Whip up a batch of these festive Cranberry White Chocolate Cupcakes for your holiday celebration! Moist and fluffy vanilla cupcakes are studded with sugared cranberries and topped with a silky white chocolate buttercream frosting. You’ll love the contrast of flavors and textures in this fun dessert recipe!

Hey how’s your holiday season going? Are you done your shopping yet? Is your house all decorated? I’m getting there, bit by bit. We put up our tree on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and I’ve got the stairway just about done. Next is the mantle, then we’re hosting a family brunch for Hanukkah this weekend, and then I’m just going to bang out all the gift shopping (hopefully) in a matter of days. It’s not ideal, I know, but if I have a list then I can usually knock it all out in a hurry.

It’s getting down to the wire, and thanks to a scheduling error on my part, this is going to be a three-post week. I was thinking I’d be sharing a kick-a$$ cookie recipe yesterday, but evidently I had my dates mixed up and that will come later in the week. Along with a kick-a$$ cheesecake recipe. So stay tuned!

For now, I’m happy I had these little gems patiently waiting in the wings!

I made them on a whim. I just wanted something wintry and beautiful. They did not disappoint! In fact, I loved them even more than I anticipated.

There is just something about those sugared cranberries! I just love their sweet-tart, juicy crunch. And, along with this incredibly silky-smooth, rich yet whisper-light white chocolate Swiss buttercream… perfection! The contrast of flavors and textures just can’t be beat.

These beauties started with my favorite vanilla cupcake recipe. It’s moist, fluffy, full of rich vanilla flavor, and it all comes together in one bowl. I was fresh out of Greek yogurt, so I subbed in buttermilk and it worked like a dream. The cranberries were sugared the day before (they keep in the fridge for about a week), and after I scooped the batter, I decided to add a few right in. I filled the cups halfway, dropped about 4 or 5 right in, and then tucked them in under a blanket of more batter.

After they’re cool, you can swirl on that satin-y buttercream, and garnish with a few more sugared cranberries. Don’t they just look so perfect for a Christmas party? Or even for New Years, I think they’d be great.

If you’re looking for something fun and different to treat your friends and family to this season, you can’t go wrong with this recipe! I hope you’ll give it a try- it’s just so perfect for this time of year!

…got questions on the frosting? I bet you they’re answered in this HIGHLY comprehensive Swiss Meringue Buttercream post! Click on over to learn lots more!

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