Festive for the Fourth
Here’s a quick and easy idea for the Fourth of July. Like super easy. And a fun little way to make your cupcakes look extra special without too much effort.
It’s like having your cupcakes on parade for the day … or for as long as they last before they get eaten up.
I was inspired by all the cute ideas I’ve seen on Pinterest using cupcake wrappers. It’s amazing how many ways you can use them for things other than baking in them.
You just need some red, white and blue baking cups in a couple of different sizes and patterns.
I had several on hand that worked out great.
Jumbo white baking cups
Red and white striped large candy cups
Stars and stripes regular baking cups
Solid red regular baking cups
But you can use any combination of sizes, color and pattern that you want to try out.
Check out bakeitpretty, cakeart, and confectioneryarts for tons more colors and designs.
Okay… the easy part. But I’m sure you already have that figured out.
All you do is spread open the wrappers and invert them so the colors are facing up when you lay them down. Super simple.
Then place the larger size on bottom and a smaller size on top. You can use a piece of double-sided tape to attach them together.
FYI – the jumbo white baking cups I used are on the left and not the king-size baking cups shown on the right. I don’t have the packaging any more but I wanted to show you them side-by-side for comparison. The king size would be too big.
So that’s the scoop on the baking cups.
Now we need actual cupcakes.
Jimmies for July!!!
These are going in the cupcake batter.
You know I think this is the first time I’ve added sprinkles to cake batter. How can that be? I mean itt totally makes cake happier.
I didn’t measure how many I added. I know. Not very helpful. But however many you decide to add… add more. It’s all good.
I baked the cupcakes in the solid red baking cups and then layered two different sizes underneath. But you can also just use one baking cup underneath like on the right – especially if it’s festive like this stars and stripes design.
They remind me of bunting and those tissue paper fan decoration thingys you see hanging for the fourth. That’s what I was going for anyway.
And they’d be a great way to put your cupcakes on display for a party.
For the cupcakes:
I used the vanilla cake recipe from this snow cones post a couple of weeks ago (minus the food coloring).
For the frosting:
Beat 1 package cheesecake instant pudding mix, 1 cup cold milk, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar for 2 minutes. Gently fold in 8 oz. COOL WHIP Whipped Topping (thawed).
When combined, place frosting in the freezer for a few minutes to firm up a bit for piping. Or simply spread frosting on top of cupcakes. Store cupcakes in refrigerator until ready to serve. Up to 2 days. Oh … and don’t forget to add sprinkles.
Yum. And yes, I could have used a few more of these jimmies inside.
Easy, right?
Well if you want to take the wrapper presentation a step further, try making them into ribbons.
Cute!
- Cut red card stock paper in 1.75 inch strips for the rich red border. Fold each strip in the middle to form a V.
- Print out this pdf artwork on white paper. Cut out the art and use double-sided tape to attach to the red card stock for a layered ribbon look.
- Then cut out triangle shapes at the end of each strip to finish off the look.
- Tape to the bottom of the layered cupcake wrappers.
- Voila… ribbons!
Hope you have a Happy 4th! In a couple of weeks that is.
Adorable!
June 11, 2012 12:16 AMvery cute! but space consuming!
June 11, 2012 12:28 AMGreat idea! I think I will try these out with just red sprinkles for Canada day! I have also seen little maple leaf sprinkles for on top. Thanks for the inspiration!
June 11, 2012 12:32 AMThose make a great statement. Off to find some pretty cupcake liners.
June 11, 2012 12:37 AMJuly 4th is one of my very favorite holidays and I really love your ideas. I have to check out those online stores now!
June 11, 2012 12:44 AMI have those flag baking cups. They are really sturdy! I just might be inspired!!
June 11, 2012 12:45 AMWhat a cute idea! Definitely adding sprinkles into my next batch of cupcakes!
June 11, 2012 12:46 AMSo festive; I’m a sucker for festive. I wish we weren’t vowing off sweets for the summer at my house, otherwise, I would be totally tempted to make these.
June 11, 2012 12:47 AMFestive!
June 11, 2012 12:55 AMSo cute and festive, Angie!! LOVE!
June 11, 2012 01:46 AMi want to raid your pantry. I bet its amazing.
June 11, 2012 01:46 AMSo very clever and not too difficult! Thanks for a fun idea!
Anything with sprinkles will bring smiles!
June 11, 2012 03:09 AMCute idea! Also reminds me of Martha Stewart’s fireworks cookies a few months back.
June 11, 2012 03:16 AMThese look so fun!!! I love it. You are so creative!!!!
June 11, 2012 03:27 AMOh! me encanta! pefectos para el 4 de julio!
http://verdementayrosapastel.blogspot.com.es/
xoxo :)
June 11, 2012 04:17 AMHow cute and cheery :D
June 11, 2012 06:10 AMwhat a great idea!. I live in India and our independence day is in august definitely want to try out the same idea in saffron white and green..our flag colors. cool whip is my favorite topping my daughter loves it with fresh fruit, cupcakes and jelly!!!
