Aren’t holiday treats just the best? You can’t go wrong with a batch of Mint Brownies or Lucky Charms Treats for St. Patrick’s Day! My kids especially love these dipped Oreos. So many pinch-proof desserts that we love!

I love a good sweet and salty treat like this. They’re the perfect size for grabbing a handful, which can be a good thing or a bad thing. Ha! These St. Patrick’s Day Caramel Pretzel Bites are especially great because they’re so darn easy to make and also super cute.

Cellophane bags are my favorite way to package up these pretty little things. You can see all the fun colors and sprinkles and the bags are really inexpensive!

What Do You Dip Caramel Pretzel Bites In?

You can use colored candy melts or you can use white chocolate chips and use food coloring to color them. The easiest option is to buy candy melts in different colors.

How Do You Make Caramel Pretzel Bites?

Heat the caramels on one pretzel in the oven then immediately cover with the other half. After they cool, melt the candy melts one color at a time and dip the pretzels halfway. You can dip three or four before adding the sprinkles and candy decorations!

WHAT ARE CANDY MELTS?

Candy melts are vanilla-flavored discs for candy making and coating. They come in multiple colors for all kinds of fun treats! You can buy them at Walmart, craft and party stores, and other grocery stores.

How Far in Advance Can I Make Caramel Pretzel Bites?

Keep your pretzels stored in an airtight container and they’ll stay good for 2-3 weeks!

How Long Do Caramel Pretzel Bites Last?

You can store dipped pretzels in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks.

How Do You Make Caramel Pretzel Bites?

All you’ll need is a cookie sheet and some parchment paper then cover with pretzels! Add a Rolo candy to each one of your pretzels and put them in the oven to soften, although you don’t want them to completely melt so be careful not to heat for too long. (You can see photos of these steps on my blog post for Halloween Caramel Pretzel Bites!)

Pull the pan out of the oven and carefully cover each Rolo with another pretzel. You’ll want the candies to completely cool before you start dipping so put the pan in the fridge at this point.

Now it’s time to dip! Melt one of the colors and dip the chilled pretzel bites halfway in. Place right back on the pan covered in parchment paper and add sprinkles and candy decor, or you can dip a few more before adding the sprinkles.

Aren’t these little guys just so fun? You can even add some rainbows for more festive St. Patrick’s Day colors!

More Treats for St. Patrick’s Day

• St. Patrick’s Day Dipped Oreos
• Lucky Charms Treats
• Mint Brownies
• Green Candied Popcorn

Yield: 40

St. Patrick's Day Caramel Pretzel Bites

Print

St. Patrick's Day Caramel Pretzel Bites are pinch-proof treats that take minutes to make! These little guys are super festive and delicious.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 80 butter snap or snap pretzels
• 40 Rolo candies
• 12 oz bright white candy melts
• 12 oz green candy melts
• St. Patrick's Day sprinkles

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of parchment paper over a cookie sheet. Place 40 butter snap pretzels flat on the cookie sheet. Top each pretzel with a Rolo candy.

2. Preheat the oven to 250° F. Place cookie sheet in the oven for 3 minutes to soften Rolos.

3. Remove pan from the oven and cover each Rolo with another pretzel, like a sandwich. Place in the fridge to cool completely.

4. Heat candy melts according to package directions until melted (one color at a time). Dip each pretzel bite halfway into the almond bark. Dip two or three times to give it a nice coating. Place on the parchment paper and repeat with five or six pretzel bites.

5. Add sprinkles and repeat the dunking and sprinkle process with remaining pretzel bites. Cool completely and serve.

Notes

Melt the candy melts one color at a time, half the bag at a time, so you get a variety of pretzel bites and it won't harden too soon in the bowl!

I hope you love these pretzel bites! Easy desserts are my jam and these are in my top favorites for sure. If you like this recipe, you’ll love St. Patrick’s Day Dipped Oreos!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. If you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post St. Patrick’s Day Caramel Pretzel Bites first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post St. Patrick’s Day Caramel Pretzel Bites appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

Coming from an Irish family, I’ve always had a love for all-things St. Patrick’s Day. Especially the treats! Besides these Lucky Charms Treats, some of my other favorites include St. Patrick’s Day Caramel Pretzel Bites, Dipped Oreos, and the perfect cupcakes to celebrate the holiday! . 

This post was originally published June 2012, rephotographed February 2019, and revamped February 2026.

How Many Treats Can I Get from One Batch?

One pan of Lucky Charms Treats makes 20-24 treats, depending on how large or small you cut them.

More Treats for St. Patrick’s Day

These treats are some of my favorites and they’re all perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! Mint Brownies are a classic and sport that lovely green frosting layer. We made Green Candied Popcorn about six years ago and it is so darn good. I can eat an entire bowl myself.

My kids absolutely love Leprechaun Snack Mix. This mix has a great balance of sweet and salty and the textures are stellar. Not to mention all that color! It’s a good one!

Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies from Like Mother, Like Daughter would also be so yummy for St. Patrick’s Day! Check out those bright green mint chips.

Lucky Charms Treats Recipe

Yield: 20

Lucky Charms Treats for St. Patrick's Day

Print

Lucky Charms Treats are so gooey, easy to make, and loaded with delicious flavor and texture. This is a perfect treat for St. Patrick's Day!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 5 T unsalted butter, divided
• 15oz miniature marshmallows
• 6 c Lucky Charms cereal
• 12 oz white chocolate chips
• 4 drops green food coloring

Instructions

1. Using a paper towel, butter the bottom of a 9x13 pan with 1 T unsalted butter. Melt remaining 4 T butter in a large microwave safe bowl.

2. Pour marshmallows over the melted butter; mix to coat the marshmallows. Place bowl in the microwave and heat for 30 seconds, then stir; heat for another 30 seconds and stir again till marshmallows are completely melted.

3. Pour cereal over marshmallow mixture a little at a time and mix gently but well. Place the mixed treat into the greased 9x13 pan. Run water over your hand and press the treat evenly into the pan. Cover and cool in the fridge for at least one hour.

4. Cut treats into 20-24 squares and place upside down on wax paper. Melt the white chocolate 45 seconds, then stir; melt for 45 seconds and stir again to melt the chocolate. Add the food coloring and stir to combine.

5. Dip the bottom of each treat into the green chocolate. Place upside down on the wax paper to allow chocolate to cool. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Add more or less food coloring for desired shade of green for the chocolate layer!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 111mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 1gSugar: 32gProtein: 2g

Nutrition information can vary for a recipe based on factors such as precision of measurements, brands, ingredient freshness, or the source of nutrition data. I strive to keep the information as accurate as possible, but make no warranties regarding its accuracy. I encourage readers to make their own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

I hope you love these Lucky Charms Treats! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

Out with the old, in with the new! Here is the original photo from 2013:

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. If you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post Lucky Charms Treats for St. Patrick’s Day first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post Lucky Charms Treats for St. Patrick’s Day appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

This post was originally published March 2015 and revamped August 2025.

