I made Christmas light cupcakes last Christmas but since Netflix is releasing more of this seasons Stranger Things on Christmas, why not combine the two themes for a spooky festive vibe for the holiday! Joyce Byers talking to Will through Christmas lights in the upside down also helps bring home the stranger things theme. The eggos are for Eleven/Jane Hopper, of course.

I have the BEST box cake mix hack so that your friends and family will NEVER suspect you used box cake mix!

I just picked whatever chocolate box cake mix was on sale at my grocery store. To make a moist box cake mix cupcake, add a package of chocolate instant pudding to the mix. (If you did a yellow or vanilla box cake mix, use instant vanilla or white chocolate or cheesecake, I’ve used them all and they’re all so delicious!)

Then I make according to package directions like normal, except I swap out the water for milk. I just use plain unsweetened almond milk because that’s always what I have on hand but regular milk would be super delicious too. It gives it a more full taste.

When you mix the cupcake batter together, do it by hand and mix it until JUST incorporated. If you mix it too much, it doesn’t turn out as light and fluffy.

I highly recommend using a scoop to make the cupcakes. Make sure not to over bake your cupcakes, mine ended up being on the lower end of the estimated time on the back of the cake mix box.

I also use instant pudding mix to help stabilize my whipped cream for the top of these stranger things cupcakes for Christmas.

I add 1/3 of the instant pudding package, which is around 10 grams if you’re using a food scale, and about 60 grams (1/2 cup) powdered sugar to a mesh strainer so your whipped frosting (chantilly cream) is smooth. Then add 1 pint (2 cups) heavy cream.

You can use vanilla extract but I love this amaretti di Saronno essence for the holidays.

I use this cheap piping tip and bag set from Amazon to top each cupcake.

A quick and easy way to make black icing for the Christmas light cord is to start off with chocolate icing. It won’t take as much black to achieve the color you want and not gray. Plus chocolate is delicious.

This is a really good true black food coloring. Again, if you had to add this to the whipped frosting, you’d have to use way too much and it would inevitably make the whipped frosting slack and loose.

Then I use M&Ms to make the Christmas light decorations on the cupcakes.

You can keep these as is with the Christmas lights for your cupcakes.

Or you can add a little gingerbread man or I know I’ve seen little star sugar cookies at the stores that would be cute to finish off and elevate these light Christmas cupcakes for a holiday party.

Or you can toast up some mini eggos (and then let them cool) and add to the top of these Christmas light cupcakes to easily turn them into Netflix stranger things cupcakes for a watch party!

I wouldn’t add the toppings of these cupcakes until you’re ready for your Christmas party. The black and m&ms will eventually bleed color into the white icing and the eggos will change texture too because these cupcakes should be stored in the fridge.

However you end up enjoying these stranger things christmas lights cupcakes, they are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Literally the moistest lightest chocolate cake with the fluffiest and not too sweet whipped frosting really is the perfect balance when filling up on all the other party foods.

Be sure to watch my video too for more fun!

Ok love you bye

Social Media & More Content

*Disclosure: Links contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Midnight Munchies and More and allowing us to continue to bring you valuable content.