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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.
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
½ cup butter
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 ¾ teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x9 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 ¾ 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
Lisa
Those are such cute cupcakes. They would be perfect for a child's birthday party.
newlywed
Those look adorable AND delicious!
Alyssa
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.
Anonymous
Way cute! Thanks for making me smile today!
Debbie Pearson
These are simply adorable! Great idea, now I need an occasion to make them too 🙂
Erica Lynn
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(:
Brilynn
Those look like so much fun! And not beyond my lack of decorating skills either...
BigFATcook
Welcome to the jungle. Love the monkeys!! Looking good:)
greets from Big Fat Cook.
Ashley
Thanks, everyone! These were a lot of fun to make 🙂
BTW BigFATcook - LOVE the GNR reference!!
Nathaly
Great idea ils ont l'air délicieux 🙂
heidi
These are adorable! Where do you find the mini nilla wafers? Thanks!
Jenn
They usually have mini ones right next to the regular ones. I got my at Kroger.
JeeJee@FunFoodBento
That's really cute! I love it.
Nichole
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
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
Nichole - that's my middle name (same spelling!!) - I thought my mom was the only one who added that random "h" in there 🙂
Nichole
Haha, they are out there but haven't come across many in silent H mafia either 🙂
Arlene
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
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
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
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
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.
Ashley
I couldn't find them so I used mini shortbread cookies.
Ashley
Marta - I'm not sure if that would work as a substitution. You could swap another frosting recipe for sure though.
Patricia Jiongo
So cute!! Adding this to my list of fun decorative cupcakes. Thanks for sharing!