Cafe Rio is one of our very favorite places to eat out. I can never decide between the burrito or the salad. And I almost always go with the salad! It’s my very favorite dish there and I try to eat it as slowly as I can so it will last longer.

This recipe includes five separate recipes for the different elements in the salad: sweet pork, cilantro lime rice, black beans, creamy tomatillo ranch dressing, and flour tortillas. Yes, that’s five recipes in one post! It’s your lucky day.

What’s your favorite part of this famous salad? I love the sweet pork. And that rice. The beans are amazing, too. Ok, I love the whole thing!

And then there’s the creamy tomatillo ranch dressing. Oh, that dressing. I could drink the stuff. I love it so much!

I hope you enjoy this meal as much as we do. It’s filling, it’s flavorful, and we love it!

Yield: 6-8 servings

Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Salads

Print

Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbaco Salads taste just like your favorite Cafe Rio salad, only they're fresh from your kitchen!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 6 hours

Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 2-3 lb pork roast
• 3 Tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
• 12 oz Coke
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 10 oz enchilada sauce
• 5 1/4 tsp minced garlic, divided
• 4 oz mild diced green chilies
• 2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice
• 1 tsp butter
• juice of 2 limes, divided
• 15 oz chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 bunch cilantro, cleaned, pulled from stems and divided
• 15 oz canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 cup tomato juice
• 1 cup mayo
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tomatillo, paper skin removed then roughly chopped
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeds removed and roughly chopped
• 1 green onion stem, green part
• 18 uncooked flour tortillas
• 2 cups of Romaine lettuce per salad being made
• grated Mexican blend cheese
• corn chip strips
• guacamole
• pico de gallo
• sour cream
• Cotija cheese

Instructions

1. For the Pork: Combine Coke and ¼ c. brown sugar. Place pork roast in a ziploc bag and pour the Coke and brown sugar mixture over it. Allow to marinate for at least 3 hours. (Over night is best!)
2. Remove roast from plastic bag and place in the crock pot. Pour the marinade from the bag in the crock pot and sprinkle 3 Tbsp salt over the roast. Place the lid on the crock pot and cook on low 5-6 hours or high 3-4 hours.
3. In a blender, combine enchilada sauce, minced garlic, green chillies, and 3/4 c. brown sugar; set aside.
4. Remove roast from crock pot and shred; discard of liquid. Place shredded pork back in the crock pot and add enchilada sauce mixture. Stir around to mix the meat with the liquid and cook for 30 more minutes, covered. Add more salt if more flavor is needed.
5. For the Cilantro Lime Rice: Combine rice, garlic, butter, 1 tsp. lime juice, chicken broth, and water; bring to a boil.
6. Cover and cook on low 15 minutes, or until rice is tender; remove from heat.
7. Combine remainder of lime juice, sugar, and cilantro in a small bowl. Pour over hot rice, using a fork to fluff.
8. For the Black Beans: Place oil in a nonstick saute pan; add cumin and garlic. Cook until you can smell the garlic.
9. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Stir beans until hot. Just before serving, stir in the cilantro.
10. For the Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing: Mix all ingredients together in a blender. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. Dressing keeps for about 2 weeks.
11. For the Flour Tortillas: Preheat a griddle 400° F. Place two griddles at a time on the griddle and cook for 30 seconds until golden brown and tortilla begins to puff.
12. Carefully turn over and cook for another 30 seconds and tortilla is cooked through.
13. To build a salad: Place a cooked tortilla on an oven safe plate or in aluminum tin. Sprinkle tortilla with cheese and place in the oven at 375° F for five minutes, or until melted.
14. Remove from the oven and add a layer of rice, beans, and sweet pork.
15. Top with lettuce, pico de gallo, guacomole, tortilla strips, extra cilantro, and Cotija cheese. Serve with Creamy Tomatillo Ranch Dressing and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 salad
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 783Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 1771mgCarbohydrates: 87gFiber: 12gSugar: 27gProtein: 37g

14 of the Best Copycat Restaurant Recipes

16 Copycat Restaurant Recipes

The post Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Salads first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post Copycat Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Salads appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

The Fourth of July has always been one of my favorite holidays and this jello salad is one of my favorites to make for the big celebration. I hope you love this jello salad! If you’re looking for a dessert idea, try Chocolate Dipped Oreos for the 4th of July, Patriotic Sugar Cookie Bars, and 4th of July Krispie Treats. 

This post was originally published June 2012 and revamped May 2025.

Red, White and Blue Jello Salad Ingredients & Tools

Here’s what you’ll need to make this magnificent jello salad:

• berry blue jello
• raspberry jello (for that deep red)
• unflavored gelatin
• water
• ice
• sugar
• sour cream
• vanilla

You’ll want to make sure you use a 10-inch bundt pan for this recipe. Any smaller won’t be big enough and you’ll end up pouring some of each color out so it can all fit. 

Tips for a Successful Red, White & Blue Jello Salad

I promise this beauty isn’t as intimidating to make as she looks. Here are a few tips to help you in the process:

1. Make sure you have plenty of room in your refrigerator and freezer before you begin! I like to move things around then place the empty bundt pan in the newly cleared space to see if it will fit. You don’t want the bundt pan to be sitting at an angle. She needs to be perfectly straight to set up properly.
2. I highly recommend making this jello salad the night before you need it. The first and second layers are only going to need 20 minutes in the freezer to set up, but after adding that raspberry layer you’re going to want to put her in the fridge for at least three hours to completely set up. Putting her in the fridge overnight will ensure she’s all set up to look beautiful for the festivities the next day! 
3. Use a spoon to ladle the liquified jello onto the layers. Pouring it over the layers could cause it to indent and also splash out of the bundt pan. 
4. Prep only that layer’s ingredients before you start it. For example, prep the blue layer ingredients and make the blue layer. Prep the ingredients for the white layer before you make that layer and do the same when it is time to make the red layer. This will make the process much easier and less chaotic! Don’t prep the ice until you are adding it.

