Sunflower Cupcakes with a How to Video

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Sunflowers, colored leaves and acorns are among my favorite cookies to make in the fall. The colors are stunning and that crisp fall air makes me happy from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. So I was thinking, if sunflower cookies can make me that happy how would sunflower cupcakes make me feel.

How to Make Sunflowr Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting | The Bearfoot Baker

They made me feel pretty darn good and they’re a lot quicker to make than the cookie version. I’ve seen people make these by piping the gorgeous sunflower leaves and then adding brown icing to the center of the flower. Then, they proceeded to dip the flower into chocolate jimmies for that classic sunflower look, but when I tried, I ended up with chocolate jimmies all over my petals. That’s not the look I was going for so I asked myself how would I decorate them if they were cookies. The answer is simple. A project like this calls for royal icing transfers. So how do you make royal icing transfers with buttercream frosting? It’s easy. Let me show you how.

Supply List for Sunflower Cupcakes:
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Recipes:
Buttercream Colors

Made with AmeriColor Soft Gel Paste

  • Yellow Buttercream Frosting -Mix a little Lemon Yellow with a touch of Gold
  • Chocolate Brown
Decorating Tips:
Tools:
  • Chocolate Jimmies
  • Parchment Paper Squares
  • Flower Nail
  • Scissors
  • Paper to use as a template
  • Double Sided Sticky Tape
  • 2 Circle Cookie Cutters-(Mine were 2″ and 1 1/4″)
  • Pen or Pencil
Begin by making your cupcakes:
  • Bake your cupcakes and make a batch of buttercream frosting.
  • Set the cupcakes aside to cool.
  • While they cool, tint some frosting yellow and some frosting brown.
  • Place the yellow frosting in a decorating bag fitted with a coupler and a #352 decorating tip.
  • Place the 2A tip inside a piping bag with the tip cut off. You don’t need a coupler for the 2A tip.
  • Place a bag tie or rubber band around the top of the bag so the icing doesn’t come out of the top as you make the flowers.

How to Make Simple Sunflower Cupcakes | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Next, trace the 1 1/4″ circle cookie cutter onto a piece of paper and cut it out. If you want, use red or a different color of paper to make the shape so it will be easy to see through the parchment paper square.
  • Once the template is cut out, use a piece of double-sided sticky tape to secure it to the flower nail.
  • Place a second piece of double-sided sticky tape on top of the circle and attach a parchment paper square.

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with a How to Video | The Bearfoot Baker

  • With the brown icing, pipe the center of the sunflower the same width as the circle template. Try to build it up a little so it isn’t flat.
  • Dip the chocolate icing center into some chocolate jimmies while the icing is wet. If you wait a minute the jimmies may not stick.
  • Remove the parchment paper from the nail and set aside.
  • Continue until you have one center for every cupcake.

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with a Video | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Once all of the centers are made, place them on a baking sheet or tray and put the into the freezer for about 15 minutes or so. You want them to freeze enough so you can remove them from the parchment paper and add them to the sunflowers without distorting their shape.
TIP:

Only remove a few centers at a time so they don’t thaw out to quickly. If they do get soft you can place them back in the freezer for a few minutes.

How to Make Simple Sunflower Cupcakes with a How to Video | The Bearfoot Baker

Templates make life easier so why not use them to make your cupcakes?

  • Use the 2″ circle cookie cutter to press into the center of the cupcakes. You don’t need to press very deep because you are using the imprint as a guideline as to where the petals should be piped.
  • Repeat with the 1 1/4″ cookie cutter. Now you can see where the flower rows need to be and where you are going to place the center of the sunflower. Easy!

Simple Sunflower Cupcakes | The Bearfoot Baker

  • With the yellow frosting and the #352 tip start to make the sunflower petals.
  • Place the tip close to the top of the cupcakes and apply gentle pressure to the decorating bag.
  • Slowly move the bag away from the cupcake while you continue the gentle pressure. If you stop applying pressure your petals will be long and thin which is alright if that’s the look you trying to achieve.
  • Once the petals are the length you want, stop applying pressure and give a quick little jerk to make the point of the petal. It may take a little practice but I know you can do it.
  • Repeat for the center row. Remember, use your circle imprint as your guide so there won’t be any naked cupcakes showing.

Sunflower Cupcakes | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Grab a few of the flower centers from the freezer and get ready to see a beautiful sunflower cupcake.
  • Place a little yellow icing in the center of the sunflower cupcake.

Sunflower Cupcake with a How to Video | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Peel the center away from the parchment paper.

Sunflower Cupcakes with a Simple How to Video | The Bearfoot Baker

  • Add the center and gently press down.

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with an easy to Follow Video | The Bearfoot Baker

See! You did it and I knew you could make beautiful sunflowers.

I know the directions seem overwhelming sometimes so I made a little video to show you how fast and simple it is to make these sunflower cupcakes.

Sunflower Cupcakes Video:

Quick and simple just the way we like it and there aren’t any chocolate jimmies on the petals. Perfect!

How to Make Sunflowr Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting | The Bearfoot Baker

I think you should make these simple sunflower cupcakes so you can share them with everyone you know to help them feel the beauty of fall from the top of their heads to the tip of their toes. They’ll love you for it which will make you feel happy from the top of your head to the tip of your toes!

More Sunflower Treats:

Bear hugs,

Lisa