June 11, 2012 06:37 AMThey look awesome,
June 11, 2012 06:48 AMI would like to make them next year for Australia Day.
These are so freaking cute! I love it!
June 11, 2012 07:01 AMI think those are so cute. I ‘m thinking I can do those.
June 11, 2012 08:04 AMThese are so festive and colorful! And you are right, there are so many things you can create using cupcake liners. I like to use them to make cookie flowers… :)
June 11, 2012 08:08 AMThese are fantastic! And such a creative idea with the wrappers, I’m going to have to keep that in mind! x
Angie
June 11, 2012 08:31 AMsundaybelle.com
Very pretty. I do have a question…do the jimmies get soft in the cupcakes or do they still have that jimmie like texture. See, I think they look pretty but I absolutely hate eating them! I’m weird. Anyway, I was curious if they kind of softened up or not. Thanks!
June 11, 2012 08:32 AMThe cupcakes look amazing n those baking cups. I always try to find baking cups that really works. Here in Peru the only option we have are a standard one, with no color and/or designe so I always have to buy using internet from a US store.
June 11, 2012 09:10 AMThe icing recipe sounds DELISH!!! I am going to make cupcakes just so I can use the icing!
June 11, 2012 09:22 AMFun idea.
June 11, 2012 10:52 AMEveline.
Those really are adorable wrappers! What a fun festive cupcake:-)
June 11, 2012 11:10 AMfantastic cupcakes!
June 11, 2012 12:11 PMlove these. A nice, easy frosting recipe as well :)
June 11, 2012 12:15 PMThese are so pretty!
June 11, 2012 01:47 PMYou come up with the cutest things! What a great idea! (Love the ribbon extra, it just put these “over the top”.
June 11, 2012 02:23 PMthese look very tasty! And who can resist cool whip!! not me.
June 11, 2012 04:03 PM:)
mikky
http://www.todaloos.com
Those are so adorable!! I am definitely gonna have to make these for the forth!!
June 11, 2012 05:00 PMMan!!! I had a sweet craving just now and these aint HELPING!!! =D Awesomely creative as usual!
June 11, 2012 06:52 PMThose are ADORABLE! I have a question though…where do you find the cheesecake instant pudding? We looked when we were at Kroger’s today and they didn’t have it :(. Thanks!!
June 11, 2012 07:47 PMSo adorable. I am doing Flag day cards tomorrow..these would go so well with them. Thanks for sharing!
June 11, 2012 09:52 PMThese are so cute!
June 11, 2012 09:55 PMJust adorable!!
June 11, 2012 11:33 PMJust thought I’d say thank you for putting up such an addictive website. Whilst revising for my first actual GCSE Biology exam, I somehow made my way here. Should be revising for my exam in precisely 2 hours and 18 minutes but I simply CANNOT rip my eyes away from this. GIMME!
June 12, 2012 01:58 AMThese are so cute! Let’s hear it for the red, white & blue! It’s always bugged me that I buy adorable cupcake papers..but when the cupcakes are baked, you can’t really see all the cuteness! Perfect. :o)
June 12, 2012 10:18 AMSuper cute way to display cupcakes for the 4th!
June 12, 2012 10:47 AMLOVE these! I have been looking for an idea of something to make for Canada Day!!
June 12, 2012 11:22 AMThat is a great frosting idea. It looks like something that could be done with any frosting flavor you liked too!
June 12, 2012 12:28 PMYou are just so creative!!!
June 12, 2012 02:55 PMThese look so sweet! Very excited for July 4th – I am British and happen to be in America for it this year! :)
June 12, 2012 05:26 PMHow cute! I love that the white frosting came out a true white, instead of a yellowish or blueish cast.
June 12, 2012 05:29 PMOh my heavens, that frosting sounds outrageous!!!! Next time I’m in the USA, I’m buying that pudding mix! WOW!
June 12, 2012 05:49 PMPerfect for the 4th! I can’t believe how close it is already.
June 12, 2012 08:44 PMso fun, I can see using all sorts of liners for this!
June 13, 2012 09:18 AMThat icing looks absolutely AMAZING. And I love sprinkles in cupcakes, makes every bite a little bit more exciting ;)
June 13, 2012 02:37 PMYour recipes are always cute and great-looking, but don’t you think you use too many cake/pudding/brownie/etc ready mixes? That stuff does make it a lot easier to bake and decorate, but tastes awful and is quite artificial.
June 13, 2012 02:55 PMBesides that, I really like your blog :D
sounds yummy and it is very cute!!!!
June 18, 2012 01:27 PM~gracie~
I love these cupcakes. They are so cute & perfect for July 4th.
June 21, 2012 02:49 AMthanks a lot for the ribbon pdf. The 4th is my birthday and so i will defenitely use it!!!
June 21, 2012 02:16 PMJust made these for a party today! They were sooo good! The cake is not too sweet (my husband said “it taste like a sugar cookie”) and the frosting was amazing, just really delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!
July 1, 2012 11:27 PMMe and my friend ALMOST made them the day before the Fourth!
July 3, 2012 04:07 PM