I guess bottom line is that I need the frosting and any decorations on the mini cupcakes to taste yummy, be Christmas-y and be as pretty as possible without costing me too much in time or money as these will be donated to my church.

I'd like people to say "Oh how pretty!" before they eat them. Even if they pop the whole mini cuppie into their mouth without much tought, I want their tastebuds to dance!

Any ideas, photos, links, suggestions? I'm doing a google search right after I post this, but really, I do rely on you good folks here. Also, I'm not that much of an artiste, but I do okay.

Thanks!!!!

A pretty easy decoration could be fondant holly leaves and berries. You could even make them ahead of time. Maybe with a shiny red or green wrapper to match.

For flavor, my family loves the pepermint cake (box mix recipe). Even when I want to try something new, hubby and a few others insist on that one. To turn it into cupcakes, I would put the white cake batter in the liners. Then, using a dropper, insert a small squirt of the red pepperment batter in the middle of each. Frost using the round tip, and top with the fondant leaves and berries. Cute and Christmasy!

I'm off to hunt for the recipe online, because my back won't let me get into the cabinet my Christmas recipes are in and hubby is asleep. Back in a few!

Now I'm a chocolate lover and even I admit this cake is surprisingly good and really tastes like Christmas!

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/candy-cane-cake/852a3d2d-48a7-47ae-8313-9f749bd8cb24

Top with a little dollop of your favorite plain buttercream. It only needs a little and I think making it a peppermint buttercream would be overkill. Or just make the frosting the recipe suggests and maybe dip the mini cupcakes in it.

I just had another idea for decoration! Make candy cane bark hearts and place that ontop of the frosting. The flavor would compliment the cake, it's cute and still Christmasy! And again, you can make them ahead and just place them on the cupcakes when you're ready. I'll go find that recipe now.

http://cbsop.com/recipes/peppermint-bark-hearts/

But since you're making mini cupcakes, try to find the smallest candy canes out there. You may have to order online. If the small ones sold in the grocery store are as small as they get, I think these may be too big for minis and more ideal for regular cupcakes.

I found this design on line and thought it would be easy.
http://www.squidoo.com/ChristmasCupcakes

Scroll down to see the different designs.

Thank you both for posting responses! VERY helpful!

This site rocks!

Christmas cupcakes:

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&meta=search&type=full&search=christmas&album=178&search_user=

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=christmas+cupcakes&rlz=1I7GZAG_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=564&sei= YMW0TvqZJOjCsQLMrPH6Aw

Highly rated Red Velvet cupcake recipe:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/red-velvet-cupcakes-3/detail.aspx

Best cupcake recipes:

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/desserts/cakes/cupcakes/top.aspx

HTH

Hi, Jan,

Thanks for the links! I happened to go to that very google page you linked and my fave are those cute little Christmas trees in the third row, the fourth (end) photo on the far right!

LOVED the cakecentral link too!

:O)

You're very welcome.

And yes, those are some cute cupcakes!

I've never made this recipe, but I'm going to try it this year:

http://www.oprah.com/food/Vanilla-Peppermint-Cupcakes

I make their strawberry cupcake and it is delicious. I would imagine this one is really good too.