How to Make Butterfly Cupcakes

I have a thing for butterflies. And a thing for cupcakes. So, I decided to bring those ideas together in this perfect little recipe for Butterfly Cupcakes. Simple cupcake, frosted with flowers and edible butterflies? What could be more fun?!

It’s like these two things were meant to go together, seriously. And the little edible butterflies are so cute. Looks like they just stopped to have a little rest before they went on to the next flower. So. Stinking. Cute!

And, for more fun, I let the kids help me put the flowers on and place the butterflies. What a fun afternoon activity that was, let me tell you. Each kiddo got a piping bag full of icing and a handful of butterflies. I think more butterflies and icing made it on the kids than on the cupcake, but oh well. LOL!

What You Need to Make this Butterfly Cupcakes Recipe

This is a very simple cupcake recipe that’s no-fail. Seriously, anyone can make these–and the eggs, oh, that’s right, no eggs. So no worrying about whether they’re still good or if they’ve gone flat…you just make the cupcakes and they’ll work. Here’s what you need:

• 2 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tspn baking soda
• 1/2 tspn salt
• 2 tspn vanilla
• 1 cup water
• 1 can of your favorite vanilla frosting
• 36-48 edible butterflies
• 5 drops blue food coloring
• 5 drops pink food coloring
• Blue sanding sugar

How to Make these Cupcakes with Butterflies

Step 1

To make the cupcakes, preheat oven to 350-degrees then combine dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Step 2

Combine wet ingredients (including butter) in a second medium sized bowl.

Step 3

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients in ⅓ increments, mixing thoroughly between each increment and spoon into lined cupcake pan.

Step 4

Bake for 30-minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes completely before decorating.

Step 5

With your largest decorating tip, press into the top of the cupcake off-center, creating a well. Save hole tops.

Step 6

Place 1 teaspoon sanding sugar into each cupcake well. Replace hole top on each cupcake.

Step 7

Separate icing into two different bowls. In one, add pink food coloring, in the other add blue food coloring.

Step 8

Place grass tip in a piping bag then place pink icing in the piping bag.

Step 9

Frost about 1/2 of each cupcake in a series of dots or dabs, twisting the bag, as you pipe, making a bunch of tiny flower shapes.

Step 10

Clean the piping bag or get a second one, then place blue icing in the piping bag.

Step 11

Frost the remaining 1/2 of each cupcake in a series of dots or dabs, twisting the bag, as you pipe, making a bunch of tiny flower shapes.

Step 12

Place 2-4 butterflies on top of each cupcake.

Step 13

Enjoy!

Other Great Cupcake Recipes

• Butter Pecan Sundae Cupcakes
• Sleeping Beauty Cupcakes
• Boozy Strawberry Cupcakes

If you love this easy cupcake decorating idea, but you’re not quite ready to bust out your edible butterflies, just pin this to your favorite cupcake decorating ideas board on Pinterest so you can find it quick later!