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–+ servings
Butterfly cupcakes on a white platter
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Butterfly Cupcakes

Butterfly Cupcakes with a step by step tutorial. These are perfect for a butterfly or Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 1 hour
Set Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 12
Author Meghan

Equipment

  • waxed paper squares
  • white cardstock or paper
  • resealable gallon sized plastic bags
  • pastry bag fitted with a large star tip
  • toothpicks

Ingredients

  • semisweet chocolate chips
  • candy melts, colors of your choice
  • nonpariel sprinkles
  • 12 of your favorite cupcakes see note
  • 2 batches your favorite buttercream recommend Easy Vanilla Buttercream, see note
  • gel food coloring, colors of your choice
  • chocolate frosting store bought canned or homemade

Instructions

Construct the Paper Wing and Antenna Templates:

  • On piece of white cardstock, draw a wing shape. Cut out the wing to make a stencil.
    wing template cut out of cardstock
  • Trace a wing onto the cardstock using the stencil. Flip the wing shape over and trace the mirror image of the wing next to the first wing to make a pair of wings.
    butterfly wing cardstock template
  • Draw an antenna shape on a separate piece of cardstock.
    butterfly antennae template

Pipe the Butterfly Wings:

  • Place a square of waxed paper on top of the wing pair template.
  • Melt the chocolate by microwaving in 30-second intervals at 50% power until just melted.
  • Melt the colored candy melts according to package directions.
  • Transfer melted chocolate and candy melts to separate resealable plastic bags or disposable pastry bags with a corner or tip cut off.
  • Pipe an outline of each wing using the chocolate.
    piped outline of butterfly wing with melted chocolate
  • Fill in the center with the melted colored candy melts.
    butterfly wing outlined with chocolate and filled with melted blue candy melts
  • Use a toothpick to swirl the colored portion a bit, then sprinkle with nonpareil sprinkles while still wet.
    two butterfly wings outlined with chocolate and filled with melted blue candy melts
  • Repeat process until you have enough wing pairs for the number of cupcakes desired, switching colors of candy melts as necessary.
  • Allow all of the wings to set at room temperature.

Pipe the Butterfly Antennae:

  • Place a square of waxed paper on top of the antenna template.
  • Use the melted chocolate in a plastic bag or pastry bag (previously used to outline the wings) to trace an antenna on the waxed paper. Repeat for as many cupcakes as desired, making a few extras in case some break.
    butterfly wings antennae template with piped chocolate on top

Assemble the Butterfly Cupcakes:

  • Color buttercream as desired and pipe onto each cupcake using a large star tip.
    up close of single cupcake with blue buttercream piped on top
  • Place two chocolate chips, upside down, into the top of the frosted buttercream. These will serve to help hold up the wings.
    single cupcake with buttercream and 2 chocolate chips on top
  • Insert the wings into the buttercream, allowing each wing to be supported by a chocolate chip.
    butterfly wings pressed into the top of the cupcake
  • Insert antenna into the buttercream near the top portion of the butterfly.
    butterfly wings and antenna in a cupcake
  • Pipe dots of chocolate frosting between the wings to represent the body of the butterfly. You may use the melted chocolate for the body if you prefer.
    butterfly wings and antenna in a cupcake
  • Repeat process until all cupcakes are assembled.
    Butterfly cupcakes

Notes

For a homemade chocolate cake recipe, I recommend the cake portion of Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge Cake or Chocolate Layer Cake. These recipes are excellent made with gluten free flour blend or with all purpose flour.
I recommend Easy Vanilla Buttercream. For a super smooth frosting, try Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream.
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