Yield: 20-24 servings

Red, White & Blue Jello Salad

Print

Red, White and Blue Jello Salad is a show-stopping side dish for a patriotic celebration! The layers are bright, fun, and just what your food table needs.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 oz berry blue Jell-o powder
• 6 oz raspberry Jell-o powder
• 2 oz unflavored gelatin (2 packets)
• 4 cups boiling water
• 2 cups crushed ice, divided
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 cups sour cream
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. In a glass measuring bowl, pour out berry blue Jell-o powder and add 2 cups boiling water. Stir together till powder is dissolved and liquid is free of grandules. Then, add 1 cup of ice and stir until melted.
2. Spray a 10-inch bundt pan with cooking spray (see Notes below). Carefully pour the mixed berry blue Jell-o into the bottom of the bundt pan and place it in the freezer for 20 minutes, or until set.
3. Rinse out the glass measuring bowl and dry it to prepare for the next layer!
4. Pour out the unflavored gelatin into the glass measuring bowl and add 1/2 cup cold water. Stir it well to combine completely; allow it to sit for 5 minutes to thicken.
5. Pour milk into a medium sauce pan; heat over medium until it starts to simmer. Then, add sugar and set gelatin. Stir well to combine completely.
6. Remove the sauce pan from the heat and stir in sour cream and vanilla extract. Stir well to combine completely; let the mixture come to room temperature before adding it to the bundt pan or it will melt the set Jell-o.
7. Remove the bundt pan from the freezer and touch the top of the Jell-o to make sure it is set. Using a large spoon, carefully ladle the cooled white mixture onto the set berry blue Jell-o layer. Carefully place the bundt pan back into the freezer so the white layer can now set up, about 20 minutes.
8. Repeat Step 3
9. Repeat Step 1 with raspberry Jell-o powder to prepare the red layer.
10. Remove the bundt pan from the freezer and touch the white layer o make sure it is set. Using a large spoon again, carefully ladle the raspberry Jell-o over the white layer. Cover the bundt pan with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to set for at least 3 hours, preferably over night.
11. Time to serve! Using the plate or platter you plan to serve the jello salad on, place it upside down over the bundt pan then carefully invert the pan. The jello will slide right out. Cut with a knife and serve.

Notes

Use a clear cooking spray to grease your bundt pan so it doesn't turn your berry blue Jell-o green. Be careful not to use a butter spray or a baking spray that has flour in it!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  10-Inch Nonstick Bundt Cake Pan
• 
  SENSARTE White Ceramic Nonstick Saucepan with Double Spout 3.0 Quarts
• 
  Pyrex 4-Cup Glass Measuring Cup
• 
  TILUCK Stainless Steel Measuring Cups & Spoons Set (10 pieces)
• 
  Large Silicone Cooking Spoon, Nonstick Solid Wooden Handle, 13.2inch (Khaki)
• 
  Villeroy & Boch Buffet Plate, 12.5 in, White
• 
  FTAKRY 2-Piece Premium Cake Cutting Set (Silver)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 113Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g

Nutrition information can vary for a recipe based on factors such as precision of measurements, brands, ingredient freshness, or the source of nutrition data. I strive to keep the information as accurate as possible, but make no warranties regarding its accuracy. I encourage readers to make their own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

For more Fourth of July party food ideas, check out this round up of 10 more recipes!

10 Fourth of July Party Food Ideas

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. If you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post Red, White and Blue Jello Salad first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post Red, White and Blue Jello Salad appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Halloween? Because I love it so much! I have so many fun memories from Halloween that come swarming back this time of year. If you love a good Halloween treat recipe, I highly recommend Halloween Dipped Oreos, Monster Bundt Cake, and Halloween Caramel Pretzel Bites!

This post was originally published September 2017 and revamped October 2024.

Excerpt from “30 Days of Halloween” in 2017:

Cupcake Diaries “30 Days of Halloween” is back and to say I’m excited is an understatement!

It’s the fifth consecutive year that I’ve hosted this series and every year I count down the days till the series officially begins. (You can find out more about the series HERE, including how the darn thing came to be!)

September 1st is a happy, happy day. I’m kicking off the series with a fun and easy treat.

Ghost Krispy Treats are perfect for kids and adults. I love their little shape and, of course, those candy eyes! They remind me of the kid dressed as a ghost from the movie It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, making them all the better.

Ghost Krispy Treats Ingredients

You only need five ingredients to make these treats. And that includes the candy eyeballs!

Ingredients

• butter
• miniature marshmallows
• Rice Krispies cereal
• almond bark or white candy melts
• candy eyeballs

Aren’t these little guys so funny?

Since my twin sister and I are big into Halloween I always like to ask her opinion about my recipes and photos.

I sent her two photos of these little ghosts and asked her what she thought of them. She thought they were adorable, for one, but she also loved how they were looking right at her. haha I thought that was pretty great.

FAQ About Ghost Krispy Treats

Have questions about these Ghost Krispy Treats? You might find the answer below!

What are Ghost Rice Krispy Treats?

These treats are essentially Rice Krispies treats, but the gooiest and softest little treats in all the land. They’re topped with a delicious candy coating and the texture difference is just so darn good!

How do you make the ghost shape?

You can find really cute sets of Halloween Cookie Cutters on Amazon. I love this set of ghost cookie cutters. When I made these treats, I used a tulip cookie cutter! It was what I had at the time and totally worked. 

What are candy melts?

Candy melts are vanilla-flavored discs for candy making and coating. They come in multiple colors for all kinds of fun treats! You can buy them at Walmart, craft and party stores, and other grocery stores.

What could I make Ghost Krispy Treats for?

You’re going to love how easy these are to make! They’re perfect for a classroom Halloween party, dessert at a themed dinner, or just as an after-school treat in October. These all package up so cute as little gifts! They’d be great as single treats for teachers and friends.

How many treats can I get out of one pan?

You’ll be able to get about 20 ghosts with this recipe. The key is to use a cookie sheet and not a 9×13 pan!

What is the best cookie sheet for making Ghost Krispy Treats?

There are a lot of great cookie, or baking, sheet brands out there, but Nordic Ware baking sheets are my very favorite.

More Fun Halloween Treat Recipes

If you like this recipe, chances are you will like these as well…

Here are a few of my other favorite Halloween treat recipes featuring candy eyeballs!

Monster Bundt Cake 

• All you need is a cake mix and few other ingredients to make this frightfully fun cake! Have fun with the Halloween frosting colors.

Halloween Chex Treat

• Featuring festive M&M’s, candy corn, Halloween sprinkles, pretzels, and candy eyeballs, Halloween Chex Treat makes a wonderfully massive bowl of gooey goodness to serve to a crowd.

Halloween Dipped Oreos

• Halloween Dipped Oreos are just about as fun as you can get when it comes to cute and creepy treats! The bright colors are so fun and festive.

Colorful Halloween Popcorn

• Colorful Halloween Popcorn is a perfect party treat! Crunchy, sweet, and loaded with yummy flavors and textures. It’s so easy and fun!

Yield: 20 treats

Ghost Krispy Treats

Print

Ghost Krispy Treats are the perfect dessert for a kids' Halloween party! They're so easy to make and a lot of fun. 

