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  5. 10 Ideas for Cupcakes

10 Ideas for Cupcakes

Real Simple Author
By Real Simple Editors Updated September 02, 2016
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PB-and-jam session cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters
Batter up! When it's your turn to bring dessert, hit a home run with one of these easy, adorable treats.
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PB-and-Jam Session

PB-and-jam session cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed. Mix ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter into the frosting.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with 1 teaspoon raspberry jam and 1 teaspoon chopped roasted peanuts.

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Take a Bow

Take a Bow Cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with a “bow” formed from a strip of gummy tape (cut and assembled using dabs of frosting to stick the pieces together, as necessary).

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Lemony Lick-It

Cream cheese frosting on a lemon wedge cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed. Mix ¼ cup lemon curd into the frosting.

To decorate: Create a cavity by cutting a cone-shaped piece out of the top of each cupcake. Fill each cupcake with 1 teaspoon lemon curd; replace the pieces. Frost the cupcakes and top each with half of a lemon-slice candy.

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Sticky Fingers

Cotton candy cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with pieces of store-bought cotton candy.

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Eat Your Heart Out

Heart cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with a heart cut out of raspberry or strawberry fruit leather (use kitchen shears).

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Whole Lotta Chocolate

Chocolate cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed. Mix 4 ounces melted and cooled semisweet chocolate into the frosting.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and, dividing evenly, sprinkle with 1 cup chopped malted milk balls and ¾ cup chopped store-bought brownie.

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Sunflower Power

Candy corn sunflower cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with 1 round chocolate-covered candy (for the center) and 7 pieces of candy corn (for the petals).

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The Firecracker

Firecracker cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and top each with one 1-inch piece red licorice twist (for the firecracker stick), one 1-inch piece black shoelace licorice (for the fuse), and ½ teaspoon Pop Rocks candy (for the sparks).

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Would You Like S’more?

S'more cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes and, dividing evenly, sprinkle with 2 crumbled graham crackers, ¾ cup miniature marshmallows, and ¼ cup miniature chocolate chips.

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All (Mouse) Ears

Mouse Cupcake
Credit: Charles Masters

Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes | Makes 12

For the cupcakes and frosting: Use 1 batch of Easy Yellow Cupcakes and 1 batch of Easy Cream Cheese Frosting. Make as directed.

To decorate: Frost the cupcakes. Top each with 1 halved marshmallow (cut-side up) sprinkled with pink decorating sugar (for the ears), 2 miniature chocolate chips (for the eyes), 1 peanut butter chip (for the nose), and 6 chocolate sprinkles (for the whiskers).

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    1 of 10 PB-and-Jam Session
    2 of 10 Take a Bow
    3 of 10 Lemony Lick-It
    4 of 10 Sticky Fingers
    5 of 10 Eat Your Heart Out
    6 of 10 Whole Lotta Chocolate
    7 of 10 Sunflower Power
    8 of 10 The Firecracker
    9 of 10 Would You Like S’more?
    10 of 10 All (Mouse) Ears

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