Name: Christmas Light Cupcakes
Prep time: 19 min
Total time: 19 min
Yield: 12 Servings
Cuisine: American

Cake Mix Recipes Verified

February 10, 2026

These Christmas Light Cupcakes are festive, fuss-free, and guaranteed to light up your dessert table. Using a box cake mix means less measuring and more decorating fun. The colorful “lights” made from mini M&Ms or jelly beans add instant cheer, and the buttercream “string” is a playful nod to tangled holiday lights. Whether you’re baking with kids or prepping for a party, this recipe delivers joy with every bite.

From the Cook

1/6

Christmas Light Cupcakes

Cake Mix Recipes Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 6 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Add the vanilla frosting to a piping bag equipped with the 1A frosting tip, and frost in a swirl pattern around the cupcake.

Add the black icing to a piping bag equipped with the small round tip and pipe a line in the same fashion you did the frosting, going up and around the cupcake to make the “string” for the “lights”.

Place 7-8 M&Ms along the string to make the lights.

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Color Coordination Magic 🎨
Choose M&Ms in classic Christmas colors like red, green, and white to create the most vibrant and festive light string effect on your cupcakes.
Icing Precision Technique 🖌️
Use a thin piping bag with a small round tip for the black decorating icing to create clean, crisp 'wire' lines between your M&M 'lights'.
Frosting Temperature Hack 🧊
Chill your vanilla frosting for 15-20 minutes before piping to ensure it holds shape and creates smoother, more defined decorations.
M&M Placement Pro Tip 🍬
Place M&Ms while frosting is still slightly soft to help them stick perfectly and create a seamless 'Christmas light strand' design.
Box Mix Elevation Trick 🎂
Replace water with milk and add an extra egg to your box mix for a more dense, bakery-style cupcake texture that's perfect for decorating.