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter + 1 Tbsp to grease pan
• 15 ounces miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 pound almond bark, or white candy melts
• 1 package mini candy eyeballs

Instructions

Use a paper towel and 1 Tbsp butter to grease a cookie sheet; set aside. Cover another cookie sheet with wax paper; set aside.

Melt 1/4 c. butter in a small microwave safe bowl. Pour into a large mixing bowl and place marshmallows right over top.

Place bowl in microwave and heat for 30 seconds; remove from microwave and stir. Heat for 30 more seconds and stir again until marshmallows are melted.

Pour cereal into melted marshmallows mixture. Stir until cereal is coated.

Press treat mixture into greased cookie sheet, getting your hand wet first to avoid get the mixture stuck on your hand. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the fridge for at least one hour.

Use a ghost or tulip cookie cutter to cut out 20-24 ghosts. Place upside down on the cookie sheet covered in wax paper, cover with foil, and refrigerate again for at least one hour.

Heat almond bark or candy melts according to package directions (a glass bowl works best for this!) Dip the bottom (stickier side) of each ghost in the melted almond bark. Place back on wax paper and immediately add eyeballs. Serve when the coating has completely cooled. Enjoy!

Notes

I made 20 ghosts from this recipe, but if I had smashed the uncut treats together I could have cut out probably four more. You can use a 9x13 pan for thicker ghosts.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  COOKIEQUE 2-Piece Halloween Ghost Cookie Cutters
• 
  Nordic Ware Half Sheet, 2-Pack
• 
  BoxedHome Classic Mixing Bowl Set (Set of 4, Grey)
• 
  Amazon Basics 8-Cup Glass Measuring Cup
• 
  ChefAide 4 Pieces Silicone Spatula Set
• 
  Pyrex Glass, 3 PC Mixing Bowl Set
• 
  365 by Whole Foods Market Wax Paper, 75 SQFT
• 
  Reynolds Wrap Heavy Duty Aluminum Foil, 50 Square Feet

This recipe is part of “30 Days of Halloween” 2017 here at Cupcake Diaries. Come back tomorrow for a whole new Halloween recipe. You don’t want to miss it!

Take a look below at the other fun and festive recipes featured in this year’s series!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. If you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post Ghost Krispy Treats first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post Ghost Krispy Treats appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

Valentine’s Day was always my favorite growing up! I have so many fun memories of giving my classmates valentines and having parties. I especially loved when we got a heart sugar cookie. My mom made us peanut butter cookies like these for Valentine’s Day!

This post was originally published January 2014 and revamped January 2022.

14 Days of Valentine’s Day – Two weeks of different!

In 2014 I saw this super cute Valentine’s Day idea and I thought it would be so fun to do for my husband!

Fourteen Days of Valentine’s Day is a fun way to give gifts to your valentine starting from February 1st and ending on Valentine’s Day, February 14th.

Here’s How It Works

• Your loved one receives a small gift every day until Valentine’s Day (1st-13th), all of which include a cute little saying that coincides with the gift. You can make these gifts as expensive or inexpensive as you’d like. I ended up getting all food for my husband and he loved it.
• Each of these small gifts has a small tag with a phrase on it that coincides with the gift for that day (as seen above).
• Leave each gift out on the counter for when they wake up in the morning, when they get home from work, in a random spot like the fridge or the closet…Wherever and whenever you want!
• The 14th gift will be the special Valentine’s Day gift you plan to give to your valentine.
• OR you can give another small gift with a coinciding tag on the 14th. There are 16 tags with different sayings to choose from!

Isn’t that such a fun idea? My husband loved it!

14 Days of Valentine’s Day is for everyone!

These tags were made with everyone in mind. Whether you’re putting these gifts together for a spouse, boyfriend, child, or teacher, 14 Days of Valentine’s Day is for everyone!

Ideas for 14 days of gifts for your valentine:

• treats
• snacks
• baked goods
• gift cards

You can be as creative as you’d like with your gifts! I did all food, but gift cards would be a lot of fun too.

How many Valentine’s Day tags are included in the download?

The download has 16 tags with a different saying on each tag so you can choose which ones you want to use.

How should I print the tags?

It’s really easy to access these tags!

Here’s how to get your free printable tags:

1. First, click here to download the tags. You will get three pages of tags, gift ideas for each tag, and instructions.
2. Next, print the tags. You can print on standard white printer paper, but I recommend using card stock for better printing and a more sleek look to your tags.
3. Then, use a good pair of scissors or a paper cutter to cut out each tag.

How great is it that you don’t have to make your own tags? And they’re FREE!

Download the tags here OR tap the image below! There will be three pages with 16 tags and instructions.

You can still download those tags by clicking here!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. If you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post 14 Days of Valentine’s Day with FREE Printable Tags first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post 14 Days of Valentine’s Day with FREE Printable Tags appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

New Year’s Eve is for friends, family, and food!

When I think of New Year’s Eve, I think of delicious food and lots of laughter.

The last few years we’ve celebrated New Year’s Eve with some close friends of ours. They recently moved and I’m so sad that we won’t be celebrating with them this year. But the fun New Year’s Eve memories we have with them are priceless!

Tons of great food, lots of games and laughs…Last year they even slept over because their furnace went out. There’s never a dull moment with these friends!

We love making a whole bunch of appetizers to enjoy for dinner on New Year’s Eve. Dishes that make a decent amount to serve a crowd throughout the evening because we just love our options.

Last year we had some of these appetizers listed below and they were SO good! I decided that this year I needed to put together a list of over 15 recipes that are perfect for enjoying on New Year’s Eve and more so you can also enjoy what we’ve been making for years. (The meatballs are my favorite and they’re SO easy!) Enjoy the list! Let me know if you try any of these recipes this year.

Over 15 easy recipes to make this New Year’s Eve!

Copycat Chili’s Skillet Queso from Cupcake Diaries

Sweet and Sour Meatballs from Cupcake Diaries

Fried Ravioli from Cupcake Diaries

Baked Spinach and Artichoke Dip from Cupcake Diaries

Crock Pot Dr Pepper Ribs from Cupcake Diaries

Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks from Cupcake Diaries

Cheesy Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip from The Chunky Chef

Chicken Parmesan Sliders from Cupcake Diaries

Cocktail L’il Smokies from Cupcake Diaries

Bruschetta Bread from Cupcake Diaries

Cheesy Corn Dip from Creations by Kara

Baked Mozzarella Sticks from Cupcake Diaries

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms from Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch

Garlic Cheese Bombs from Cupcake Diaries

Bacon Brown Sugar Smokies from Dinner, Then Dessert

Garlic Cheese Bombs from Cupcake Diaries

Corn Fritters with Spicy Aioli from The Chunky Chef

Baked Southwestern Egg Rolls from Cupcake Diaries

Ham and Cheese Hot Spinach Dip from Kleinworth & Co.

