Easy & Delicious 4th Of July Cupcakes Recipe

By: Kristen Yard

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A 4th of July BBQ just wouldn’t be the same without a tasty and festive dessert–like these easy & delicious 4th of July cupcakes!

Save time and use a box mix  to make these flavorful, tender cupcakes, topped with the creamiest homemade buttercream frosting that melt in your mouth!

Celebrate Independence Day with delicious, patriotic 4th of July cupcakes!

How To Make 4th of July Cupcakes

If you’re on the hunt for a 4th of July dessert that everyone will love, go with cupcakes! They are always a safe bet, and 4th of July cupcakes are so fun to make and decorate, too! 

These 4th Of July Cupcakes

• Serves: 24
• Prep Time:  20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12-15 minutes

Cupcakes are my go-to holiday dessert because they are simple to make, with basic ingredients, and almost everyone loves them!

Ingredients – 4th Of July Cupcakes

Cupcakes:

• 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
• 1 cup buttermilk or milk **see notes
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 4 large egg whites or 3 large eggs, room temperature

Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream or milk
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract **see notes 

Decorations (Optional):

• ¼ cup dark blue candy melts
• ¼ cup red candy melts 
• Strawberries
• ½ pound white almond bark 
• Sprinkles
• Paper flags 
• Plastic decorator bag
• #1M decorator tip or your favorite 

Is anything better than fresh, homemade buttercream frosting? I don’t think so! It’s so easy to make!

Instructions – 4th Of July Cupcakes

Cupcakes

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2

Fill cupcake pan with paper liners.

You can use any flavor cake mix you prefer!

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, add cake mix, buttermilk, egg whites, and oil.

Mix your cake batter, but don’t overmix!

Step 4

Mix on low for 2-3 minutes, increase speed and mix until well blended, about 5 minutes.

Fun baking hack: use a cookie scooper to fill your cupcake liners in the tin!

Step 5

Divide batter into prepared cupcake pan.

Mmm, the only thing better than the scent of baking cupcakes filling your home, is taking a bite of a fluffy cupcake, fresh from the oven!

Step 6

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 7

Remove from oven to wire rack to cool completely.

I used to be overwhelmed by the thought of making buttercream frosting at home, but it is SO easy!

How to Make Homemade Frosting

Step 1

In a mixing bowl, cream butter until fluffy and smooth.

Step 2

Sift powdered sugar into a medium bowl – this step is optional, although it makes the frosting smooth and easier to mix.

Step 3

Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream.

Step 4

Add vanilla extract and beat well.

**Use immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Let come to room temperature before using

There are so many fun ways to decorate 4th of July cupcakes, using items you might already have at home!

How To Decorate 4th Of July Cupcakes

Frosting

Step 1

Fit a plastic decorator bag with a #1M tip or your favorite tip.

Step 2

Fill with frosting.

Step 3

Pipe frosting onto cupcakes.

It is so much fun to make candy sparklers to top your 4th of July cupcakes! Kids love helping with this part!

How To Make Candy Melt Sparklers

Step 1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Add blue candy melts to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.

Step 3

Stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted, stir until smooth. 

Step 4

Repeat with red candy melts.

How cute are these candy sparkler 4th of July cupcake toppers?!

Step 5

Fit 2 decorator bags with a small round tip (I used #5).

Step 6

Add melted chocolate to bag, being careful as it may leak out.

Step 7

Pipe zigzag lines of the chocolate to create the sparklers.

Step 8

Let set about 10 minutes to harden.

Step 9

Break apart in pieces and set aside until ready to frost cupcakes

See? Cupcakes ARE healthy… when you top them with strawberries! {giggle}

Strawberries

Step 1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Add 4 blocks of white almond bark to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.

Step 3

Stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted, stir until smooth.

Step 4

Add sprinkles to bowls so they are ready to use.

Use white chocolate candy melts and red, white, and blue sprinkles to make the prettiest chocolate covered strawberry cupcake toppers!

Step 5

Dip strawberries in melted chocolate and allow excess to drip off.

Step 6

Immediately add sprinkles.

Step 7

Place on prepared baking sheet.

Step 8

Let set about 10 minutes to harden.

