In today’s post: Learn the easy way to make beautiful flower cupcakes using mini marshmallows. No piping skills or special supplies required!
How to Make Flower Cupcakes
I’m always impressed with the gorgeous flower cupcakes I see online, but I never actually want to try making them, because they take serious cake decoration skills. Like knowing how to pipe buttercream roses or using a petal tip with a piping bag at just the right angle. There has to be an easier way to make a cupcake bouquet, right?
Right. These flower cupcakes turn out absolutely adorable using one of the best cupcake decorating tricks I’ve ever seen: use mini marshmallows cut in half to make petals. You’ll end up with super cute cupcakes that would be perfect for baby showers or a wedding shower – or any spring get together – with no cake decorating experience necessary!
Supplies
You really only need two things to make these easy flower cupcakes: cupcakes and mini marshmallows. I used mini fruit marshmallows from Walmart that come in adorable colors. I have also seen this idea with plain white marshmallows that are dipped in colored sugar after they are cut (but using the colored marshmallows is MUCH easier!).
Premade Cupcakes Make it Easy
These cupcakes are very easy to decorate, but it does take some time to place all of the petals. I’d estimate you’ll spend 3-5 minutes on each cupcake, so recruit help if you’re in a hurry or trying to make lots of flower cupcakes. I also used a package of pre-made vanilla and chocolate cupcakes to save the bake time of making my own. Most grocery store bakeries sell these – ask for a package made that day so they are nice and fresh, and they’re generally pretty good! Also, it’s really nice to have the plastic package they come in to store your decorated cupcakes in.
Prep the Marshmallows
To make flower cupcakes, start by sorting out the marshmallow by color, and grab a clean pair of kitchen shears.
Cut each marshmallow in half diagonally as shown. If the marshmallow sticks, you can use nonstick spray to grease the kitchen shears. I did not need to use any.
Decorate
Working one cupcake at a time, either frost the cupcake (if you’ve made your own) or remove some of the frosting and smooth out the top (if you’re using pre-made cupcakes). You want the top to be fairly flat.
Starting on the outside, place marshmallow halves to make petals as shown. Place them close together. I used 15 marshmallow halves on the outer circle of the cupcakes. You might need a few more if your cupcakes are slightly larger. It’s helpful to have a toothpick handy to press the marshmallow down into the frosting – the toothpick doesn’t stick to the cut side of the marshmallow the way your fingers do.
Repeat the process, making two more circles. If there’s room, place one more marshmallow half in the center of the cupcake.
Repeat with as many cupcakes as you’d like to make. They look really pretty all one color, and they also look nice made with a mix of colors. If desired, place them on a serving platter in a bouquet shape and add green straws for stems. You can also add green cupcake liners to an extra little pop of color.
How to Store Flower Cupcakes
It’s best to store these cupcakes in a sealed plastic container. If you purchased cupcakes, store them in the plastic container they came in, or in a cupcake keeper with a lid. This will keep the marshmallow fresh for a couple of days. If you don’t have a container they can fit in you can keep them out on the counter for about 24 hours, but the marshmallows will begin to firm up (past 24 hours the marshmallows will be quite stale).
Flower Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 8 Cupcakes with White Frosting
- 1 bag Mini Fruit Marshmallows
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Instructions
- Separate the mini marshmallows by color. Cut the marshmallows in half diagonally to create petals. You will need about 15 marshmallows for each cupcake.
- If using store bought cupcakes, remove some of the frosting from one cupcake and smooth the frosting so that it's flat across the top. If using homemade cupcakes, frost one cupcake, smoothing the frosting so it's flat across the top.
- Place marshmallow halves around the outer edge of the cupcake in a circle, making petals as shown. It can be helpful to use a toothpick to press the marshmallows down into the frosting so they stick. I used approximately 15 petals on the outer circle.
- Create another circle just inside the outer one, using about 10 marshmallow halves as petals. Then create one more inner circle, using 5 more marshmallow halves as petals, and an additional petal in the very center if desired. Gently press all the petals down into the frosting to make sure they stick.
- Repeat with remaining cupcakes. Store in a covered plastic container if possible.
susan says
love this
Danielle DENIS says
Very beautiful