Easy Flower Cupcakes

This kid-friendly easy flower cupcake recipe features marshmallows shaped liked flowers dipped in colorful sprinkles so no piping skills are required.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 400 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 6 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 small eggs
• 8 large marshmallows
• 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
• 0.75 cup all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.25 cup unsalted butter
• 0.25 cup cream cheese, softened
• 6.5 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 0.5 cup assorted colored sprinkles
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar, or as needed
• 8 candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 8 muffin cups or line with paper liners.

Step 2

Beat 6 ½ tablespoons butter, white sugar, and vanilla sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat until smooth.

Step 3

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl; add to egg mixture and beat for 5 minutes. Spoon batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each ¾ full.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 14 minutes. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool, about 20 minutes.

Step 5

Beat ¼ cup butter and cream cheese together in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Beat in confectioners' sugar, ¼ cup at a time, beating in vanilla after ½ confectioners' sugar is incorporated; set aside.

Step 6

Pour colored sprinkles into separate small bowls, one for each color. Cut each large marshmallow into 5 slices; dip marshmallow pieces, cut-sides down, into one color sprinkles until sugar sticks. Repeat with remaining marshmallow slices and different color sprinkles.

Step 7

Spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Arrange 5 marshmallow slices on each cupcake in the shape of flower petals; place 1 candy-colored chocolate piece in centers.