How do I decorate summer sunflower cupcakes?

Let your creativity bloom as you learn how to decorate our Summer Sunflower cupcakes. These adorable cupcakes will add a burst of sunshine to any occasion!

You'll need

Items needed to answer the question, How do I decorate Summer Sunflower Cupcakes. Items include: Cupcake liners Unsalted butter Powdered sugar Vanilla extract Salt Yellow food coloring Brown or black food coloring Milk or cream

Cupcake liners Enough for the number of cupcakes you plan to make
Unsalted butter 1 cup (2 sticks)
Powdered sugar 4 cups
Vanilla extract 2 teaspoons
Salt Pinch
Yellow food coloring As needed
Brown or black food coloring As needed
Milk or cream As needed (if desired for frosting consistency)

Take note
Caution: Working with edible decorations can be addictive! You may find yourself unable to stop making these sunflower cupcakes. Proceed with caution.

1

Bake and Cool the Cupcakes

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners. Prepare your favorite cupcake batter and fill each liner about two-thirds full. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Once baked, remove the cupcakes from the pan and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

2

Whip Up the Buttercream Frosting

In a large mixing bowl, beat 1 cup (2 sticks) of unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add 4 cups of powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until fully incorporated. Mix in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. If the frosting is too thick, you can add a tablespoon of milk or cream to reach your desired consistency.

3

Color the Frosting

Divide the buttercream frosting into separate bowls, depending on how many colors you want for your sunflowers. Use yellow food coloring for the main petals, and brown or black for the center. Stir the coloring into the frosting until you achieve the desired shades. You can also try mixing in a little bit of cocoa powder or melted chocolate for a richer brown color.

4

Pipe the Sunflower Petals

Fit a piping bag with a large petal-shaped piping tip. Fill the bag with the yellow buttercream frosting. Hold the piping bag at a 45-degree angle to the cupcake, with the widest end of the tip touching the cupcake. Pipe petals around the edge of the cupcake, making an overlapping circular pattern. Continue piping petals until the entire cupcake is covered.

5

Create the Sunflower Center

Fit another piping bag with a small round piping tip. Fill the bag with the brown or black buttercream frosting. Pipe a small circle in the center of the cupcake to create the sunflower's center. You can add some texture by piping short lines from the center outwards. If you prefer a more realistic look, you can also use chocolate chips or small candies for the center.

6

Add Details and Finishing Touches

Get creative and add some extra details to your sunflower cupcakes! You can use green buttercream frosting to pipe leaves or add some sprinkles for extra color. If you want to take it to the next level, you can even use edible markers or icing to draw on additional details. Let your imagination run wild!