*post was written under previous alias; Blossom & Cake
These Santa and Elf hat cupcakes are one of my go-to designs when I need something festive that doesn’t take forever. The technique is really straightforward – you’re just piping a swirl upward in a spiral motion, and suddenly you’ve got a little hat.
But here’s what I actually love about these: the toasted coconut on the white trim adds this amazing texture and flavor that makes them taste as good as they look. You get that soft, silky buttercream paired with the crunch of the coconut, and it just works. Plus, they come together fast, which is great when you’re trying to pull together something for a holiday party without spending your entire afternoon decorating.
I’m using a Wilton 2D tip for the hat swirl and a small round tip for the trim and pom-pom. I’ve got step-by-step photos and a video demo below so you can see exactly how the spiral motion works. Let’s make some hats!
Table of Contents
What You’ll Need
- Baked cupcakes
- Gel food coloring (red and green)
- Red or green buttercream (for the hat)
- White buttercream (for trim and pom-pom)
- Shredded sweetened coconut
- Wilton 2D piping tip (for the hat swirl)
- Wilton 10 or small round tip (for trim and pom-pom)
- 3 piping bags
Buttercream Prep: Getting Vibrant Colors
For these cupcakes, I used my Basic Buttercream recipe, but I adjusted the butter to sugar ratio from 1:2 to 1:1.5 – this gives you a slightly softer buttercream that pipes more smoothly for the swirl while still holding the hat shape.
The key to vibrant holiday colors: Don’t be shy with the gel coloring! For a true Santa red or bright elf green, you’ll need more coloring than you think. Add the gel gradually, mixing well between additions, until you reach your desired shade.
Pro tip: Colors deepen as buttercream sits, so if you’re making these ahead, your red and green will look even better the next day!
How to Pipe Santa and Elf Hats
Step 1: Prep your piping bags
- Bag 1: Wilton 2D tip + red buttercream (for Santa hats)
- Bag 2: Wilton 2D tip + green buttercream (for Elf hats)
- Bag 3: Wilton 10 tip + white buttercream (for trim and pom-poms)
Step 2: Create the white trim
Pipe a border around the edge of your cupcake using the Wilton 10 tip – go around twice to create a doubled border that looks nice and fluffy. This is your hat’s “fur trim.”
Gently roll the cupcake in shredded coconut to coat the white border. Shake off any excess.
Step 3: Pipe the hat swirl
- Hold your piping bag fitted with the 2D tip straight up, with the tip hovering just above the center of your cupcake
- Apply medium pressure and squeeze to create a star shape
- While maintaining pressure, lift the tip up slightly and move in a tight circular motion, creating a loop that overlaps the white border slightly
- Continue spiraling upward, moving slightly inward with each rotation, building the hat to your desired height (about 1.5-2 inches tall works well)
- Release pressure, push in slightly, then pull away – this gives you a clean point at the top
Tip: The key is keeping steady pressure and moving in a continuous spiral motion. It’s easier than it sounds!
Step 4: Add the pom-pom
Pipe a small dollop of white buttercream onto a plate or parchment paper using your Wilton 10 tip. Roll it in shredded coconut until fully coated, then carefully place it on top of your hat swirl.
And that’s it – you’ve got a Santa or Elf hat!
Tips for Success
- Practice your swirl on parchment first if you’re nervous – you can scrape it off and try again
- Chill your buttercream if it’s too soft to hold the tall swirl shape
- Make the border generous – a thick white trim makes the hats look more polished
- Keep your hand steady as you spiral up – wobbly movement creates wobbly hats!
- Toast your coconut lightly for a deeper flavor on the trim (optional, but delicious)
Buttercream Swirl Demo
See how the swirl comes together in real-time! The continuous spiral motion is what creates that classic hat shape.
What did you think? These Santa and Elf hat cupcakes are one of my favorite quick holiday designs. Tag me @alchemysweets on Instagram if you make them – I love seeing your festive creations!
Looking for more holiday cupcake ideas? Check out my Holiday Decorating Ideas for seasonal inspiration!
