Elephant Cupcakes

I had a lot of fun making cupcakes for a special 3 year old girl’s birthday party.  The party’s theme was “Zoo Animals” and all of the children were going to be wearing animal costumes.  The birthday girl’s costume was an elephant.  Her parents ordered 2 ½ dozen cupcakes for the party and left the decorating up to me.  I decided to make individual elephant head cupcakes.  The pictures I took do not do them justice – they looked better in person.  But I just had to share them with my blog fans because they were pretty cute.

Vanilla Frosting

 

1.5 # unsalted butter, softened

2# powdered sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp vanilla

2 oz water (approximately ¼ cup)

1 tsp lemon juice

I used Wilton Brand Icing Color Black to make the frosting elephant grey.  Using a toothpick, add small amounts to the frosting until it reaches the desired color.

Here are step by step instructions on how I made the cupcakes transform into elephants

Start with a blank cupcake, frosting, pastry bags and pastry tips #804 & #124

Using tip #804, starting on the outside edge pipe frosting in circular motion moving toward the center

Beginning in the center, using even pressure, squeeze bag and move your hand slightly up and down and pulling toward your self and down, swirling up to the right when you reach the edge of the cupcake, creating the trunk

Use chocolate chip for eyes. I used bittersweet chocolate chips that were flat. If you use the chips that come to a point, place the point side down into the frosting.

Using the #124 tip, start at the top of the head where you think the ear starts and pipe sideways using a ruffling motion. This is a bit tricky, you just have to practice it until you get a feel for it.

There it is, your first elephant cupcake!

Place your elephants on a baking tray and let them chill in the refrigerator until the icing is set before packing or placing on your serving platter

There they are, ready for the party!

 

I hope you enjoyed today’s lesson.  If you have any questions or need a good cake recipe, please leave me a comment and I will be happy to help.