Easy 4th of July Cupcakes

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.

Easy 4th of July Cupcakes with firecracker cupcake toppers on toothpicks

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 🙂

Easy 4th of July Cupcakes with firecracker cupcake toppers on toothpicks in red white and blue lines cupcake toppers

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, bag of frosting with piping tip, sprinkles, pompoms and toothpicks

How to Make Easy 4th of July Cupcakes

Okay – once you have everything together, these are so, so easy to make!

  1. 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.
mixed bag of colorful pompoms
red white and blue pompoms plus a scattering of toothpicks
  1. For the toppers, you simply stick a pompom on a toothpick.
  2. And you’re done. No gluing required. The toothpicks stick easily into the pompom easy-peasy.
  3. Make as many as you need (you can do them really fast), and voila – Easy DIY Firecracker Cupcake Toppers.
putting pompom on toothpick
putting pompom on toothpick
red white and blue pompoms on toothpicks

How to Assemble the Cupcakes and Toppers

cupcakes with frosting and sprinkles and pompoms
  1. First, you start with a cupcake. So smart, right? Haha!
  2. Then you add buttercream. I piped these with an Ateco #869 (large French Star Tip) from this set.
  3. Next, you’ll just add your ‘firecrackers’ by sticking the toothpicks into the frosting.
  4. Last, add some sprinkles (if you want – if you have them).
  5. 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!
chocolate cupcake in a liner on a counter
chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting in a liner on a counter
chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting in a liner on a counter with pompoms on toothpicks
chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting in a liner on a counter with pompoms on toothpicks and sprinkles as toppers

These Fourth of July Cupcakes really are incredibly adorable and so festive, right? I hope you love them as much as I do!

Easy 4th of July Cupcakes with firecracker cupcake toppers on toothpicks in red white and blue lines cupcake toppers

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

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Easy DIY Firecracker Cupcake Toppers

Easy 4th of July Cupcakes


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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

Units Scale

For the cake:

For the frosting:

For the toppers

  • pompoms
  • toothpicks
  • sprinkles

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.
  2. Mix together the cake mix, flour, eggs, oil, water, sour cream, and pudding mix until smooth. Usually 2-3 minutes.
  3. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
  4. Scoop batter into each liner, filling 2/3 full.
  5. Bake 18-20 minutes or until the top springs back when pressed.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
  7. 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.
  8. Use a piping bag and a large piping tip (1M or Ateco 869 are good ones) to pipe a pillow of frosting.
  9. Add sprinkles (optional).
  10. Place one pompom on each toothpick. Place the toothpicks on the cupcakes (one each of red, white and blue).
  11. Enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
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Do you have more 4th of July cupcake decorating ideas? Leave me a comment!

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8 Comments

  1. 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

      1. He asked me if you got any warnings before they did it?
        Or if you had any communication with them that might be helpful

  2. You make the prettiest cakes! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party – hope to see you again this Sunday!!

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