Valentine Cupcakes do not have to be hard or time consuming. If you are looking to make a special treat for your loved ones or for your child’s class, these cupcakes start with box cake mix, so they take no time at all. Simply bake and decorate.
These Valentine Cupcakes are ideal because you make these delicious cupcakes with a box cake mix and then supplement with this cute Valentine Cupcake idea. Cupid’s Bow cupcakes are a loving way to create something special for your Valentine.
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What makes this recipe great? The cute decoration makes them a wonderful party treat or a surprise for your family. They are quick to make and only take a few ingredients.
- Quick Holiday Cupcake: The cupcakes for Valentine’s Day are so easy; the longest part is the baking time for the cupcakes.
- Easy Ingredients: Starts with Box Cake Mix and a few other pantry items.
- Family Friendly: They are a sweet way to express your love for your family.
- Adaptable: Can make with different cake mix flavors.
What You Need to Make Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Ingredients
- White Cake Mix – Any brand will do, use your favorite or whatever is on sale.
- Small Pretzel Sticks – The mini or small ones are needed to make the arrows for the cupid cupcakes.
- Pink Candy Melts- They melt so easily and are great to work with.
- Red Rolling Fondant – Fondant is perfect for these valentines cupcakes.
Equipment
- KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls
- OCTAVO 5 Speed Hand Mixer Electric
- Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware Standard Muffin and Cupcake Pan, 12-Cup Baking Pan
- Caperci Standard White Cupcake Liners 500 Count,
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
How to Make Cupcakes for Valentine- Step by Step
- Make Batter: First, preheat oven and then mix cake batter according to box’s directions. Add gel food coloring and mix until batter is completely tinted.
- Scoop into tins: Next, scoop into a muffin tin, lined with paper liners and bake according to the package’s directions.
- Buttercream: Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream.
- Fondant: Then roll out the fondant. To create a heart, press the bottom two fondant spheres together, pointing it at the end. Repeat to create 12 fondant hearts and set aside on half of the wax paper-lined pan.
- Pretzels: Line up 12 pretzel sticks on lined pan and then microwave pink candy melts. Pour melted candy into a piping bag and then frost out 2 V-shapes on each pretzel stick. Allow to set, about 20 minutes. Finally, insert one pretzel stick into each cupcake, followed by the fondant heart.
Common Questions About Cupcakes -Valentines Day
It is best to store your cupcakes in an airtight container until you are ready to serve them, as cake dries out quickly. This cupcake keeper is ideal.
Of course, a strawberry or raspberry cake mix or even chocolate would work wonderfully in this recipe.
Indeed, this recipe is for 12 cupcakes, however a standard box mix makes 24 cupcakes, therefore this recipe is very easy to double.
The leftover undecorated baked cupcakes can be frozen in a freezer bag or airtight container but the decorated ones will not hold up well to freezing.
It is best to make and use them within a day or so or they will not be fresh and moist.
Really it depends on your oven. It usually takes anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes. Test your cake by inserting a toothpick into the center and check to see if any of the wet batter is sticking to determine when they are done.
Expert Tips for Making Cupid’s Bow Valentine Cupcakes
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two cupcake trays before baking.
- Add Chocolate: Milk, White or Dark Chocolate chips can be added to the cake for more flavor.
- Variation tip: White chocolate melts can be used and colored with the food coloring gel.
- Temperature: Make sure the cupcakes are completely cooled before you ice them.
- Toppers: Finish off your cupcakes with these adorable toppers.
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If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it in the comment section below.
Cupid’s Bow Valentine Cupcakes
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- White cake mix, + ingredients required to make that mix.
- ¼ tsp pink gel food coloring
- For the buttercream:
- ½ cup softened unsalted butter
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
- For the decorations:
- 12 small pretzel sticks
- ½ cup pink candy melts
- 4-5 oz. red rolling fondant
Instructions
- Mix cake batter according to box’s directions. Add gel food coloring and mix until batter is completely tinted.
- Scoop into a muffin tin, lined with paper liners and bake according to the package’s directions.
- Allow to cool completely before baking.
- While the cupcakes cool, prepare the buttercream: in a large bowl, beat together butter, confectioners’ sugar and milk with an electric mixer. Start on low and gradually increase to high.
- Once the ingredients are well-combined and form semi-stiff peaks, scoop into a piping bag with Wilton tip #21 attached.
- Frost each cupcake.
- Line a pan with wax paper. Knead rolling fondant until smooth.
- Roll 24 fondant spheres, about one inch in size each.
- To create a heart, press the bottom two fondant spheres together, pointing it at the end. Repeat to create 12 fondant hearts and set aside on half of the wax-paper-lined pan.
- Line up 12 pretzel sticks on lined pan. In a small bowl, microwave pink candy melts in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval.
- Pour melted candy into a piping bag and cut out a small tip at the end.
- Frost out 2 V-shapes on each pretzel stick. Allow to set, about 20 minutes.
- Insert one pretzel stick into each cupcake, followed by the fondant heart.
- Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- This Recipe Can be Doubled: Simply increase the ingredients proportionately and split it into two cupcake trays before baking.
- Add Chocolate: Milk, White or Dark Chocolate chips can be added to the cake for more flavor.
- Variation tip: White chocolate melts can be used and colored with the food coloring gel.
- Temperature: Make sure the cupcakes are completely cooled before you ice them.
- Toppers: Finish off your cupcakes with these adorable toppers.
Estimated Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe. I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.
These Cupid bow cupcakes are adorable. Your step by step directions are so easy to follow!
Adorable, delicious, and easy to make, these are wonderful Valentine’s Day cupcakes!
What a cute idea! It was simple enough I was able to make them with my grandkids! They were, of course, a delicious hit! Thanks for helping me make a great memory.
What a great idea for valentines! Thank you for this!
These adorable cupid’s bow cupcakes were a hit! My family enjoyed them. I’m excited to have them again for Valentine’s Day treats.
Made these with the kids, and we had so much fun! Our cupid’s bow cupcake turned out to be so beautiful and incredibly delicious, we loved it! Can’t wait to make them again for Valentine’s Day!
Super cute!! 🥰
I was nervous about working with fondant, but your step by step instructions were perfect! They’ll be perfect for Valentines Day!