Monkey Cupcakes
Desserts,  Recipes,  Vegetarian

Baby Shower: Monkey Cupcakes

Published: September 22, 2010 / Updated: May 25, 2014 / 25 Comments

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Monkey Cupcakes

I came across this cupcake decorating idea from Molli526 over on the CLBB a few years ago, and have been waiting for the perfect occasion to make them. I looked up a cupcake and frosting recipe, and then followed the way she decorated them (using regular and mini Nilla Wafers and red and black gel icing) for an unbelievably adorable result. All of the gifts that I gave my friend were monkey themed, and these cupcakes really were a big hit.

Monkey Cupcakes

Simple White Cake
Allrecipes – SCOTTOSMAN
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes

Ready In: 50 Minutes
Servings: 12

“This cake was sent home from our children’s school. It is the simplest, great tasting cake I’ve ever made. Great to make with the kids, especially for cupcakes.”

1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

Creamy Chocolate Frosting
Allrecipes – Tracy Larsen

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Ready In: 15 Minutes
Servings: 12

“I’ve been using this chocolate frosting recipe forever, and several friends now use it as their ‘favorite frosting!’ It’s smooth, creamy and not-too-dark. I just wanted to share it with chocolate lovers everywhere! It will frost, but not fill, an 8 or 9 inch layer cake.”

2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
powder
6 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa, and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.

Big Flavors Rating: 4 Stars

Ashley Covelli is a food photographer, recipe developer, and culinary instructor based in Ossining, New York. She loves helping people become enthusiastic and adventurous in the kitchen so that they can build skills and confidence to cook for themselves and their loved ones. She can almost always be found with at least 3 different beverages within arm's reach.

25 Comments

  • Alyssa

    September 23, 2010 at 9:59 pm Reply

    Those are too cute! I love making fun cupcakes. I’ve made piggies, lambs and chicks, but never monkeys. I will have to give those a try.

  • Erica Lynn

    September 30, 2010 at 3:18 am Reply

    These are so cute and so simple. My Aunt told me that you made these and I stole the idea and made them for my demonstration speech in my speech course.

    I posted this on my blog and gave your blog credit on there(:

  • Nichole

    March 21, 2012 at 8:27 pm Reply

    So cute! These would have been perfect for the Curious George themed party I did last year. Oh well, filing away for another day 🙂

  • Anonymous

    March 22, 2012 at 6:43 am Reply

    This will be PERFECT for my sons first birthday, as it will be Curious George themed. Thank you for posting. Found you by another posting on pintrest.

  • Ashley

    March 22, 2012 at 9:52 am Reply

    Nichole – that’s my middle name (same spelling!!) – I thought my mom was the only one who added that random “h” in there 🙂

  • Arlene

    April 26, 2012 at 7:17 pm Reply

    I’m making these for my 2 yr old’s birthday, so thanks for the great idea! I pinned this a while ago on pinterest, and it’s been repinned almost 9,000 times from my pin — suffice it to say, your cupcakes are pretty popular! I hope you don’t mind that I pinned them. Feel free to check out the link, and if you don’t like that I pinned it, I’ll be more than happy to take it back down.
    http://pinterest.com/pin/26106872809425738/

    Thanks again for the great idea! 🙂
    P.S. Sorry for the double post; had to fix the typos lol. 😛

  • Ashley

    April 28, 2012 at 1:25 pm Reply

    So glad you’re gonna try ’em out! My friends were thrilled with them. They’re super cute. The only tricky part was not being able to find the mini nilla wafers – I subbed a different kind.

    Thanks for the pin love 🙂

  • RebeccaJasmin

    January 6, 2013 at 5:17 pm Reply

    These are gorgeous!! I am going to attempt them for my little boy’s second birthday but I can not source the Nilla mini-wafers. Can I ask where you found yours?

  • Marta Dimitrovska

    January 8, 2013 at 6:28 am Reply

    Hi! I would so like to try this but there is no evaporated milk here, can I use something else instead (powder milk or….) 🙂 thanx

    • Cynthia Aldrich

      October 26, 2014 at 2:19 am Reply

      Marta, I would just use cream. I use cream for my pumpkin pie as well, in place of evaporated milk. You could use half and half, but I would watch to make sure that the consistency of the icing is not too thin. Use less and add more half and half if too thick.

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