[wysija_form id=”1″]

The post The Very Best Appetizers for New Year’s Eve first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post The Very Best Appetizers for New Year’s Eve appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

So many good things are happening with these cupcakes! I absolutely love Halloween and these cupcakes are just kind of a dream come true. I’ve always been known for having more cutesy desserts, like my Cookie Monster Cupcakes or Forky Cupcakes, and I’m thrilled to finally be on the creepy train.

Oh how I love Halloween. I just love it! It makes me giddy.

My twin sister is the same way.

It might have something to do with the fact that we have October birthdays, but whatever the reason is we’re both obsessed with October and Halloween!

Spider Web Cupcakes Ingredients

I was laughing the whole time I was adding the spider elements to these cupcakes. They’re just so creepy!

I sent my twin a picture of the cupcakes with the spider eggs and she said, “Are those eggs?! AWESOME.”

These cupcakes are kind of a mind game! You have to get past the thought of eating spider eggs and then you’re good.

Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes require a relatively short list of ingredients, thanks to the use of a cake mix!

Ingredients

• dark chocolate cake mix
• dark chocolate cocoa powder
• buttermilk
• oil
• eggs
• unsalted butter
• powdered sugar
• marshmallow fluff
• almond extract
• black candy melts
• miniature marshmallows
• black sugar pearls
• plastic spider rings
• black food coloring
• black cupcake liners

Have you ever made black cake or cupcakes before? You’re going to love how easy it is!

FAQ About Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes

Do you have some lingering questions about baking these cupcakes? You might find the answer below!

What are Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes?

Marshmallow buttercream and marshmallow strand webs top these black cupcakes. I dipped some of the cupcakes in black candy melts. These are great for a black and white Halloween party!

What is the best way to dye cake batter black for Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes?

Use a dark chocolate cake mix then add a small amount of black food coloring. It will make a rich, black batter without making your teeth turn black.

What are candy melts?

Candy melts are vanilla-flavored discs for candy making and coating. They come in multiple colors for all kinds of fun treats! You can buy them at Walmart, craft and party stores, and other grocery stores.

How many cupcakes can I get from the Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes Recipe?

This recipe makes 24 Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes.

WHAT IS THE BEST PAN FOR BAKING CUPCAKES?

USA Pan is my favorite pan for cupcakes and muffins. The bakes are always even and the pan doesn’t take a beating after each use. And it’s affordable!

WHAT IS THE BEST FROSTING TIP TO USE FOR CUPCAKES?

The 1M star tip from Wilton is my favorite frosting tip. I use it for almost all of my cupcakes! I also use 16-inch Wilton disposable frosting bags.

More Black and White Halloween Ideas

Take a look at some of these other fun recipes and ideas for Halloween featuring that fantastic black and white color pallette!

These are some of my favorite black and white Halloween recipes and ideas! They’re all perfect for a party.

Ghost Krispy Treats

• Everybody loves a cute ghost during Halloween! These gooey treats are so fun and really easy to make.

Vampire Donuts

• You cannot get an easier treat than store bought glazed donuts dipped in even more glaze. The kids are going to love this one!

Halloween Town Printable (from The Nightmare Before Christmas)

• I use this printable on my porch each year. If you’re a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas movie, you need this free printable!

Spooky Halloween Cake

• If you enjoy Halloween crafts, this cake topper is for you!

DIY Addams Family Porch Sign

• Speaking of great signs to greet guests at your door, this craft is such a fun one! You’ll especially love it if you enjoy working with vinyl.

DIY Halloween Mason Jars

• I can just picture these fantastic mason jars glowing on my fireplace mantel. This is a really cool craft!

Striped Halloween Wreath

• You’ve got your porch sign, now here’s your wreath! McKenzie has a really straightforward tutorial for such a darling wreath.

OREO Ghost Cookies

• Get your hands on this ghost OREO cookie mold and make these these cookies this Halloween!

Black and White Halloween Party Printables

• How about an entire black and white Halloween party? It wouldn’t be complete without all the party printables!

Spooky Cookies

• This is one of my very favorite Halloween recipes ever. These cookies are so cute!

Let’s make Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes!

How about we make these already?

Don’t forget to e-mail me, comment on this post, or message me on social media if you have any questions!

Also, don’t forget to tag me if you share these on Instagram! @cupcakediariesblog

I can’t decide if I like the egg cupcakes better or the ones with candy melts. Just look at those black candy pearls! They’re so shiny and awesome.

Yield: 24 cupcakes

Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes

Print

Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes are so wonderfully creepy for a Halloween party! Dark chocolate cake combines with marshmallow buttercream to make these spooky treats.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 dark chocolate cake mix
• 1/4 c dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 1 c buttermilk
• 1/2 c oil
• 3 large eggs
• black food coloring
• 24 black cupcake liners
• 1 c unsalted butter, softened but not to room temperature
• 1 1/2 c powdered sugar
• 1 jar marshmallow fluff, 7 oz
• 1/4 tsp. almond extract
• 1 package black candy melts, 12 oz
• 1 package miniature marshmallows, 16 oz
• 1 package black candy pearls
• 24 plastic spider rings

Instructions

Bake the Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place cupcake liners into muffin cups.

2. Combine buttermilk, oil, and eggs in the bowl of your mixer. Add a small amount of black food coloring and mix well. The mixture will then be grey.

3. Add cake mix and cocoa powder to wet ingredients and mix together until combined.

4. Use an ice cream scoop to fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 15-17 minutes and remove from the oven to cool.

Prepare the Frosting

1. Beat the butter with an electric hand mixer or in the bowl of a stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar a 1/2 cup at a time until well combined with the butter; add almond extract and marshmallow fluff.

2. Place the frosting in a 16oz frosting bag fixed with a Wilton 1M star tip. Pipe the frosting evenly over cupcakes.

Top with Spider Webs

1. From here you can either dip the cupcakes into black candy melts or you can go right to adding the spider webs and spiders.

Adding Webs to Cupcakes with Black Candy Melts

1. Melt the candy melts according to package directions. Dip cupcakes into the candy melts enough to cover 1/2-2/3 of the buttercream; allow to cool completely

2. Melt 1 cup mini marshmallows in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds; do not mix marshmallows.

3. With bare hands or with gloves (this part is sticky), grab about 2 marshmallows and stretch into strands. Place on the cupcakes to make spider webs. Every cupcake will look different! (Baking with Blondie has a great video for applying marshmallows to cupcakes to make the webs!)

4. Use scissors to carefully cut the ring part off of the spider rings. Place spiders onto individual cupcakes.

Adding Webs to Cupcakes without Black Candy Melts

1. With bare hands or with gloves (this part is sticky), grab about 2 marshmallows and stretch into strands. Place on the cupcakes to make spider webs. Every cupcake will look different!

