I recently got my hands on the cutest Pantry Chef Santa Figurine with Serving Tray, and I immediately knew I wanted to make something fun and festive to display on it! I've always wanted to try making snow globe cupcakes, and I figured this was the perfect excuse to finally give them a try.
If you know me, you know I love a good holiday DIY, especially when it involves baking with my kiddos. And these adorable little snow globe cupcakes combine two of my favorite things: Christmas decorating and sweet treats!
The best part? They're actually pretty simple to make. You don't need to be a professional baker or have any fancy decorating skills. Just a few supplies, your favorite cupcakes, and a little creativity.
I'm sharing everything you'll need, how to make them, and a few little tricks I learned along the way!
What Supplies Do You Need to Make Snow Globe Cupcakes?
Ingredients:
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Your favorite cupcake mix or homemade cupcake recipe (I used Funfetti cake mix to make cookie dough cupcakes!)
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White frosting
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Granulated or sparkling sugar
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Shredded coconut (optional)
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Mini marshmallows
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Fresh rosemary sprigs
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Edible food markers
Additional Supplies:
- Cupcake liners
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Clear plastic fillable ornaments (the kind that separate into two halves)
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Chopstick or similar tool
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Scissors
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A festive serving tray (I used our Santa Tray from Decor Steals!)
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the Cupcakes
Start by baking a batch of your favorite cupcakes. You can use a boxed cake mix or make them from scratch, whatever works best for you!
For mine, I made cookie dough cupcakes using Funfetti cake mix and cookie dough. Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, frost them with white frosting.
Don't worry about making the frosting perfectly smooth as you'll be covering it.
Step 2: Make the Snowy Affect
This is where the cupcakes start looking like little winter wonderlands!
Sprinkle the tops of your frosted cupcakes with sugar, shredded coconut, or a combination of both.
Here's a little tip: My daughter LOVES coconut, but the rest of my family isn't a fan, so I made some with sugar and others with both sugar and coconut.
Both look adorable, but they create slightly different effects:
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Sugar: Gives the cupcakes a pretty, sparkly finish that looks like freshly fallen snow glistening in the sunlight.
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Coconut: Creates a softer, fluffier snow effect that looks like little snowflakes.
Personally, I love the look of both!
Step 3: Cut Mini Rosemary Trees
This might be my favorite little trick!
Take a few fresh rosemary sprigs and trim them to your desired height. Flip them upside down so the pointed ends face upward, then gently push the stems into the cupcakes.
They look just like miniature evergreen trees!
I love using rosemary because it adds such a natural, whimsical touch to these Christmas cupcakes. Plus, it's an inexpensive way to create an adorable little winter scene.
Step 4: Make Mini Marshmallow Snowmen
Now for the cutest part: the tiny snowmen!
Grab two mini marshmallows and your edible food markers.
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On the first marshmallow, draw a little snowman face with eyes, a mouth, and a carrot-shaped nose.
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On the second marshmallow, draw three little buttons down the front.
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Use a tiny dab of leftover frosting to stick the two marshmallows together.
This is also a fun step to let the kids help with. Each snowman can have its own little personality.
Step 5: Place the Snowmen and Trees
Here's a little trick I learned while making mine.
Before placing your marshmallow snowman on the cupcake, take a chopstick and gently make a small hole through the frosting and into the cupcake.
Then carefully nestle the bottom of your snowman into that opening.
I found that this made the snowman much more stable and helped keep him from tipping over.
Position him near your rosemary Christmas tree, and you've got yourself the sweetest little snowy scene!
Step 6: Turn Your Cupcake into a Snow Globe
Now comes the magic!
Take one half of a clear plastic fillable ornament and carefully place it over the top of your decorated cupcake.
That's it!
The clear dome instantly transforms your cupcake into a miniature Christmas snow globe.
A few things to keep in mind:
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Make sure your ornament halves are large enough to fit over the cupcake decorations without squishing them. I measured my cupcake tin width before ordering mine.
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Use new, clean, food-safe plastic domes if they'll come into contact with the frosting or cupcakes.
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Remove the plastic dome before eating.
Displaying Your Christmas Snow Globe Cupcakes
Of course, I couldn't make these adorable little snow globe cupcakes without giving them an equally adorable place to sit!
The whole inspiration for this project was our Pantry Chef Santa Figurine with Serving Tray, and I couldn't be happier with how they looked displayed together.
These cupcakes would look adorable displayed on a Christmas dessert table, served at a holiday party, or even used as individual treats at each place setting for Christmas dinner.
And when the cupcakes are gone, you can keep using your Santa Tray as part of your Christmas decorating!
Get the Kids Involved
One of my favorite things about this project is that you can make it as simple or creative as you want.
Kids can help sprinkle the snow, decorate the marshmallow snowmen, and arrange the little rosemary trees. And honestly, the snowmen are even cuter when they're a little imperfect!
It's a fun way to spend an afternoon together during the holiday season, and you end up with an adorable Christmas dessert to share.
Ready to Make Your Own Christmas Snow Globe Cupcakes?
If you're looking for an easy Christmas dessert idea, something festive for a holiday party, or just a fun Christmas baking activity with the family, give these snow globe cupcakes a try!
And if you're looking for unique, affordable Christmas decor to style your holiday treats, be sure to check out Decor Steals. We share new daily deals on affordable home decor, including festive seasonal finds, every day at 10 AM Eastern.
For more Christmas DIY projects, holiday decorating ideas, and seasonal inspiration, visit the Decor Steals Journal.
Happy holiday baking!
