Easy Cupcakes

I’ve seen versions of these bear cupcakes in several books and magazines and finally went looking for the chocolate nonpareil wafer candies that form the muzzle for these cute cubs. Immediately, I whipped up a batch for the preschool bake sale. My 3-year-old put the “muzzle” candies on.
What You Need: 1 cupcake; chocolate frosting; chocolate nonpareil (white sprinkles) candy; red hot cinnamon imperial candies; red icing or gel (I just used Wilton icing in a premade tube with a #3 tip and coupler.)
How to Make It: Frost cupcakes. Place chocolate nonpareil in center. Use red to “draw” on a mouth as shown. Immediately (so it will stick) place red hot candy for nose and 2 for eyes. If you want, you can add cookies (such as mini Oreos or mini Nilla wafers) for ears.

These cupcakes are based on an idea in the latest Betty Crocker Supermoist cake periodical. They’re perfect for kids to make, with decorations you probably already have in your kitchen.
What You Need: cupcake; icing tinted blue; red fruit roll (we used Fruit By the Foot); teddy bear cookie such as Teddy Grahams; 2 goldfish crackers
How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Cut strip of fruit roll for bear’s raft and place on cupcake. Use dab of icing to stick bear onto raft. Add a couple of fish in the water.

Spring is in the air, and so are butterfly cupcakes. There are probably as many ways to make butterfly cupcakes as their are butterflies, but this is one of the easiest.
What You Need: Cupcake; icing tinted lavender (or color of your choice); 4 springtime candy corn (sold around Easter and in candy shops); 4 pastel M&Ms of the same color.
How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Line up 4 M&Ms in the center of the cupcake. Add candy corn, points outward, for wings.

These cute cupcakes are quick and easy to make for a baby shower, christening or other baby-themed event. You can make them as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. A whole plate of them looks really neat!
What You Need: 1 cupcake; 1 mini cupcake; frosting tinted blue or pink or color of choice; white writing icing (premade in tube or use pastry bag and round tip such as #3).
How to Make It: Frost regular-sized cupcake. Hold mini cupcake in your hand and frost as much of it as you can. Place it on the cupcake to form bootie leg. Use spatula to smooth out icing and secure mini cupcake to regular cupcake. Piping a bow helps conceal where the 2 cupcakes join. Squeeze evenly around bootie and into a bow shape. Feel free to get creative, adding stripes, flowers, etc. to your baby shower cupcakes!

These cupcakes are inspired by the latest Betty Crocker Supermoist publication. You can make the sand out of crushed-up graham crackers or just use brown sugar.
What You Need: 1 cupcake; frosting tinted blue; Lifesaver candy; Teddy Graham bear; paper umbrella; graham crackers or brown sugar. (If you use brown sugar, serve the cupcakes right away or the sugar may start dissolving into the frosting.)
How to Make It: Frost cupcake. sprinkle graham cracker crumbs or brown sugar at one edge for “sand.” Cut legs off bear (ouch!) and use a dab of frosting to stick into Lifesaver. Add paper umbrella.

Shiver me timbers! These cupcakes would be great for a kid’s pirate party or a viewing of Pirates of the Caribbean. And they’re easy, matey. This idea is adapted from a Betty Crocker publication.
What You Need: 1 cupcake; frosting; fruit rolls or strips; M&Ms; chocolate chips; round candy with hole (such as from candy necklace); red licorice strand; scissors.
How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Use scissors to cut fruit roll in shape of a pirate kerchief. Add candy “earring.” Add M&M and chocolate chips eyes and licorice mouth. Now, walk the plank!

Cupcakes are perfect for Baby’s first birthday party. The one-year-old gets his or her own personal cake to squish, and, of course, cupcakes make for great pictures!
What You Need: 1 cupcake; icing tinted pink or lavender; number 1 candle; kiss-shaped mint candies.
How to Make It: Frost cupcake. Place mint candies around the edge of the cupcake. Add candle to center. That’s it!