2. Use scissors to carefully cut the ring part off of the spider rings. Place spiders onto individual cupcakes.

3. Add candy pearls one at a time to the frosting and spiderwebs for the spider eggs.

Notes

No matter how clean or messy your webs look, the cupcakes are going to look great! Messiness adds to the creepiness!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  KitchenAid KSM3316XBK Artisan Mini Stand Mixers, 3.5 quart, Imperial Black
• 
  USA Pan Bakeware Cupcake and Muffin Pan, Nonstick Quick Release Coating, 12-Well, Aluminized Steel
• 
  Warmparty Foil Baking Cups Cupcake Wrappers Muffin Liners, Standard Sized, 200 Count (Black)
• 
  KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls, Set of 3, Pistachio
• 
  Oven Safe Cooling & Baking Rack. Easy to Clean 100% Stainless Steel. Heavy Duty Quality with a Tight-Grid 10 X 15 inch. Fits Half Cookie Sheet or Jelly Roll Pan
• 
  Spring Chef Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Metal Measuring Spoons for Dry or Liquid, Fits in Spice Jar, Set of 6 with bonus Leveler
• 
  Simply Gourmet Stainless Steel Measuring Cups - Measuring Cup Set for Cooking & Baking, Set of 7.
• 
  Cooptop Silicone Spatula Set - Rubber Spatula - 600°F Heat Resistant Baking Spoon & Spatulas (Neutral Grey)
• 
  Wilton Disposable 16-Inch Decorating Bags, 12 Pack
• 
  Wilton Open Star Piping Tip 1M, unknown, Silver
• 
  U.S. Toy Spider Rings

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 617Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 62mgSodium: 334mgCarbohydrates: 88gFiber: 2gSugar: 65gProtein: 5g

• • So, what did you think of the recipe? Leave a review and let me know! As a result, I can create more recipes with you in mind!

    This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. If you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post Black and White Spider Web Cupcakes appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

I could choose a classic s’more over just about any dessert. Put a pan of S’more Bars or Indoor S’mores in front of me and it’s game over. In other words, those are two of my favorite desserts in the world right there! 

This recipe features the classic flavors of a s’more. Therefore, it is necessary that I add the following dialogue from that totally awesome movie from the 90’s, The Sandlot:

• Ham Porter: Hey Smalls, you wanna s’more?
• Smalls: Some more of what?
• Ham Porter: No, do you wanna s’more?
• Smalls: I haven’t had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?
• Ham Porter: You’re killing me, Smalls! These are s’more’s stuff! Alright now pay attention. First you take the graham. You stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the ‘mallow. When the ‘mallows flaming…you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end. Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good!

Chocolate chip cookies and s’mores were meant to be together. As a result of that thinking, this cookie recipe was born!

S’more Cookies Ingredients

Thanks to Ice Cream Before Dinner for introducing me to this addicting new treat to bring to all those summer parties! 

Making these cookies will result in multiple people asking you for the recipe. In other words, they’re delicious!

S’more Cookies require your basic cookie baking ingredients, as well as a few extra goodies! That is to say, you likely have all of the ingredients in your pantry!

Ingredients

• unsalted butter
• brown sugar
• granulated sugar
• eggs
• vanilla
• baking soda
• salt
• cinnamon
• flour
• semisweet chocolate chips
• mini marshmallows
• Hershey bars
• graham crackers

WARNING: Once you make that dough you might end up eating it all before you bake it. In other words, proceed with caution!

How to Make S’more Cookies

If you’ve ever baked chocolate chip cookies before, you’ll be able to bake S’more Cookies!

• First, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
• Second, make the cookie dough by combining butter and both sugars. Then, add the eggs and vanilla. I like to use an electric mixer for this step!
• Next, use a separate to whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together.
• Then, slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Next, mix together until combined.
• Use a spatula to fold the chocolate chips and marshmallows into the dough.
• Next, put a lid on your dough and place it in the fridge to chill for at least an hour.
• While the dough is chilling, place 24 of the graham cracker squares onto a cookie sheet.
• Now, roll the dough into balls and place one onto each of the cracker squares.
• Then, pop the pan in the oven and bake, then top each cookie with a piece of chocolate.
• Finally, enjoy the heck out of those cookies!

So, do you have questions about baking chocolate chip cookies? The answer just might be below!

How do I keep my chocolate chip cookies from going flat?

It can be really frustrating when you’re baking chocolate chip cookies and they go flat. However, there are things you can do to keep those cookies from going flat! Here are some of my favorites:

1. First, make sure your butter is still slightly cold – You want to be able to work with it, but it needs to be stiff enough to give your cookies some shape. For example, if you can press your finger into the butter and it is soft but keeps its shape, it’s good to go!
2. Also, chill your dough – It wouldn’t hurt to even chill it twice! After you’ve made the dough, place it in the fridge to chill. You can also make dough into balls and put back into the fridge to chill again before using. As a result, you will have fuller, thicker cookies!
3. Then, measure your ingredients precisely – Baking is like chemistry and the wrong measurements can lead to trouble. Consequently, your cookies will be flat if you don’t measure correctly. I like doing this with the flour because it’s so satisfying to measure!
4. Use fresh baking soda – Speaking of chemistry, this is an important one! Baking soda is what makes your cookies rise. So if your baking soda is expired, it isn’t going to do its job correctly. Consequently, expired baking soda could make your cookies flat.
5. Bake cookies on a pan lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper – Greasing a pan adds more fat to the cookies and there’s already plenty of it in the dough. If there’s extra grease and fat, the cookies will spread too much. Using parchment paper or a silicone mat will keep cookies from spreading and make them nice and plump.
6. Only bake cookies on cooled pans – If your pan is warm when you put it in the oven, the cookies are already starting to spread. As a result, a cooled pan will allow the dough to start spreading at the right time during the baking process.
7. Finally, bulk up those cookies with add-ins – The more chunks the better when it comes to chocolate chip cookies! In other words, you’ll get thicker cookies if you add an extra cup of chocolate chips.
8. So, what if you don’t want to add more chocolate chips? – Add an extra tablespoon of flour instead to help firm up the dough! Therefore, you will have thick cookies without extra chocolate chips.

To sum up, there is more than one way to get thicker cookies!

Should my refrigerated ingredients be warm when baking chocolate chip cookies?

Eggs, butter, and other dairy products produce fluffy baked goods, including cookies. Above all, it’s all about that chemistry!

What should I do if I like my chocolate chip cookies more thin and crispy?

Switch out some of that brown sugar for white sugar! As a result, adding more of the white sugar will make the cookies spread more and not rise more.

