19 Cupcake Hacks To Step Up Your Baking Game

Rich, moist and sinfully sweet, cupcakes are the perfect dessert for every occasion. Whether for birthday parties, bake sales, or weddings, cupcakes are a surefire hit everyone will love. Check out these 19 genius cupcake hacks to help step up your cupcake game!

Elegant Lace Topper

This topper is sure to impress all your guests and they’ll never guess how simple it is!. Just place a piece of lace over the top of a cupcake and dust with powdered sugar. Use on a chocolate cupcake for a high-contrast effect.

Marshmallow Icing

For an incredibly easy and unique icing for your cupcake, place a large marshmallow on top while baking. Make sure the cupcake has set so the marshmallow won’t sink or move around but is still soft enough so it won’t just slide off.

Two-Ingredient Cupcakes

We know, it sounds too good to be true! But you can achieve moist, rich cupcakes with any box of cake mix and one can of soda. The trick for this is to mix light cake mixes with light sodas and darker cake mixes with darker sodas and bake according to the box.

Campfire Cupcakes

Move over s’mores, there is a new campfire treat in town! This clever hack allows you to enjoy fresh baked cupcakes on your next camping trip (which is obviously necessary). Simply pour prepared cake batter in a hollowed-out peel, wrap in foil, and place on hot coals or next to your campfire.

The Right Way To Eat A Cupcake

Cupcakes are great but can be tricky to eat without making a huge mess. Try this tip next time you have this sweet treat for maximum enjoyment. Peel off the wrapper, gently twist off the bottom half of the cupcake, and sandwich it on top.

Cupcake Bouquet — What You Will Need

Making a stunning cupcake bouquet is easier than you think! Place a styrofoam ball in a flower pot of your choice, insert toothpicks, then place on your beautiful cupcakes! Simple, elegant, and a sure crowd-pleaser. Follow on to the next slide to see how to put it together.

Cupcake Bouquet

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Perfect for birthday parties or summer gatherings, these adorable cupcakes are as fun as they are delicious. Simply sub your cupcake liner for flat-bottomed cones for a festive sweet treat!

Hi-Hat Cupcakes

Unique and tasty, these cupcakes are sure to impress. Top your cupcakes with a light and fluffy meringue frosting, let it set in the refrigerator, then dip into melted chocolate. Use a spoon to coat the sides to make sure all of the frosting is covered.

Dip It

To spruce up any cupcakes try dipping into your favorite topping. Sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, nuts, coconuts, the options are innumerable!

Heart-Shaped Cupcakes

Everyone will be feeling the love with these cute cupcakes. And he best part? No special molds needed! Simply place a marble in the tin with the liner to create the “heart” shape then fill. No marble? No problem! Make small balls out of foil to use instead.

Double-Decker Edible Chocolate Wrapper

To make extra-decadent cupcakes sub the boring paper-lined base for a chocolate one! Melt cocoa candies in the microwave and then line foil wrappers, let harden, then remove and bake your cupcakes separately. Once you have let the cupcakes cool, add them to the chocolate wrapper and indulge in chocolate heaven!

Candy Melt Decorations

Another fun way to use candy melts is to turn them into beautiful decorations. Use molds or cookie cutters or even free-hand designs on wax paper. Get creative, the possibilities are endless!

Easy Centered-Fill Cupcakes

To help make the perfect hole in your cupcakes for your filling of choice, try using a piping bag tip. Then fill with cream, frosting, ganache, caramel, chocolate-hazelnut spread, peanut butter, or whatever you like!

Make An Ice Cream Treat

Use your liners to make mini ice cream treats. Place softened ice cream in the bottom and freeze for 30 minutes. Mix crushed cookies (or treat of choice) with chocolate shell topping and place on top of ice cream and freeze again for an hour. Repeat the layers and enjoy!

Ice Cream Scoop for Frosting

Wish you had something a little bit cooler and creamy to top your cupcake? Ditch the frosting for a scoop of ice cream for a tasty warm/cool combo.

The Perfect Swirl

Create the perfect swirl frosting with this genius hack. Fill two icing bags with the flavored/colored icing of your choice then attach them into a single tip. Viola!

Colored Frosting Guide

Use this handy chart to ensure you wind up with the perfect colored frosting every time!

No Muffin Tin? No Problem!

You don’t even need a muffin tin to make perfect cupcakes! Use mason jar lids to help keep your liners in place or try foil liners, which are sturdy enough on their own. Just place on a cookie sheet and you’re ready for the oven!