, leaving 3-4 inches between each pretzel. Pipe the melted chocolate in the shape of a tree, overlapping part of the pretzel to hold together. Top the trees with sprinkles immediately (recommend doing this after making 2-3 trees, then continue on or the chocolate will start to harden, and the sprinkles won’t stick). Let the chocolate sit on the counter and harden for 10-15 minutes.
7. Make the frosting (see ingredient list below). Add the butter and cream cheese to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until well combined. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until just combined.
8. Spread a decent amount of frosting on top of one cupcake then immediately sprinkle coconut flakes over the top. Gently press the coconut flakes down to help them stick to the frosting. Set the cupcake aside and repeat until all cupcakes have frosting and coconut.
9. Use an offset spatula or knife to help remove the trees from the wax paper. You want to do this or they will break when you try to pick them up - they are very fragile!
10. Gently push the bottom of the pretzels into the tops of the cupcakes (recommend holding the tree by the pretzel when doing this and not holding by the chocolate to prevent breaking). Serve immediately or place in the fridge for at least 30 min to allow the frosting to set. Once the frosting is set, the cupcakes can be stored at room temperature or you can keep them in the fridge until ready to serve.

Cream Cheese Frosting