If you're looking for 4th of July Cupcake ideas, I'm sharing everything you'll need to make these Easy 4th of July Cupcakes! Use your favorite cake and frosting recipes and the topper supplies are easily at your local craft store, Walmart, or even a dollar store.
Originally published June 2017, updated July 2023.
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Easy 4th of July Cupcake Ideas
I'm cutting it so close to sharing this Firecracker Cupcakes tutorial for the 4th of July. I had hoped to post it last week, but it was such a busy week, well, here I am!
For a couple of weeks... wanting to come up 4th of July cupcakes ideas - something anybody can make where no special skills or tools are required. And these firecracker cupcake toppers are exactly that. I dare even call it a tutorial - it's so stinkin' easy.
I did pipe on some pretty buttercream (I have a tutorial for that here), but even if you just spread on buttercream with a spoon and add some colorful sprinkles (I did below!), I still think the addition of the "firecrackers" would make them super cute and festive. And it'll look like you exerted way more effort than actually required 🙂
What You'll Need for 4th of July Cupcakes
When looking at fourth of July cupcake ideas, the cake and frosting don't matter as much as the toppers.
I'm sharing the recipes I used but you can easily swap out for your favorite cake and frosting. The firecracker cupcakes really come to life with the DIY cupcake toppers with toothpicks!
- Cupcakes (I baked chocolate ones)
- Buttercream - my favorite vanilla recipe here
- ½" glitter pompoms (I picked out the red, white & blue ones for a 4th of July dessert)
- Toothpicks
- Sprinkles (optional) - I used rainbow nonpariels but if you could find some red, white & blue sprinkles, even better!
- Red White & Blue Cupcake Liners (optional) - I bought this set and they're super cute!! (not pictured above)
How to Make Easy 4th of July Cupcakes
Okay - once you have everything together, these are so, so easy to make!
- If you purchased a mixed bag of pompoms (like I did), first sort out the red, white, and blue ones. You'll need 3 of each color for however many July 4th cupcakes you're making.
- For the toppers, you simply stick a pompom on a toothpick.
- And you're done. No gluing required. The toothpicks stick easily into the pompom easy-peasy.
- Make as many as you need (you can do them really fast), and voila - Easy DIY Firecracker Cupcake Toppers.
How to Assemble the Cupcakes and Toppers
- First, you start with a cupcake. So smart, right? Haha!
- Then you add buttercream. I piped these with an Ateco #869 (large French Star Tip) from this set.
- Next, you'll just add your 'firecrackers' by sticking the toothpicks into the frosting.
- Last, add some sprinkles (if you want - if you have them).
- As a final touch, I dropped mine into 4th of July cupcake liners but this is not necessary. They're SUPER cute without the extra liner!
These Fourth of July Cupcakes really are incredibly adorable and so festive, right? I hope you love them as much as I do!
I was dreaming up all kinds of variations of these. Can you imagine using other colors of pompoms for Christmas cupcakes or a little girl's birthday party? They're just FUN!!
Anyway - I hope you'll make easy Fourth of July patriotic cupcakes for the upcoming 4th of July celebrations!! Happy Independence Day peeps!
More 4th of July Desserts & Ideas
PrintRecipe
Easy 4th of July Cupcakes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 24 1x
Description
If you're looking for 4th of July Cupcake ideas, I'm sharing everything you'll need to make these Easy 4th of July Cupcakes! Use your favorite cake and frosting recipes and the topper supplies are easily at your local craft store, Walmart, or even a dollar store.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 chocolate cake mix
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 3.4 ounce box instant chocolate pudding
- ½ cup water
- â…“ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 8 ounces sour cream
For the frosting:
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 2-4 tablespoons milk
For the toppers
- pompoms
- toothpicks
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Mix together the cake mix, flour, eggs, oil, water, sour cream, and pudding mix until smooth. Usually 2-3 minutes.
- Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
- Scoop batter into each liner, filling â…” full.
- Bake 18-20 minutes or until the top springs back when pressed.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
- While the cupcakes are cooling, mix together the butter and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar (1 cup at a time) until completely mixed in. Add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the frosting is soft to the touch (softer than cookie dough, but stiffer than cake batter). You want it to hold it's shape for piping. Mix until light and fluffy.
- Use a piping bag and a large piping tip (1M or Ateco 869 are good ones) to pipe a pillow of frosting.
- Add sprinkles (optional).
- Place one pompom on each toothpick. Place the toothpicks on the cupcakes (one each of red, white and blue).
- Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: 4th of july cupcake ideas, patriotic cupcakes, 4th of july cupcakes, fourth of july cupcake ideas, fourth of july cupcakes, july 4th cupcakes, firecracker cupcakes, 4th of july cupcakes, easy fourth of july patriotic cupcakes, 4th july cupcakes
Do you have more 4th of July cupcake decorating ideas? Leave me a comment!
Laura
Gotta love something easy-peasy for once. Thanks for sharing!! So cute!
Rose
Thank you Laura!
Margaret anket
Hi Rose
My son works at Facebook. I have asked him to look into why you are being blocked!
How he can help. Most of the crew for this are away till next week
Rose
That would be awesome Margaret - thank you!
MRgaret anker
He asked me if you got any warnings before they did it?
Or if you had any communication with them that might be helpful
Rose
I didn't get any warnings at all. I only got canned responses that my appeal had been denied - no explanation.
Marissa
These could not be easier! My kids are going to love them!!
★★★★★
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
You make the prettiest cakes! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party - hope to see you again this Sunday!!