Skip to main content

Clown Cupcakes

Encourage a bit of clowning around with these crowd-pleasing cupcakes, brought to life with features fashioned from colorful sprinkles and candy. Cone-shaped pieces of cake cut from the centers become pointed hats that rest atop heads (and hidden bellies) piped with creamy frosting.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes 24

Ingredients

24 Yellow Buttermilk Cupcakes (page 26)
Swiss Meringue Buttercream (page 304)
Multicolored round candy sprinkles (nonpareils)
3 pounds mini uncoated gumdrops, such as Dots
24 small cinnamon candies, such as Red Hots
Long chocolate sprinkles

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    For the hat, use a paring knife to score a circle in center of each cupcake. Holding knife at a slight angle, cut out a cone shape, rotating cupcake as you go.

    Step 2

    Using a pastry bag fitted with only a plain coupler, pipe untinted buttercream into the cavity of each cupcake and in a mound on top for the head. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow frosting to set.

    Step 3

    Using a small plain tip (#7), pipe a pompom of frosting on top of each cone-shaped piece; dip pompom in a bowl filled with multicolored sprinkles to coat completely. Place the cones on top of buttercream heads, pointed sides up. Arrange gumdrops around the base of each head to resemble a ruffled collar; press a cinnamon candy nose into each face. With kitchen tweezers, insert two chocolate sprinkles into each head for eyes. Serve immediately.

Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
This no-knead knockout gets its punch from tomatoes in two different ways.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Roasted poblanos, jalapeños, and red onion are coated with a melty sauce—warm with the flavors of pepper jack, and stabilized with a block of cream cheese.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.