Prepare cake batter according to box directions and bake in cupcake pan using liners. Once baked, remove from oven and allow to cool.

While cupcakes cool, make the frosting.

Start by using an electric mixer to beat butter until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until fully incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract. Pour in milk and beat for an additional 3 minutes.

Place two cups of white frosting in a piping bag with a round frosting tip. Mix green food coloring in remaining frosting until you reach desired shade of green.

Place one sugar cone upside down onto each cupcake. Using a butter knife, spread a thin layer of green frosting to completely coat each cone.

Fill a piping bag with remaining green frosting and use a small closed star frosting tip to make Christmas tree branches. Start at the top and turn the cupcake, continuing adding branches to fill the entire cone.

Using the white frosting, pipe a thick layer around the bottom of the cone to look like snow.

Add white sprinkles to the “snow” and add round colored sprinkles to the “tree”. This part can be really fun for the kids as they can be creative as they want when decorating their “tree”.

If using, add the edible sugar star to the top.

Serve and enjoy right away. Store any leftovers in the fridge.