How can I make sure my chocolate chip cookies are the same size?

Use a cookie scoop! Above all, a cookie scoop will give you uniformed cookie dough balls and the same size of cookie throughout your batch. 

More s’more recipes you can make all year round!

Meanwhile, I’ve made more s’more recipes!

Here are some of my other favorite s’more recipes to make at home without the campfire! That is to say, you can make them all year round!

Indoor S’mores

• One of my favorite desserts ever. To clarify, I will choose these over most desserts. They’re so gooey with just the right amount of crunch. In other words, you should make then ASAP!

S’more Cupcakes

• A chocolate cupcake dipped in even more chocolate, then topped with the best marshmallow buttercream you’ll ever have in your life. Basically, enough said!

S’more Bars

• My favorite part of these bars is the texture. For example, the chocolate is wonderfully crunchy when you let it cool.

S’more Whoopie Pies

• These whoopie pies are so yummy and really fun to make. Most importantly, they also feature that delicious marshmallow buttercream!

S’mores Chex Muddy Buddies

• Classic Chex Muddy Buddies with a s’more twist! They’re so tasty. In addition, they’re really easy to make!

Peeps S’mores

• These little treats are kind of a game changer. Consequently, I make them all of the time during Easter! Not that that’s a bad thing.

Halloween S’mores

• Everything I said about the Peeps S’mores, but with Halloween Peeps! Likewise, Halloween S’mores are fun and flavorful!

S’mores Milkshake

• I love a good milkshake. So, I needed to make a s’more version! We love making this recipe as a family.

S’more Brownies

• My favorite brownie recipe topped with s’mores goodness! For example, crushed up graham cracker pieces and mini marshmallow!

Let’s make some S’mores Cookies!

Now, it’s time to make the cookies!

This post has been updated with new photos and additional information to make your cookie baking experience a better one! Updated August 2021

Most importantly, don’t forget to e-mail me, comment on this post, or message me on social media if you have any questions!

Also, don’t forget to tag me if you share these on Instagram! @cupcakediariesblog

Yield: 4 dozen

S’more Cookies

Print

S'more Cookies are the campfire treat you can make all year round! They're chewy, crunchy, and full of delicious s'more flavors!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 11 Tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup miniature marshmallows
• 4 standard sized Hershey bars, broken into pieces
• 24 graham cracker sheets, broken into squares

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter, and both sugars until smooth.
3. Add eggs and vanilla; mix until well combined.
4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and flour.
5. Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
6. Use a spatula to fold in chocolate chips and marshmallows. Cover the dough and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour to chill.
7. Place 24 graham cracker squares onto the pan lined with parchment paper.
8. Roll chilled dough into balls about the size of a heaping Tablespoon (or 1 1/2 Tablespoons). Place a dough ball on each graham cracker square.
9. Place in the oven and bake fo 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are a light golden brown on top. Remove from oven and immediately add a piece of chocolate bar to the top of each cookie.

Notes

The dough will likely run onto neighboring crackers during baking, but that is expected. Use a knife or spatula to separate crackers for serving.

For more melted chocolate on top, remove the cookies from the oven after 5 minutes, place a piece of chocolate bar on top, and then place back in the oven for the remaining bake time.

If you don't want to bake immediately and want to be able to quickly bake them later, prepare the dough, chill for 30-60 minutes, roll into balls, and place in a container with a lid and into the fridge until ready to use.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  KitchenAid KSM3316XBK Artisan Mini Stand Mixers, 3.5 quart, Imperial Black
• 
  KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls, Set of 3, Pistachio
• 
  Simply Gourmet Stainless Steel Measuring Cups - Measuring Cup Set for Cooking & Baking, Set of 7.
• 
  Spring Chef Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Metal Measuring Spoons for Dry or Liquid, Fits in Spice Jar, Set of 6 with bonus Leveler
• 
  Wilton Open Star Piping Tip 1M, unknown, Silver
• 
  Cooptop Silicone Spatula Set - Rubber Spatula - 600°F Heat Resistant Baking Spoon & Spatulas (Neutral Grey)
• 
  Oven Safe Cooling & Baking Rack. Easy to Clean 100% Stainless Steel. Heavy Duty Quality with a Tight-Grid 10 X 15 inch. Fits Half Cookie Sheet or Jelly Roll Pan
• 
  USA Pan Bakeware Cupcake and Muffin Pan, Nonstick Quick Release Coating, 12-Well, Aluminized Steel

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4 dozen

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1237Total Fat: 48gSaturated Fat: 26gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 179mgSodium: 844mgCarbohydrates: 191gFiber: 5gSugar: 103gProtein: 16g

Nutrition information can vary for a recipe based on factors such as precision of measurements, brands, ingredient freshness, or the source of nutrition data. I strive to keep the information as accurate as possible, but make no warranties regarding its accuracy. I encourage readers to make their own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

So, what did you think of the recipe? Leave a review and let me know! As a result, I can create more recipes with you in mind!

This post contains affiliate links. I include these links to help you find the products that I used in the recipe. In other words, if you purchase an item from the link, I will receive a small commission helping keep my recipes free for you. Thank you for your support!

The post S’more Cookies first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post S’more Cookies appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.

Isn’t softly falling snow just so darn pretty? It’s my favorite part of the winter season. I love sitting by the window at night watching the snow fall. Put a warm dessert in my hand, like Perfect Homemade Brownies or Chocolate Chip Cookies straight from the oven, and I’ve got myself a fantastic evening!

Snowflake Cupcakes

There’s no doubt that I love baking cupcakes. The name of my website says it all! I started sharing recipes here because of my love for cupcakes.

And because you trust me when it cupcakes (and that’s a massive assumption based solely on the fact that you’re here for a cupcake recipe haha), I want you to trust me when I say the following:

You can make a FANTASTIC cupcake from a cake mix.

It’s completely true and I know this because 90% of the cupcakes on this website come from a cake mix, with a few extra ingredients added in to set them over the top.

I’m telling you, they taste phenomenal.

Add-Ins for Doctored Cake Mixes

• cocoa powder
• sour cream
• buttermilk
• flavored protein powders
• pudding mixes
• peanut butter
• chocolate chips
• extracts and emulsions
• and more!

A cake mix is essentially the dry ingredients for a made-from-scratch cake without all the work. It’s definitely my preferred way to bake cakes and cupcakes!

What goes on a Snowflake Cupcake?

These lovely cupcakes come together with just a few additional elements!

Snowflake Cupcake Toppings

• Smooth, delicious buttercream frosting tinted a Frozen-esque ice blue! I used a very tiny bit of Wilton blue gel icing coloring.
• Next is snowflake sprinkles! You can find them in winter mixes at grocery stores this time of year or you can buy a snowflake sprinkle mix.
• Candy pearls add a nice contrasting shape on the blue backdrop. You can use any size of pearl.
• I used a snowflake chocolate mold to make the snowflakes on top! Simply melt white chocolate, pour in the slots, and allow to cool completely before you take them out.

