Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes are the ultimate fun dessert! They’re a whimsical twist on traditional cupcakes, baked directly inside ice cream cones and topped with colorful frosting and sprinkles. These cupcakes are perfect for kids’ birthday parties, family gatherings, or any event where you want to add a fun, creative touch to the dessert table. They’re easy to make, customize with your favorite colors and decorations, and perfect for serving as individual treats!
Ingredients
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1 box (15.25 ounces) cake mix (vanilla or chocolate, your choice!)
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Ingredients called for on the cake mix box (usually eggs, oil, and water)
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24 flat-bottom ice cream cones
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1 container (16 ounces) vanilla frosting
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Food coloring (gel or liquid, your choice of colors)
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Sprinkles, for decoration
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Optional: Small candies, mini chocolate chips, or other toppings
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
Directions
1. Preheat and Prepare:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare the cake mix according to the instructions on the box. This typically includes adding eggs, oil, and water, then beating the batter on low until combined and medium for about 2 minutes until smooth.
2. Fill the Cones:
Place the ice cream cones in a muffin tin to keep them upright. Fill each cone about two-thirds full with cake batter. Gently tap the muffin tin on the counter to release any air bubbles and ensure the batter is evenly distributed.
3. Bake:
Bake the cupcakes for 20-25 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Keep an eye on them, as baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven.
4. Cool:
Let the cupcakes cool in the tin for a few minutes, then carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
5. Prepare the Frosting:
Divide the vanilla frosting into separate bowls, one for each color you wish to use. Add food coloring to each bowl and stir until the frosting is evenly colored. If you have piping bags, transfer the colored frosting into the bags for a neat, easy application.
6. Decorate:
Frost each cooled cupcake with the colored frosting of your choice. You can make fun swirls or even use a piping tip to make it look like soft-serve ice cream. After frosting, immediately top with sprinkles, candies, or any other fun decorations.
Servings and Timing:
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Servings: 24 cupcakes
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
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Cook Time: 25 minutes
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Total Time: 45 minutes
Variations
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Cake Flavor: You can use any flavor of cake mix for these cupcakes. Try fun flavors like strawberry, carrot, or red velvet.
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Frosting: Mix and match frosting colors, and add toppings like mini chocolate chips, edible glitter, or small candy pieces.
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Surprise Inside: Drop a small piece of candy or chocolate at the bottom of each cone before filling with cake batter to create a fun surprise when you bite into it.
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Healthier Twist: Use a gluten-free or sugar-free cake mix for a healthier version.
Storage/Reheating
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Storage: Store decorated cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate and enjoy within 3 days.
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Reheating: These cupcakes are best served at room temperature, but you can warm them briefly in the microwave for 10-15 seconds if you prefer them slightly warm.
FAQs
Can I make these cupcakes in advance?
Yes, you can bake the cupcakes ahead of time and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Frost and decorate them just before serving to maintain freshness.
Can I use a different type of frosting?
Absolutely! You can use chocolate frosting, cream cheese frosting, or even whipped cream for a different twist. Just make sure the frosting is thick enough to hold up the decorations.
Can I bake the cake batter directly in the ice cream cones?
Yes! Just be sure not to overfill the cones as the batter will rise during baking.
Conclusion
These Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes are the perfect combination of fun, delicious, and easy! With minimal effort, you can create a crowd-pleasing dessert that looks as good as it tastes. Ideal for birthdays, parties, or just a fun weekend treat, these cupcakes bring smiles to all ages. Get creative with colors, decorations, and flavors to make them truly your own!
Print
Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cupcakes
Description
These Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes are a fun and whimsical twist on classic cupcakes—baked directly inside flat-bottom ice cream cones and topped with colorful frosting and sprinkles. Perfect for birthdays, kids’ parties, or any celebration, they’re easy to customize with your favorite cake flavors, frosting colors, and toppings.
Ingredients
1 box (15.25 oz) cake mix (vanilla, chocolate, or your choice)
Ingredients required on cake mix box (usually eggs, oil, water)
24 flat-bottom ice cream cones
1 container (16 oz) vanilla frosting
Food coloring (gel or liquid)
Sprinkles, for decoration
Optional: Small candies, mini chocolate chips, or other toppings
Instructions
- Preheat Oven & Make Batter – Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare cake batter as directed on the box.
- Fill Cones – Place cones upright in muffin tin. Fill each about ⅔ full with batter.
- Bake – Bake 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool – Let cool in tin for a few minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
- Color Frosting – Divide frosting into bowls, add food coloring, and mix. Transfer to piping bags if desired.
- Decorate – Frost cooled cupcakes, creating swirls to resemble ice cream. Top with sprinkles, candies, or mini chocolate chips.
Notes
- Use any cake flavor, such as strawberry, carrot, or red velvet.
- Add a candy surprise inside each cone before filling with batter.
- For a healthier twist, use gluten-free or sugar-free cake mix.
- Store at room temperature up to 2 days, or refrigerate up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
