Baby Bluebird Cupcakes have adorable frosting bluebirds in a toasted coconut nest. These cupcakes are perfect for spring or a baby shower!
The second I saw these cupcakes last spring, I knew I wanted to make them, but I had already planned to make the Spring Chick and Carrot Cupcakes for Easter, so I decided to wait until this spring. This is a very versatile recipe: you can use any cupcake and frosting you like.
One of my coworkers birthdays was coming up, and last year she raved and raved about the Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes, so I decided to use those as the base. I thought they'd work particularly well because I remembered that they bake up with very flat tops, and this recipe specifies to use a paring knife to flatten the cupcake top, if necessary.
These were a HUGE hit. Everyone loved the cute little bluebirds and said the cupcakes were amazing. I heard words like "food of the gods," "divine," "transcending," "incredible" - it was pretty funny.
Unfortunately, I didn't try one because I gave up desserts for Lent, but I know how good the Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes are on their own, so what's not to like? Ina Garten's voice pops in my mind saying "Coconut, chocolate, how bad can that be?"
Bluebird Nest Cupcakes
You can also make nest cupcakes filled with eggs rather than bluebirds. I used Cadbury mini eggs inside my nest.
Looking for More Cupcake Recipes?
Check out some of my favorite cupcakes:
Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes
Blackberry Vanilla Cupcakes
Blueberry Vanilla Cupcakes with Blueberry Ganache
Carrot Cupcakes with Mock Marzipan Carrots
Samoa Cupcakes with Easy Dulce de Leche Buttercream
Mexican Chocolate Black Bottom Cupcakes
📖 Recipe
Baby Bluebird Cupcakes
Equipment
- Pastry bags fitted with large round, medium round, and small "V" or leaf tips
Ingredients
- 1 batch of your favorite cupcakes
- 2 cups chocolate frosting (canned or homemade)
- ½ cup white frosting (canned or homemade)
- Shredded coconut (roughly ½ bag)
- Chocolate (approximately ½ ounce)
- Blue and yellow food coloring gel/liquid
Instructions
- Toast the shredded coconut in a medium skillet over medium/high heat, transfer to a shallow dish, and let cool completely.
- Level the cupcakes if necessary with a small paring knife.
- Lightly frost each cupcake with a thin layer of chocolate frosting, if desired. Some of my cupcakes had some of the 'tres leches' still on top so I just covered that in toasted coconut and advanced to step 4.
- Using a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe a ring or two of chocolate frosting around the top edge of each cupcake to form the border of the nest.
- Sprinkle a large amount of toasted coconut over each cupcake, gently pressing it into the chocolate frosting. Shake off the excess.
- Color some of the white frosting light blue. Using a pastry bag fitted with a wide round tip, pipe three mounds of frosting into the center of each nest to make the birds' bodies. If there is a little peak on the top of the mounds, wait a few minutes until the icing begins to set and then gently smooth it down with a toothpick or finger.
- Color the remaining white frosting yellow, and fill a pastry bag fitted with a small "V" tip. Pipe a beak onto each bird.
- Melt the chocolate in a microwave safe bowl, in 20 - 30 second intervals until completely melted. Dip a toothpick into the chocolate and then dot eyes onto each bird.
Mary Ann says
These are so cute! I have never seen this idea somehow. I bet they tasted awesome.
Definitely going to give them a shot- maybe that will speed up spring's arrival.
Kat says
These are way adoeable! You have such a cute blog! I just started one as well, hope you can stop by!
Reeni says
What a cute idea! They sound absolutely delicious! Food of the gods for sure.
The side dish round-up is posted!
Bob says
Heh, very cute.
Kerin says
The cupcakes look adorable and delicious! What a great combination : )
I have posted your blog on my bloglist. Your blog is terrific, and I wanted to share it!
Have a great day!!
Kerstin says
They are SO adorable and perfect for a party! I think they would almost be too hard to eat - almost... 🙂
Kathleen says
These are soooo adorable!
Unknown says
Adorable! You did a fabulous job. I think yours are better than Martha's.
Anh says
These cupcakes are soo cute!
CaSaundraLeigh says
These are ABSOLUTELY adorable! I don't know how you have patience to make such intricate desserts--I envy that! Have a good weekend! 🙂
Megan says
Wow - those are some seriously cute cupcakes. Perfect for spring.
Anonymous says
These are SO cute! I love them.
Annie says
They turned out beautifully! Glad everyone enjoyed them 🙂