Everyone knows that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, and that is exactly what you’ll be doing when you make these Buddy The Elf Cupcakes.
If you have seen the Elf movie about a thousand times like I have, you’ll likely remember the line where Buddy is in the kitchen making his breakfast (Elf spaghetti) and he says, “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.”
In the scene, he even crumbles pop-tarts on top of his “breakfast” and it is hilarious! Elf is seriously one of my favorite Christmas movies!
Well, that exact moment was the inspiration behind these Buddy The Elf Cupcakes.
These Christmas cupcakes feature frosting that looks like spaghetti, candy (Christmas M&M’s), mini marshmallows, and of course, maple syrup is in the frosting.
You can certainly add little candy canes and even candy corn if you wish. Overall, I am so happy with the way these Buddy The Elf Cupcakes turned out!
And if you happen to be looking for another Christmas cupcake, check out our Grinch Cupcakes.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make – These homemade Christmas cupcakes are easy to make.
- The perfect movie night treat – You can make these to enjoy while watching the movie Elf.
- Perfect for a Christmas themed party– These Elf-inspired cupcakes will be a huge hit at any holiday party.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I store leftovers?
Cover cupcakes or put them in an airtight container and store in the counter for 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What substitutions and additions can I make?
- You can swap the cake mix for your favorite cupcake recipe
- In the movie, Buddy also add SnoCaps and chocolate syrup to his spaghetti if you want to add those! The truth is you can top these cupcakes with any candy you want because I don’t think Buddy would be very picky about it.
What to serve with Elf Cupcakes
- Hot cocoa, egg nog, milk, or the world’s best cup of coffee
- Candy canes and candy corns to get all four food groups
- You smell like beef and cheese pasta
- Party foods including: a Charcuterie board, Pigs in a blanket, Sliders, Chips and queso/ guacamole, Artichoke dip, Peppermint Dip, Popcorn, etc.
Buddy The Elf Cupcakes Ingredients:
- Cake mix – I used 365 Whole Foods classic yellow cake mix for this recipe, any yellow, white, or vanilla cake mix will work great!
- Eggs
- Milk – I used whole milk but any milk will do!
- Unsalted butter, melted – I’ve made these with salted butter and I prefer the flavor of the unsalted butter. I think there is already so much in the cake mix itself it doesn’t need the additional salt.
- Sour cream – Out of all the other added ingredients the cake mix, this one makes the biggest difference! It makes the cupcakes so moist and a little heavier (less fluffy) which takes an ordinary cake mix to the next level. You can also use plain greek yogurt too!
- Maple syrup – I used pure maple syrup.
- Powdered sugar – may need more or less depending on the consistency of the frosting, but typically 4 cups is perfect!
- Maple extract – this is where most of the rich maple flavor comes from!
- Salt – the salt really helps bring out all of the flavors in this frosting and helps the maple flavor shine!
- Yellow food coloring – I like to add just a single drop of yellow to give the frosting a slight tinge of creamy color to help it look like real spaghetti. You can go without it but the frosting will be a little more white.
- Colorful mini marshmallows – white marshmallows work too!
- Pop tart bites – in the movie Elf, he uses a chocolate pop tart, but I thought the strawberry pop tart bites were much prettier and fit the overall color scheme of the cupcakes better.
Equipment Needed:
- 2 large mixing bowls
- 12 cup muffin pan
- Cupcake liners (green and/or red)
- Hand mixer
- Piping bag and number 5 round piping tip – you can also use a ziploc bag and cut a small hole in the corner to make the spaghetti frosting. I found that it comes out slightly flattened, but it gets the job done!
How to Make A Grinch Lush Dessert:
These elf cupcakes are as simple as baking cupcakes and decorating them.
Buddy The Elf Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
For The Cupcakes:
- 1 box of cake mix 16 oz
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- ⅓ cup sour cream
For The Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powder sugar
- 1 drop of yellow food coloring
For The Toppings:
- Colorful mini marshmallows
- Pop tart bites
- Mini M&M’s
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a muffin pan with paper cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, milk, melted butter, and sour cream until well combine and no
lumps remain. - Pour mixture into each cup of the prepared pan (about 3/4 full each) and baked for 15-17 minutes, or until slightly golden brown around the
edges and firm enough to bounce back when you gently press it with your finger. - Remove cupcakes and allow to cool.
- In a separate mixing bowl, add the softened butter, maple syrup, maple extract, salt, and 2 cups of powdered sugar. Using a hand mixer, mix on a medium high setting until creamy.
- Mix in the rest of the powdered sugar one ½ cup to 1 cup at a time until stiff peaks form.
- Add a drop of yellow food coloring and mix in until the frosting is a light creamy color.
- Scoop frosting into a piping bag with a number 5 round tip.
- Pipe the frosting on a cooled cupcake in a squiggly yet even dome (I like to make mine a little extra tall because it sinks slightly when you add the pop tart!)
- Place a pop tart bite on top, slightly to the side, then add M&M’s and marshmallows to your hearts desire.
- Serve and Enjoy!
NUTRITION
Nutrition information is a rough estimate only; actual values will vary based on the exact ingredients used and amount of recipe prepared.