How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes - Handle the Heat

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes

  |  
September 7th, 2016

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with three different buttercream decorating methods that anyone can do! They’re so fun, happy, and beautiful that everyone will think they came from an expensive bakery!

Decorate GORGEOUS fun sunflower cupcakes... ANYONE can do these!!

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Sunflowers are possible the happiest flowers in the world. So I’m just going to ignore the fact that they’re basically technically a weed.

How pretty are these buttercream sunflower cupcakes?! They're so easy!!

I think these sunflower cupcakes are just as bright and pretty as the actual flower, but so much better because you can actually EAT them!

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with three different buttercream decorating methods that anyone can do! They're so fun, happy, and beautiful that everyone will think they came from an expensive bakery!

Last week I showed you how to make elegant Hydrangea Cupcakes here. Now while these Sunflower Cupcakes aren’t quite as quick and easy, they’re still totally doable.

You don’t need a ton of artistic skill or special equipment. Just a couple leaf piping tips and yellow and green food coloring!

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with three different buttercream decorating methods that anyone can do! They're so fun, happy, and beautiful that everyone will think they came from an expensive bakery!

What you need to make sunflower cupcakes

Buttercream! My Best Buttercream recipe + video can be found here, or scroll to the end of this post for a special free buttercream guide.

Leaf Piping Tips! You will need at least two, one for the sunflower petals and one for the leaves. For the cupcake above and the one below, I used the smaller leaf tip. For the two-toned version I used a bigger one. Use whatever you have or can find! Here are the exact products I used:

Wilton #366 Leaf Tip (smaller)
Ateco #352 Leaf Tip (bigger)

For the food coloring, I always prefer gel. You just need a small amount to get a huge color payoff, so it doesn’t affect the consistency of your buttercream too much. I used my yellow food coloring with a teeny amount of copper coloring mixed in to get the perfect petal color. For the two-toned cupcakes, I add a streak of copper to my piping bag using a spoon and then squished it together.

Americolor Lemon Yellow gel food coloring
Americolor Copper gel food coloring
Americolor Leaf Green gel food coloring
How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with three different buttercream decorating methods that anyone can do! They're so fun, happy, and beautiful that everyone will think they came from an expensive bakery!

As you can see, I used mini chocolate chips or mini oreos for the sunflower centers. This makes easy work of decorating, and adds some extra deliciousness! You could also use chocolate sprinkles.

How to Make Sunflower Cupcakes with three different buttercream decorating methods that anyone can do! They're so fun, happy, and beautiful that everyone will think they came from an expensive bakery!

Got questions or frustrations with buttercream?

Like I mentioned in the video, if you’re decorating with buttercream while it’s hot or humid, or plan to serve anything outside, there’s a few tips to prevent melting and drooping. Firstly, make the buttercream without adding any cream or milk. This will give you a thicker sturdier consistency. You can also add extra powdered sugar to thicken it up.

Since butter has a melting temperature of about 90°F, that can be problematic in some situations. In that case, you might consider using half or all shortening in place of the butter. While shortening doesn’t offer the same superior taste and melt-in-your mouth texture as butter, sometimes it’s better than having your frosting creations melt on you.

Check out my FREE Best Buttercream Guide! It reveals my favorite buttercream recipe, flavor customization directions, tons of tips & tricks for decorating, storing, and more:

 

Tessa Arias
Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Tessa Arias

About Tessa...

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Find Tessa on  

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  1. #
    Michael J. — August 3, 2019 at 11:57 am

    I was just looking for something new to make so I could get a bite to eat. It looks delicious! I hope I succeed

  2. #
    Caroline@pickledplum — November 2, 2016 at 4:06 pm

    Wow, these are stunning cupcakes! Beautiful hand work, I’m not sure mine will look as good as yours but I do look forward to trying this recipe. Thanks for sharing!

    • #
      Tessa — November 6, 2016 at 9:57 am

      Thank you! I’m sure yours will look gorgeous 🙂

  3. #
    Alex — September 29, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Added the buttercream without adding any cream or milk. Worked out perfect. Will make it again!

    • #
      Tessa — October 1, 2016 at 10:16 am

      Great, Alex! 🙂

  4. #
    Rebecca — September 8, 2016 at 7:03 am

    Cute and simple!

  5. #
    Nonhlanhla — September 8, 2016 at 3:27 am

    Hi Tessa just wanna say big shout out for your great and amazing sunflower cupcakes recipe really love n enjoy watching your video n I was so inspired.Looking forward to give r try to.Keep up the good work.

    • #
      Tessa — September 8, 2016 at 8:20 am

      Thank you so much!!

  6. #
    Jim — September 8, 2016 at 12:11 am

    I love the mini chocolate chips idea! But do you have a way of sticking them onto the cupcake? I feel like they would spill out when you bite to the middle.

    • #
      Tessa — September 8, 2016 at 8:08 am

      Most of them stick to that layer of frosting I put down as the base. We didn’t really find that to be an issue while eating! But if you think it will be, there’s always the mini Oreo option 🙂

  7. #
    Tilly — September 7, 2016 at 8:30 pm

    How about some natural food coloring instead of the bad for your kids artificial kind?

    • #
      Tessa — September 7, 2016 at 9:07 pm

      I’ve tried several brands of natural food coloring, and a few homemade varieties and haven’t had much luck. Either I can’t get the right color or it adds way too much moisture to my buttercream and thins it out which is a hassle. To me, using food coloring occasionally is okay. If that’s not acceptable to you, 99% of the over 400 baking recipes on my site are free of food coloring 🙂

  8. #
    Vicki — September 7, 2016 at 2:04 pm

    Love all your ideas. I have tried your buttercream and smbc and they are delicious..love watching your videos.

    • #
      Tessa — September 7, 2016 at 5:23 pm

      Thanks, Vicki!! I’m so glad to hear that 🙂

  9. #
    Kaela Noelle — September 7, 2016 at 10:51 am

    These are absolutely adorable. I can’t wait to make these! You do a wonderful job, Tessa!

    • #
      Tessa — September 7, 2016 at 5:23 pm

      Thank you so much!!

  10. #
    Patty K-P — September 7, 2016 at 7:06 am

    So cute, Tessa! I love how you can choose between chocolate chips or mini Oreos for the center! Each yields a different look and caters to what you already have on hand 😀

    • #
      Tessa — September 7, 2016 at 9:23 am

      Thanks so much, Patty!

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