Twas the night before a coffee morning and all through the house, not a creature was stirring… except Emily, who was stirring cake batter furiously while rifling through the spice cupboards in a panic. Yep, I somehow thought it was a good idea to volunteer to make four boxes of Christmas cupcakes.
These spiced Christmas cupcakes have a gorgeously light, spiced sponge with a moreish, white chocolate marzipan frosting – not a crumb was left behind.
Here’s what to do to make 12 spiced Christmas cupcakes.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 100g caster sugar
- 100g dark soft brown sugar
- 200g butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 medium free-range eggs
- 200g self-raising flour
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp strong black tea, cold
- 2 tbsp whole milk
For the icing
- 250g icing sugar, sieved
- 250g butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 tbsp milk
- 50g white chocolate, melted
- sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
To make the sponges
Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan/400F). In a large bowl, add both the sugars, the butter and the vanilla. Beat until pale and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla. It may split a little, but don’t worry, it’ll come back together at the next step.
Sieve in the flour, mixed spice and cinnamon and mix through.
Mix in the cold black tea and milk.
Line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases and divide the batter evenly between them.
Bake for 18-20 mins until softly browned and springy.
Cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the icing
Place half the icing sugar in a bowl with the butter and almond extract and beat until pale and fluffy. Add the rest of the icing sugar and beat again.
Beat in the white chocolate until you have a smooth, delicious frosting.
Pipe the icing over the cupcakes.
Finish with festive sprinkles.
Here’s that recipe again in a printable format:

Spiced Christmas cupcakes with marzipan frosting
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 100 g caster sugar
- 100 g dark soft brown sugar
- 200 g butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 medium free-range eggs
- 200 g self-raising flour
- 1/2 tsp mixed spice
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp strong black tea cold
- 2 tbsp whole milk
For the icing
- 250 g icing sugar sieved
- 250 g butter softened
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- 1 tbsp milk
- 50 g white chocolate melted
- sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
To make the sponges
- Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan/400F). In a large bowl, add both the sugars, the butter and the vanilla. Beat until pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla. It may split a little, but don't worry, it'll come back together at the next step.
- Sieve in the flour, mixed spice and cinnamon and mix through.
- Mix in the cold black tea and milk.
- Line a 12-hole muffin tray with paper cases and divide the batter evenly between them.
- Bake for 18-20 mins until softly browned and springy.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
To make the icing
- Place half the icing sugar in a bowl with the butter and almond extract and beat until pale and fluffy. Add the rest of the icing sugar and beat again.
- Beat in the white chocolate until you have a smooth, delicious frosting.
- Pipe the icing over the cupcakes.
- Finish with festive sprinkles.
Pin for later
What’s your favourite thing to bake as a gift or for bake sales? For more festive cupcake ideas, try these Christmas pudding muffins.
Angela Ricardo Bethea says
I am thinking what to bake for the weekend and I bumped into this. Will print this out!
Emily Leary says
Great! I’d love to hear how it went if you made these delicious cupcakes over the weekend :)
Surekha Busa says
Wow, it looks really delicious and this is something that I would love to try for my guest on this coming weekends.
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I’d love to hear how it went if you made these delicious cupcakes for your guests :)
Claire Lee says
I am loving that cute setup and decor! I do eat cupcakes from time to time without the frosting though
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I hope that you enjoy this recipe if you give it a go. Even without the frosting these cupcakes are really delicious :)
Daphne D Adams says
These look amazing. I am a cake lover, especially cupcakes so I would try these without even thinking.
Emily Leary says
Good to hear! I’d love to hear if you give these delicious cupcakes a go :)
Bella B (xoxoBella) says
Yumm these looks so good! I wish I wasn’t allergic to gluten!!! I could really go for one of these right now.
Emily Leary says
Ooh, have you tried gluten-free puff pastry yet? There are a few brands and they’re not bad!
Sincerely Miss J says
Omg these spiced christmas cupcakes look fantastic. Plus they seem easy to make. Thank you for sharing this.
Emily Leary says
Thank you :) Yes, these flavoursome cupcakes are not difficult to make and are just right to serve to friends and family over the festive break. Enjoy!
Shar says
Okay how cute and perfect are these?! I will have to try to copy these but make them gluten free for sure! Thanks for sharing :)
Emily Leary says
I’m so pleased that you like this recipe! These Christmas cupcakes were all wolfed down in no time! Enjoy :)
Liz Siemers says
This recipe looks awesome! I love your photography as well. And where did you find those reindeer sprinkles!?!?
Emily Leary says
Thank you! I got them in ASDA but I also found them on a few handmade-type sites.
Jasmine Hewitt says
I’m really not sure if i’ve tried using marzipan in baking before. these cupcakes look delish though!
Emily Leary says
Thanks you! There’s a first time for everything! I hope you give them a try :)
Shannon Gurnee says
I love cupcakes and these look and sound amazing! I would totally make some of these with our kids.
Emily Leary says
Thank you Shannon! We all love cupcakes in our house and these went down really well with friends and family. Enjoy :)
Yeah Lifestyle says
Somehow having spiced cakes in wintertime feels like the best thing ever. These cupcakes look beautiful and simple enough to make, will try it out
Emily Leary says
Thank you! These delicious Spiced Christmas cupcakes are perfect for the festive season. I’d love to hear how it goes if you give them a try :)
Renata Feyen says
That is so lovely and creative – nice job :)
Emily Leary says
Thank you! These Christmas cupcakes are so pretty and taste incredibly good :)
Kara says
If only you live closer to me – I would have you doing all the baking for the school fair LOL
Emily Leary says
That made me smile! I’ve made a fair few cakes for school this year :) Have you been tempted to try this recipe?
Sania says
They look amazing and not too hard to make i think, will surely try this out and share with you the review.
Emily Leary says
Excellent :) I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes! Enjoy.
anne says
thanks for sharing this. i gotta try it
Emily Leary says
Hi Anne! I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed – these Christmas cupcakes are so pretty and really delicious. Enjoy :)
Anna | Once Upon A Food Blog says
The cupcakes sound gorgeous, the icing looks delish and those sprinkles are so so gorgeous! Whoever got to eat those must have been very pleased that you stayed up to make them!
Emily Leary says
Thank you so much! Yes, everyone loved them so it was well worth the effort :)
claire says
Looks and sounds wonderful ,yummy :)
Susan Mann says
These look and sound amazing. I’m so going to make these x
Actually Mummy... says
Yum yum yummy!!!! Fancy a baking date?
Danielle Askins says
These look and sound delicious!
HELEN says
I’ve been doing the same tonight for pre-school fair…I’ve even agreed to go into preschool to make more cakes with the little ones in the morning!
cakes look lovely by the way! x
Janice says
Marzipan icing is genius!
Alexander Residence says
They look beautiful! love the idea of marzipan icing!
Jenny Paulin says
Mmmmm, me like the sound of these! Infact please can you go and pass me one now while I go out the kettle on? Thanks. X