All of these elements are simple yet elegant. These cupcakes would be perfect for a Frozen birthday party!

Have questions about cupcakes? Check below to see if the answer is there!

What tip is best for frosting cupcakes?

There are a lot of fantastic frosting tips out there, but my very favorite is the Wilton 1M star tip. I used that tip for most of my cupcakes, including these ones!

Why do my cupcakes always bake over the cups?

If your cupcakes come out of the oven and the tops have come over the liner and are touching the pan, it’s likely you filled it too full. Batter should be 2/3 of the way full for a perfect dome on top.

Can I bake two pans of cupcakes at a time?

Yes! The key is to make sure your pans are similar in color or they will bake differently. Or you can invest in a 24-count cupcake pan!

Why do my cupcakes sink in the middle?

Cupcakes can sink for a couple of reasons. The first is that the batter was mixed too much. Over-mixing can cause too much air in the batter. When the cupcakes go in the oven, the air collapses and so will your cupcakes. Another reasons is that you might have opened the oven too soon. If you open the door to check the cupcakes before the batter is set it can cause the cupcakes to sink.

Can cupcakes be frozen?

Yes! First, make sure your cupcakes are completely cool. Then place them in an airtight container and place them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

How long will my cupcakes last before I frost them?

You’ll want to frost your cupcakes within two days, otherwise you’ll want to freeze them.

More Dessert Recipes for Christmas and Winter!

Because you can never have too many treats during the holidays!

There’s always at least one person who hovers around the dessert table at a party and that person is me. I can’t even explain how much I love Christmas treats! And I love them so much that I put a list together of some of my favorites. Enjoy!

Snowman OREO Balls

• This treat doubles as a dessert as well as a craft! And the best part about them? You can’t mess them up. Turn all the oddballs into melted snowmen!

Rudolph and Friends Cupcakes

• It isn’t Christmas without Rudolph and his forest friends! These delicious cupcakes are topped with whimsical, water color artwork.

Nutter Butter Snowmen

• Another snowman to decorate without having to leave the house! Just dunk the cookies and decorate away.

Snowman Donuts

• These funny little snowmen are the perfect treat for when you want to get the kids involved. They’re super easy and tasty!

Christmas M&M Cookies

• You can never go wrong with a cookie loaded with chocolatey M&M’s. This cookie has a chocolate chip cookie dough base.

Candy Cane Blossoms

• These cookies are some of the first Christmas treats we made with our kids. You take the dough, roll it into balls, and roll the balls in sprinkles. The rest is just a delicious bonus!

White Chocolate Peppermint Popcorn

• All you need is three ingredients to make this festive popcorn treat!

Three Ingredient Cookies and Cream Fudge

• Another three-ingredient dessert and it only takes 15 minutes to make! This fudge is creamy and loaded with delicious Oreo flavor and texture.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

• This is the ultimate chocolate cookie that looks like it’s topped with snow. Perfect for a cold winter day inside!

Peppermint White Chocolate Pretzels

• A sweet and salty treat that doubles as a fantastic neighbor gift! It takes only minutes to make.

Let’s Make Some Cupcakes!

Are you ready to start your cupcakes? They’re going to turn out so pretty!

Don’t forget to e-mail me, comment on this post, or message me on social media if you have any questions! I would love to see your cupcakes when they’re all done. If you share them on Instagram, don’t forget to tag me! @cupcakediariesblog

Print

Snowflake Cupcakes

Snowflake Cupcakes for a Frozen themed party or wintertime treat! Each cupcake is topped with winter sprinkles and a solid white chocolate snowflake.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate, christmas, cupcakes, dessert, disney, frozen, winter

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 24 cupcakes

Equipment

• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• stand mixer or electric hand mixer
• medium mixing bowl
• glass bowls
• silicone spatula
• whisk
• wooden spoon
• muffin tin
• ice cream scoop
• cooling rack
• 16 oz frosting bag
• Wilton 1M frosting tip
• scissors
• snowflake mold
• butter knife

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes

• 1 chocolate cake mix
• 1/4 c cocoa powder
• 1 c buttermilk
• 1/2 c oil
• 3 large eggs
• 24 silver cupcake liners

Buttercream Frosting

• 1 c unsalted butter, softened but not melted
• 3-4 c powdered sugar
• pinch salt
• 1 Tbsp Mexican vanilla
• 3-4 Tbsp heavy cream or half and half
• blue food coloring gel

White Chocolate Snowflakes & Decorations

• 1 bag white chocolate chips, 12 oz
• winter sprinkle mix, white pearls, and/or snowflake sprinkles

Instructions

Make the White Chocolate Snowflakes

• Pour the white chocolate chips into a glass mixing bowl and heat for 45 seconds, stir, then heat again for another 15 seconds and stir. Heat for an additional 15 seconds at a time as needed, but your chocolate should be just right after the first 45 seconds and 15 seconds.
• Use a spoon to carefully fill your snowflake mold with melted white chocolate. Use a butter knife to smooth the top so the chocolate cools flat.
• Carefully remove snowflakes from the mold when completely cool; set aside.

Bake the Cupcakes

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place cupcake liners into muffin cups.
• Combine buttermilk, oil, and eggs in the bowl of your mixer. Add cake mix and cocoa powder to wet ingredients and mix together until combined.
• Use an ice cream scoop to fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake for 15-17 minutes and remove from the oven to cool.

Prepare the Buttercream

• Beat the butter in your stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
• Add a very small amount of food coloring gel. (A little goes a long way!) Add 3 cups of powdered sugar a 1/2 cup at a time until combined.
• Add salt, vanilla, and 3 Tbsp heavy cream or half and half and mix on medium speed for two minutes until buttercream is fluffy. Add more food coloring gel if the color is too light, being careful not to add too much.
• Add more sugar if the buttercream is too thin. Add more heavy cream or half and half if the buttercream is too thick.
• Place the frosting in a 16oz frosting bag fixed with a Wilton 1M star tip (cut the end of the frosting bag first to allow the tip to fit). Pipe the frosting in a circular motion evenly over cupcakes.
• Top with desired sprinkles and decorations, then top with a white chocolate snowflake.

Notes

I like to use Wilton food coloring gel. Use a toothpick to get a tiny amount out of the container and add to your buttercream. A little goes a long way!

Tools and Gadgets I Used for This Recipe

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The post Snowflake Cupcakes first appeared on Cupcake Diaries.

The post Snowflake Cupcakes appeared first on Cupcake Diaries.