15 winter cupcakes

Looking for some new cupcake recipes this winter? Get inspiration from our collection of 15 winter cupcakes including penguins and snowmen, plus Burns Night and Valentine's Day decorating ideas...

S'mores cupcakes
(Image credit: Future)

Winter is the perfect excuse to stay at home and bake. What better treat to bake than these winter cupcakes.

We’ve got lots of delicious winter cupcakes to choose from including Christmas cupcakes, romantic Valentine’s Day treats as well as New Year cupcakes too.

It really doesn’t take much to transform your favourite cupcake recipe into a winter wonder. Think white buttercream, think snowflake sprinkles and edible silver glitter.

Most of these cupcakes are ideal baking recipes for kids as they have really simple methods and quick step-by-step instructions.

See all of our winter cupcakes below…

 

Snowmen cupcakes

Annabel Karmel's snowman cupcakes

(Image credit: Annabel Karmel)

How do you build a snowman if it's not actually snowing outside? Easy - just help the kids to make these snowmen cupcakes from Annabel Karmel. Use fizzy laces for the scarves.

Get the recipe: Snowmen cupcakes

Lower-cal red velvet cupcakes

Lower-fat red velvet cupcakes

(Image credit: Canderel)

Most of us try to cut back on indulgences after Christmas, but that doesn't mean months without cupcakes. Try our lower-calorie red velvets: there's 218 fewer cals in them than a regular red velvet cupcake.

Get the recipe: Lower-calorie red velvets

New year cupcakes

New year cupcakes

Goodtoknow's cupcake queen Victoria Threader created these celebration cupcakes topped with golden decorations for New Year's. They also work perfectly for weddings or other special occasions.

Get the recipe: New year cupcakes

Gingerbread cupcakes

Gingerbread cupcakes recipe

(Image credit: Ella Valentine Baking Eggs)

The rich, spicy taste of gingerbread is just the ticket on cold, grey winter days. We love the buttercream swirl and cute little gingerbread man topper on these gingerbread cupcakes.

Get the recipe: Gingerbread cupcakes.

Penguin cupcakes

Penguin cupcakes recipe

The kids are going to love these! Follow Victoria Threader's step-by-step recipe to create your very own penguin cupcakes.

Get the recipe: Penguin cupcakes.

Apple crumble cupcakes

Apple crumble cupcakes

The classic wintery British pud has been given a modern twist in this easy cupcake recipe. We love the creamy, crunchy topping when combined with the sweet flavour of apples.

Get the recipe: Apple crumble cupcakes

Burns Night cupcakes

Victoria Threader's Burns Night cupcakes

Celebrating Burns Night at the end of January? Your guests will love these Burns Night cupcakes with tartan icing and whiskey buttercream.

Get the recipe: Burns Night cupcakes

Beetroot and vanilla cupcakes

Beetroot and vanilla cupcakes

Earthy beetroot is in season until late January and makes a suprisingly good addition to cakes and bakes - its natural moisture helps cut the fat content, too as you need less butter or oil. Try these pretty beetroot and vanilla cupcakes and see for yourself!

Get the recipe: Beetroot and vanilla cupcakes

S'mores cupcakes

S'mores cupcakes

(Image credit: Future)

The taste of fire-roasted marshmallows, rich chocolate and naughty biscuit give these cupcakes that classic campfire taste. We love the clever trick to get the icing looking and tasting exactly like delicious singed marshmallows.

Get the recipe: S'mores cupcakes

Dark chocolate cupcakes with peppermint buttercream

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Buttercream

Here's another impressive Valentine's cupcake idea. But with their rich chocolate sponge and peppermint buttercream, the grown ups will be after these dark chocolate cupcakes as much as the kids!

Get the recipe: Dark chocolate cupcakes with peppermint buttercream

Rhubarb and ginger cupcakes

rhubarb and ginger cupcakes

Yorkshire rhubarb starts appearing in the shops in January. Use some to make these stunning rhubarb and ginger cupcakes - how delicious does that cream cheese frosting look?

Get the recipe: Rhubarb and ginger cupcakes

Baileys cupcakes

Baileys cupcakes

Everyone's Nan loves a little glass of Baileys come Christmas time, don't they? Include the delicious tipple in a batch of cupcakes to make these moreish, indulgent chocolate bakes.

Get the recipe: Baileys cupcakes

Carrot cupcakes

Carrot cupcake recipe

(Image credit: Primrose Bakery, Covent Garden)

Give your cupcakes a welcome boost of vitamins in the depths of winter by grating some carrots into Primrose Bakery's classic carrot cupcakes.

Get the recipe: Carrot cupcakes.

Sticky toffee cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream

Sticky toffee cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream

Sticky toffee pudding has to be one of our favourite winter comfort foods, so when Royal Wedding cake designer Fiona Cairns gave us the recipe for her sticky toffee cupcakes, we were hooked!

Get the recipe: Sticky toffee cupcakes

Angel cupcakes with brandy frosting

Angel cupcakes with brandy frosting

These naughty little bakes have an added extra that the adults will love, brandy! With a buttery base and smooth icing, they are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Get the recipe: Angel cupcakes with brandy frosting

Where to next?

All baking recipes

Cake decorating

Christmas cupcakes

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies