If you enjoyed my recent faux cake slices, you’ll also love these decorative cupcakes!  It’s easy to make these in batches, so they would make great place card holders or party favors.

Project estimate:

• 3″ Styrofoam balls, $1
• Paper baking cups, on hand or $1
• Paint, on hand or $1 and up
• White silicone caulk, about $2 and up
• Cake decorating kit, $1 and up
• Hot glue, on hand

Total: about $4 and up

If you look closely at the styrofoam ball, it will have a slight line around the middle. Use this line to establish where to frost your cupcake and where to cut the bottom so it will set evenly in the baking cup.

I recommend painting the cake part chocolate so that it isn’t so noticeable. The colour I used for the chocolate is Burnt Umber. You will need two coats.

After the paint is dry and the bottom is cut off, it is time to frost your cupcake. I won’t presume to tell you what technique to use, but I will give you some tips.

• I bought a dollar store cake decorating kit. I didn’t want to run the risk of damaging my good kit.
• To add sprinkles, coconut or whatever, apply a thick coat of white glue on the top with a paint brush. If you are adding larger item(s) use hot glue.
• If you buy foil lined baking cups you can paint them to keep from buying a bunch of different cups.
• The thicker your frosting the longer it will take to dry. Be patient, I waited two days on mine.
• Usually two coats of paint is enough but be sure to get down in the creases if you use a decorating tip.
• For the frosting I added white to the burnt umber for milk chocolate.