Make the Cupcakes:

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before decorating.

Make the Buttercream Frosting:

Beat the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat until light and fluffy.

Add Food Coloring: Mix in green gel food coloring until you achieve the desired shade.

Decorate the Cupcakes:

Frost the Cupcakes: Use a piping bag with a star or round tip to frost the cooled cupcakes with the green buttercream, mimicking a “Christmas light string” pattern.

Create the Lights: Lay the black licorice string (or pipe black icing gel) across the frosting to create a “string of lights.” Attach mini M&Ms along the string as the “lights.”