Make your 4th of July cupcakes extra patriotic with flag cupcake toppers!

Flags

Step 1

Add sprinkles to frosted cupcakes.

Step 2

Add paper flag.

Notes:

Milk – by using milk or buttermilk instead of water in the cake mix, it makes the cupcakes taste more homemade. I have found though that store bought buttermilk is sometimes a bit too thick. To make your own buttermilk – Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to a measuring cup and fill with milk, let set 2-3 minutes. 

Frosting – Using clear vanilla extract will keep the buttercream super white. You can also use regular vanilla extract. 

Depending on consistency, add more powdered sugar or more heavy whipping cream

Yield: Serves 24

It doesn't get more patriotic than making a batch of easy & delicious 4th of July cupcakes!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes 12 seconds

Total Time 35 minutes 12 seconds

Ingredients

• Ingredients:
• Cupcakes:
• 1 box vanilla or white cake mix
• 1 cup buttermilk or milk **see notes
• ⅓ cup canola oil
• 4 large egg whites or 3 large eggs, room temperature
• Buttercream Frosting:
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream or milk
• 1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract **see notes
• Decorations, optional:
• ¼ cup dark blue candy melts
• ¼ cup red candy melts
• Strawberries
• ½ pound white almond bark
• Sprinkles
• Paper flags
• Plastic decorator bag
• #1M decorator tip or your favorite

Instructions

Cupcakes:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Fill cupcake pan with paper liners.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add cake mix, buttermilk, egg whites and oil.
4. Mix on low for 2-3 minutes, increase speed and mix until well blended, about 5 minutes.
5. Divide batter into prepared cupcake pan.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven to wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter until fluffy and smooth.
2. Sift powdered sugar into a medium bowl - this step is optional, although it makes the frosting smooth and easier to mix.
3. Gradually add powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream.
4. Add vanilla extract and beat well.
5. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Let come to room temperature before using.

Decorating: 

Frosting:

1. Fit a plastic decorator bag with a #1M tip or your favorite tip.
2. Fill with frosting.
3. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes.

Candy Melt Sparklers

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add blue candy melts to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.
3. Stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted, stir until smooth.
4. Repeat with red candy melts.
5. Fit 2 decorator bags with a small round tip (I used #5).
6. Add melted chocolate to bag, being careful as it may leak out.
7. Pipe zigzag lines of the chocolate to create the sparklers.
8. Let set about 10 minutes to harden.
9. Break apart in pieces and set aside until ready to frost cupcakes.

Strawberries

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Add 4 blocks of white almond bark to a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds.
3. Stir and continue heating for 10 seconds at a time until chocolate is almost melted, stir until smooth.
4. Add sprinkles to bowls so they are ready to use.
5. Dip strawberries in melted chocolate and allow excess to drip off.
6. Immediately add sprinkles.
7. Place on prepared baking sheet.
8. Let set about 10 minutes to harden.

Flags

1. Add sprinkles to frosted cupcakes.
2. Add paper flag.

Notes

Notes

Milk - by using milk or buttermilk instead of water in the cake mix, it makes the cupcakes taste more homemade. I have found though that store bought buttermilk is sometimes a bit too thick. To make your own buttermilk - Add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to a measuring cup and fill with milk, let set 2-3 minutes. 

Frosting - Using clear vanilla extract will keep the buttercream super white. You can also use regular vanilla extract. 

Depending on consistency, add more powdered sugar or more heavy whipping cream

Using heavy whipping cream will give the frosting a stiffness that is great for decorating, however, you can also use milk instead of the cream.

If you are baking for someone with a gluten allergy or sensitivity, just grab a gluten free cake mix!

How To Make Gluten Free 4th Of July Cupcakes

Are you ready for the EASIEST gluten free cupcake baking hack, ever? 

Go to the store and buy a box of gluten free cake mix. The end. {giggle}

Make sure all of your other packaged ingredients (including frosting and decorating ingredients) are gluten free, as well. 

These 4th of July sugar cookie bars always disappear as soon as I put the platter on the table!

4th Of July Activities And Recipes For Kids 

What is your go-to dessert for 4th of July? 

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Source: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/168294/easy-delicious-4th-of-july-cupcakes-recipe/

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