Dinosaur Cupcakes

a dinosaur cupcake with white frosting and blue airhead spikes.

5 from 1 vote

Birthday parties can be complicated, but desserts should be simple. With these easy dinosaur cupcakes, you can have a perfectly festive-themed dessert that's cheap, easy, and so much fun for all ages.

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Total Time50

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: cupcakes

Calories: 306kcal

Author: Nicole Durham

Cost: Recipe $7.61 / Serving $0.32

Equipment

Ingredients

Cupcakes

1 box (15.25 ounces) cake mix, any flavor ($1.00)
⅓ cup vegetable oil ($0.23)
1 cup water ($0.00)
3 large eggs ($0.45)

Buttercream

3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature ($2.97)
4 ½ cups powdered sugar ($1.62)
2 teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.06)
3-4 tablespoons milk ($0.04)

Optional Decorations

Airhead candies ($1.24)
sprinkles

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Bake cupcakes. Add the cake mix, oil, water, and eggs to a large bowl and whisk until combined. Divide into a paper lined muffin pan and bake according to package directions, about 18 minutes at 350°F. Cool completely.
Make buttercream. Add the butter and powdered sugar to a large bowl and mix until blended. Add the vanilla extract and mix again. Add the milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
Prep decorations. Unwrap the Airhead candies. Using clean kitchen scissors, cut each candy in half along the center line, then cut into small triangles using angled cuts.
Decorate. Pipe frosting onto the cooled cupcakes using a piping bag fitted with a tip. Arrange the Airhead pieces down the center of each cupcake, alternating colors if desired. Add sprinkles around the base of the frosting if using.
Serve. Serve immediately or chill until ready to enjoy.

Notes

Recipe Tips. Any cake mix works, or substitute homemade cupcakes. A Wilton 1M tip works well for piping.
Make Ahead. Cupcakes and frosting can be prepared separately in advance. Let frosting sit briefly at room temperature before piping.
Storage. Store decorated cupcakes well covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Airhead candies may weep slightly when returning to room temperature.

Nutrition