31. Halloween Skull Cupcakes
Halloween skull cupcakes use a sprinkle roll and a two-color swirl. Scoop a mound of frosting onto each cupcake, flip it and press down to make a flat disk, then freeze 10 minutes and roll the edges in black and silver sprinkles. Load pink frosting on one side of a piping bag and black on the other, pipe a dollop in the center and set a fondant skull on top.
32. Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes
Marshmallow flower cupcakes are one of the easiest flower decorations around. Cut three mini marshmallows on the diagonal for six petals and dip the sticky cut sides in colored sanding sugar. Snip the end off a fourth marshmallow and dip it for the center. Arrange the petals on a frosted cupcake and set the center in the middle, with a little frosting to hold anything that won’t stay put.
33. Gravity Defying M&M Cupcakes
Gravity defying cupcakes are a guaranteed "how did you do that?" The trick is a wooden coffee stirrer dipped in melted chocolate chips, leaving about 1 1/2 inches bare, then rolled and pressed in mini M&M’s. Once it sets, an empty fun size M&M’s bag slides over the top so it looks like the candy is pouring out. Keep the frosting simple so the illusion gets all the attention.
34. Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
These Valentine’s Day cupcakes are pretty in pink. A tall swirl of white frosting is piped with a star tip, sprinkled with pink, and finished with sparkly pink heart toppers. Make sure the cupcakes are completely cool before frosting, or the swirl will slide. You can also bake a day or two ahead and decorate right before the party.
35. Candy Corn Cupcakes
Candy corn cupcakes copy the candy in frosting. Tint most of a marshmallow frosting orange and pipe a first layer with a star tip. Then pipe a round top of white frosting through a round tip and press a piece of candy corn in the center. For the full candy corn look, split the frosting three ways and start with a yellow layer.
36. Taco Cupcakes
Taco cupcakes are a funny surprise on a dessert table. Pipe vanilla frosting with a 1M star tip, then press two Nilla Wafers in at an angle for the shell. Crumble one plain cupcake for the "meat" and add about a teaspoon. Pipe green frosting through a leaf tip for lettuce, then add yellow jimmies for cheese and red mini M&M’s for tomato.
37. Spooky Mummy Cupcakes (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Mummy cupcakes are one of the easiest Halloween cupcakes to decorate. White frosting is piped in flat strips crisscrossing the top like bandages, with a gap left for two candy eyes to peek out. The chocolate cake underneath shows through the gaps. These are gluten free and vegan, so more friends can join in on the Halloween fun.
38. Champagne Cupcakes
Champagne cupcakes are made for a toast. Rosé champagne goes into both the cake and the buttercream, and the frosting is whipped until it forms peaks, then piped on top in a tall swirl with a pretty blush of pink. Let the cupcakes cool completely before piping, since warm cake melts the buttercream. Serve them for brunch, a bridal shower or New Year’s.
39. Buttercream Flower Cupcakes
Buttercream flower cupcakes take practice, and they’re worth it. The tutorial uses a Wilton 104 rose tip, squeezed a little more closed with pliers for thinner petals, a Wilton 233 grass tip and a Bakery Crafts 352 leaf tip. Claret, yellow and two greens give the pink roses, peonies and leaves. Once you get the hang of the motion, you can turn them out fast for weddings and birthdays.
40. Snowball Cupcakes
Snowball cupcakes look like fluffy little snowballs. Each chocolate cupcake is covered in a smooth dome of white frosting, then rolled in shredded coconut tinted soft pink, yellow or blue. The bite taken out of one shows the dark chocolate cake inside. They’re perfect for a winter party or an Easter table in pastel colors.
