Snow Globe Cupcakes are the ultimate christmas sweets: tender vanilla cake capped with snowy buttercream. Plus, the see-through gelatin globe adds an enchanting finish that makes every bite feel like a mini winter torte.
Table of contents
Snow Globe Cupcakes
Course: DessertCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Medium12
cupcakes30
minutes20
minutes50
minutes350
kcal50
minutesSoft vanilla cupcakes crowned with buttercream and a clear gelatin globe that turns dessert into a tiny winter scene.
Ingredients
1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup (120ml) whole milk
1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened
4 cups (500g) powdered sugar, sifted
2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
Pinch of salt
4 gelatin sheets or 2 tbsp powdered gelatin
½ cup (120ml) water
12 small balloons, inflated
Fondant snowmen, trees, or stars
Edible glitter or sprinkles
Optional: shredded coconut
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Cream butter with sugar until fluffy, then beat in eggs and vanilla. Fold in dry mix and milk alternately. Fill liners 2/3 full and bake 18–22 minutes. Cool completely.
- Beat butter until smooth, add powdered sugar gradually, then cream, vanilla, and salt. Pipe tall peaks on cooled cupcakes.
- Bloom gelatin in cold water, melt until clear, then dip each balloon to coat. Repeat twice. Let dry overnight, pop balloons, and peel away latex.
- Set fondant figures on frosting, add glitter or coconut snow. Gently place gelatin globe over each cupcake.
What You’ll Need
Gather these staples and a few crafty tools before you start:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened) + 1 cup for frosting
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- 4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 4 gelatin sheets or 2 tbsp powdered gelatin
- ½ cup water
- Fondant decorations (snowmen, trees, stars)
- Edible glitter or sprinkles; optional shredded coconut
- Cupcake pan + liners
- Mixing bowls, electric mixer
- Piping bag with open-star tip
- Small balloons (water-balloon size)
- Food-safe gloves & parchment-lined tray
Detailed Cooking Instructions
Time needed: 3 hours.
Bake light vanilla cupcakes, whip buttercream peaks, craft clear gelatin bubbles, then assemble a festive snow-globe finish.
- Bake cupcakes
Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Mix dry ingredients, cream butter with sugar, beat in eggs and vanilla, fold in dry mix with milk, divide batter, and bake 18–22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Frost peaks
Beat butter, add powdered sugar gradually, pour in cream, vanilla, and salt, then pipe tall swirls on cooled cupcakes.
- Dip balloons
Bloom gelatin, melt until clear, wear gloves, dip inflated balloons to coat, let drip, and repeat two times for strength.
- Dry u0026 peel
Set dipped balloons on parchment overnight. Pop with a pin, then gently peel away the latex to reveal clear spheres.
- Decorate u0026 assemble
Add fondant figures on frosting, dust with glitter or coconut, then place a gelatin globe over each cupcake for the snow-globe effect.
Tips & Tricks
- Use warm water (about 120°F) when whisking powdered gelatin; it dissolves faster and yields clearer bubbles.
- Swap shredded coconut for edible glitter if you need a nut-free “snow” that still sparkles on christmas cake ideas elegant enough for gifting.
- If you prefer snow globe cupcakes without gelatin, buy clear isomalt domes online and skip the balloon step.
- Store finished cupcakes in a cake box at cool room temperature; humidity softens gelatin bubbles.
- Need cheap birthday gift ideas? Box a single cupcake in a clear ornament-style container for a sweet, budget-friendly surprise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Traditional snow globes use distilled water mixed with a dash of glycerin to slow the glitter. For edible snow globe cupcakes, you skip liquid entirely and use clear gelatin bubbles instead.
A craft snow globe relies on waterproof epoxy or hot glue to seal figurines to the lid. With cupcakes you need no glue; frosting holds fondant decorations, and melted white chocolate can secure the gelatin globe.
Pipe melted white chocolate or royal icing onto parchment in thin snowflake shapes, chill until firm, then set them inside the buttercream before adding the globe.
For display globes, a 3:1 ratio of distilled water to clear corn syrup or glycerin gives slow snowfall. Edible snow globe cupcakes rely on gelatin spheres, so no liquid solution is required.
Save This Recipe for Later
If you enjoyed these magical snow globe cupcakes, pin them now or print the card so holiday baking is one click away.
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