Need something red, white, and blue for this year’s fourth? These 4th of July Cupcakes are super cute and perfect for a picnic or a neighborhood party! Make the chocolate stars using a template printable and colored melting chocolate.
These adorable Fourth of July treats are perfect for a 4th of July get-together!
The 4th of July is a wonderful time to hang out with friends and family, enjoying the summer weather and festive atmosphere. It’s the perfect occasion for a fun dinner featuring all the summer favorites like hotdogs, hamburgers, watermelon, fries, and delicious desserts. This year, why not make something small and individually sized like these adorable cupcakes?
Creating cupcakes with a 4th of July theme adds a special and fun touch to your celebration. Not only are they delightful to look at, but they also perfectly capture the patriotic spirit of the holiday.
Speaking of the 4th of July, here are a few other posts about this patriotic holiday!
Other Patriotic Desserts!
Reasons Why You’ll Love 4th of July Cupcakes
- Festive and Patriotic: Cupcakes can be decorated with red, white, and blue colors and patriotic symbols like stars and stripes, making them a perfect fit for the 4th of July celebration.
- Individual Portions: Cupcakes are already individually sized, making them easy to serve and enjoy without cutting or extra utensils.
- Easy to Customize: You can easily customize cupcakes with different flavors, fillings, and decorations to suit everyone’s taste preferences, adding a personal touch to your dessert table.
- Fun to Make and Decorate: Baking and decorating cupcakes can be a fun activity with family and friends, adding to the overall enjoyment of the holiday.
- Portable and Convenient: Cupcakes are easy to transport, making them a great dessert option for picnics, barbecues, or any 4th of July gathering, ensuring you can enjoy them anywhere.
Baking-themed cupcakes for the 4th of July is so exciting! It’s a blast to get creative with red, white, and blue decorations, turning simple cupcakes into patriotic masterpieces. Plus, sharing these festive treats with friends and family just adds to the fun of celebrating together.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Cupcake
- Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps to create a tender, moist texture.
- Butter: Provides richness and a buttery flavor, while also helping to tenderize the cake.
- Cake Flour: Gives the cake a fine, soft crumb and a delicate texture.
- Milk: Adds moisture and helps to create a smooth batter.
- Yolks: Contribute to the cake’s richness and color while adding moisture.
- Baking Powder: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cake to rise and become fluffy.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor, adding a sweet and aromatic note.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the cake.
Frosting
- Cream Cheese: Adds a tangy flavor and creamy texture, making the frosting rich and smooth.
- Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting while providing a smooth, easily spreadable consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor, adding a sweet and aromatic note to the frosting.
- Butter: Contributes to the richness and smooth texture, making the frosting more spreadable and flavorful.
Chocolate Stars
- Melting Chocolate: Forms the base of the stars, providing a rich, smooth, and chocolatey flavor.
- Shortening: Helps to thin the chocolate, making it easier to melt and giving the stars a smooth, glossy finish. It makes melting chocolate so much easier!
- Food Coloring: Adds vibrant colors to the chocolate, making the stars visually appealing and perfect for themed decorations.
How to Make the Fourth of July Cupcakes
Cupcakes:
Step 1 – Mix Batter
Add sugar and butter to a large bowl, mix at high speed, and beat until light and fluffy. Mix cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Add vanilla extract to milk. Add and alternate the flour and milk mixtures to the batter. Mix thoroughly until light and fluffy.
Step 2 – Fill Muffin Tin
Fill muffin tin 3/4 full with batter.
Step 3 – Bake
Bake for about 18 minutes until the toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Frosting
Step 1 – Combine Ingredients
Combine the butter, salt, cream cheese, vanilla extract and sugar. Whip until light and fluffy.
Step 2 – Pastry Bag
Place frosting in a pastry bag with an 848 Ateco tip. Start in the middle of the cupcake top and swirl from the center around the cupcake. Sprinkle colored sugar sprinkles on top.
Chocolate Stars
Step 1 – Print out the Template
Print out a star printable; you’ll need to fill out the form below. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the star template.
Step 2 – Melt Chocolate
Melt chocolate in small batches, and one at a time. Add shortening to the 2 ounces of chocolate and melt in the microwave for 30-minute intervals, stirring after each interval. The chocolate is ready to use once all the meltaway wafers are melted.
Step 3 – Color Chocolate
Color melted chocolate with food dye.
Step 4 – Piping Bag and Piping
Place melted chocolate in a piping bag and trim a smallish hole at the tip’s end. Pipe the colored chocolate onto the parchment paper around the edges of the stars. Allow the chocolate to cool before adding more chocolate to the star’s center.
Step 5 – Place Stars on Cupcakes
Place the cooled chocolate stars on top of the cupcakes.
4th of July Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- 1¾ cup cake flour
- ½ cup milk
- 3 egg yolks
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- pinch salt
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 box powdered sugar about 3½ cups
Chocolate Stars
- 2 oz white melting chocolates
- 1 tsp shortening
- food dye
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
Cupcakes
- Add sugar and butter to a large bowl, mix at high speed, and beat until light and fluffy.
- Mix cake flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
- Add vanilla extract to milk.
- Add and alternate the flour and milk mixtures to the batter. Mix thoroughly until light and fluffy.
- Fill muffin tin 3/4 full with batter.
- Bake for about 18 minutes until the toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Frosting
- Combine the butter, salt, cream cheese, vanilla extract and sugar. Whip until light and fluffy.
- Place frosting in a pastry bag with an 848 Ateco tip. Start in the middle of the cupcake top and swirl from the center around the cupcake. Sprinkle colored sugar sprinkles on top.
Stars
- Print out star printable. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the star template.
- Melt chocolate in small batches, and one at a time. Add shortening to the 2 ounces of chocolate and melt in the microwave for 30-minute intervals, stirring after each interval. Once all the meltaway wafers are melted, the chocolate is ready to use.
- Color melted chocolate with food dye.
- Place melted chocolate in a piping bag and trim a smallish hole at the tip's end.
- Pipe the colored chocolate onto the parchment paper around the edges of the stars. Allow for the chocolate to cool before adding more chocolate to the star's center.
- Place chocolate stars on top of the cupcakes.
Nutrition
How to Melt Chocolate
For years, I struggled with melting white chocolate in the microwave. I always overheated it, ending up with a big clump of hardened chocolate that I had to toss. Finally, I discovered the best way to melt those meltaways successfully.
The secret is to add shortening to the chocolate.
You see, adding shortening to the chocolate helps it melt smoothly and prevents it from clumping up. Plus, it gives the chocolate a glossy finish that looks great on any treat.
Since the chocolate tended to harden, I started melting it in small batches. Add shortening to 2 ounces of chocolate and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each. Once all the meltaway wafers are completely melted, the chocolate is ready to use.
Use the chocolate immediately after melting, as it will eventually harden. I also discovered that reheating the chocolate isn’t effective.
Creative Variations and Add-Ons
- Filled cupcakes: ideas for red and blueberry fillings
- Using different frosting flavors: cream cheese, chocolate
- Adding a surprise element: sparkler toppers or hidden candy centers
- Color the cake batter in red and blue for a fun surprise.
- Place small flags on the cupcake for a fun touch.
I hope you give these fun 4th of July cupcakes a try! They add a wonderfully festive touch to your holiday desserts!
Cheers,
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
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