Decorating cupcakes makes a great birthday party activity.  Cupcakes can be made from any cake mixture by filling lined muffin trays ¾ full of batter.  Providing a variety of frosting colors and toppings allows children to use their imaginations while they create their dream cupcake.

Mother and Daughter Making Cupcakes

There’s no end to great cupcake toppers!  Here are just a few ideas to get you started:

-    Sprinkles.  A classic—sprinkles come in many shapes, sizes and colors, from colored sugars to edible beads.  Many varieties of sprinkles can be purchased from a grocery store, but your local baking supply store will have an even wider selection of colors and sizes.  You may even be able to find sprinkles shaped to fit the theme of your child’s party!

-    Spray Color.  Kids love color, and if sprinkles aren’t enough, spray color may be just the thing.  Essentially, spray color is like spray paint for (cup)cakes.  You can use the sprays freehand to create a tie-dye effect, and stencils are also available.

-    More Frosting.  Decorating frosting of all colors can be purchased in small, convenient tubes.  Most have fine or interchangeable tips so the children can achieve whatever type of effect they seek.  These are great for “drawing” on cupcakes.

-    Nuts and Flakes.  Coconut, either shredded or flaked, natural or toasted, adds great taste and texture to cupcakes.  (Children can create it to make “grass” for their creations).  Finely chopped nuts, such as walnuts, peanuts or pecans, can be used in the same way.  Chopped nuts instead of sprinkles also add a touch of sophistication to the cupcake.

-    Fresh Fruit.  Almost any fresh fruit can be used as a garnish for a cupcake or arranged as a border around the cupcakes.  Berries, especially strawberries, raspberries and cherries, sit perfectly atop a well-decorated cupcake.  Here’s a hint: if decorating the cupcakes beforehand, make sure to place the fruit atop the cupcakes soon before the guests arrive.  This way, the color from the fruit won’t “bleed” onto the cupcake.

-    Edible Flowers.  Some flowers, such as clover, cornflower, carnations, roses, violets, pansies, mint and lilac are edible and make creative garnishes for cupcakes.  The flowers can be used plain or sugared, much like fresh fruit.

Decorating cupcakes is great fun for birthdays or any time of year.  Check out these decorating ideas for specific party themes!

-    April Fool’s Day.  Frost the cupcakes with chocolate frosting and sprinkle with crushed chocolate cookies.  Have a candy worm “slithering” out of the center.

-    Baby Showers. Draw a baby’s face on each cupcake with icing, or liberally frost each cupcake and place animal crackers on top.

-    Bridal Showers.  Top frosted cupcakes with sugared flowers and candied fruits.

-    Christmas. Top frosted cupcakes with marshmallow snowmen, gingerbread figures or candy canes.

-    Halloween.  Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting.  Make “spider legs” out of licorice and use red cinnamon candies for the eyes.

-    Pirates.  Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over white frosting.  Decorate with gold-covered chocolate coins.

-    Princesses.  Ice with pink frosting and decorate with edible glitter and rose petals.