Description
These whimsical Gnome Cupcakes combine soft, fluffy cupcakes with playful decorations like sugar cone hats, marshmallow beards, and candy eyes. Perfect for parties, holidays, or fun family baking projects, they’re as delightful to look at as they are to eat.
Ingredients
- 1 box vanilla or chocolate cake mix (or homemade cupcake recipe)
- Eggs, oil, and water (as directed on cake mix box or per recipe)
- 1 batch buttercream frosting (homemade or store-bought)
- Food coloring (optional)
- 12 sugar cones (for hats)
- 12 mini marshmallows (for beards)
- 24 candy eyes
- Fruit leather or fondant (for noses)
- Sprinkles or edible glitter (optional, for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat oven as directed on cake mix box or recipe. Line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
- Prepare batter according to directions, divide among liners, and bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- Make frosting (or use store-bought) and tint with food coloring if desired.
- Decorate sugar cones by dipping pointed ends in frosting, then coat with sprinkles or glitter. Let dry.
- Frost each cupcake with a thin layer of white frosting.
- Place a mini marshmallow at the base for a beard, then add candy eyes above it.
- Cut small shapes from fruit leather or fondant for noses and attach with frosting.
- Top each cupcake with a decorated sugar cone hat, securing with frosting if needed.
- Arrange on a platter and serve.
Notes
- Switch up colors for seasonal or holiday themes (e.g., red/green for Christmas, orange/black for Halloween).
- Experiment with different cake flavors like red velvet, lemon, or carrot cake.
- Use licorice strands or chocolate chips for extra gnome details.
- Mini cupcakes make adorable bite-sized versions.
- Decorated cupcakes are best eaten within 1–2 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 220mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
