Carousel Cupcakes

cupcake 2348

Whether you’re celebrating National Carousel Day in July, having a backyard carnival, or hosting a whimsical birthday party, our delightful carousel cupcakes are a crowd-pleaser. Fun to make and eat!

Makes 24 cupcakes.

Ingredients

1 box cake mix (+ ingredients on pkg.) or your favorite homemade recipe

1 can of creamy vanilla frosting or your homemade vanilla recipe

Sprinkles

Food coloring (recommended: powdered natural food colors)

1 package animal crackers

Small batch royal icing:

2 Tbs. meringue powder

3 Tbs. water

3 1/3 cups powdered sugar

Supplies

Cupcake pan

24 cupcake liners (coordinate colors/patterns with straws and umbrellas)

12 striped paper straws

24 cocktail umbrellas

Craft glue or hot glue

Scissors

Piping bag with star tip

Directions

  • Make cupcakes: Place liners in cupcake pan. Prepare and bake cupcakes according to directions. After cooling, frost and add sprinkles.

  • Cut straws in half. Open cocktail umbrellas and glue so they stay open (hot glue works fastest). Add a small dab of glue to the top of a straw and slide the umbrella into the straw so they stay together. Let dry completely. Be sure there are no glue threads on the umbrella before adding animal crackers.

  • Make royal icing: Beat meringue powder, water and powdered sugar on high speed with a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form. Add food color to match colors of paperware. (Tip: Powdered natural food color works best, as it will not add moisture and make the icing runny.) Place a cup of royal icing in a piping bag.

  • Pipe a large star of royal icing 1/3 of the way down each straw and secure an animal cracker to the icing. Carefully press to stick. It takes a few hours for the icing to dry so the cookie is held in place.

  • Meanwhile, use the remaining royal icing to create a decorative border on each cupcake by piping stars around the edges.

  • Drive the end of each straw into the center a cupcake. Serve on a decorative cake stand within a few hours. Note: paper products and royal icing do not hold up well in the fridge.

Did you know? Balboa Park is home to a 1910 Herschell-Spillman carousel (near the San Diego Zoo entrance). The historic carousel has been there since 1922. Read more about this San Diego gem in the July 2020 issue of San Diego Family Magazine.

___________

Emily Dolton cannot resist a carousel or a cupcake. Her favorite Balboa Park carousel animal is the sea serpent and she loves to reach for the brass ring.

instagram logo multi Be sure to share your carousel creation pics on Instagram, tag us @sandiegofamilymagazine and use #ShareSanDiegoFamily for a chance to be featured on our page.

___________

San Diego’s Best Family-Friendly Breweries

San Diego’s Best Family-Friendly Breweries

It took me six weeks after giving birth to twins to get back to a brewery. Believe me, I wanted to go sooner, but a few things got in the way (mostly two infants). We loved going to breweries before t . . .

Read more

Blue Cheese Sliders

Blue Cheese Sliders

  Celebrate Father's Day with Sensational Blue Cheese Sliders!
 Here is a delicious recipe that will keep Dad talking about your Father's Day celebration all year long.   Makes: 6 S . . .

Read more

Sam the Cooking Guy’s Grilled Lobster Tails with Thyme Butter

Sam the Cooking Guy’s Grilled Lobster Tails with Thyme Butter

Father's Day at my house is centered around the backyard—and that means grilling. A special day requires special food, and that means lobster tails. Simple and delicious, you can eat them right of . . .

Read more

Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Lettuce wraps are a delicious way to celebrate Chinese New Year at home! Omit the cayenne pepper to make a milder version of the sauce.Ingredients3 - 6 oz. chicken breasts1 Tablespoon soy sauce1 Tab . . .

Read more

Mexican Hot Chocolate and Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Mexican Hot Chocolate and Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

These rich, delicious treats will be the highlight of your next party, celebration of family get-together! Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes and Cinnamon Dulce de Leche Cupcakes celebrate the flavors o . . .

Read more

Dinosaur Footprint Cookies

Dinosaur Footprint Cookies

Use toy dinosaurs to make footprints in sugar cookies for a dino-mite treat at your next party or STEM-themed get-together. IngredientsSugar cookie dough (use Basic Cookie recipe from the book Snac . . .

Read more

Sheet Pan Pancakes

Sheet Pan Pancakes

This oversized, baked pancake is perfect for families or breakfast parties because everyone chooses their favorite topping for their portion. Offer add-ins like blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas . . .

Read more

Potato Bacon Torte

Potato Bacon Torte

Potato Bacon Torte is Melissa d’Arabian’s signature dish, and may even be the recipe that secured her own cooking show (Ten Dollar Dinners) on “The Next Food Network Star." Try making it . . .

Read more

Strawberry Nutella Pancakes

Strawberry Nutella Pancakes

Nothing expresses “love” like strawberries and chocolate! Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, a birthday or another special occasion, your family will “flip” over . . .

Read more

52 Easy School Lunch Ideas

52 Easy School Lunch Ideas

Get kids excited about taking lunch to school by offering plenty of variety. Tailor this list of 52 lunchbox ideas to your child’s preferences. Discover her favorites and plan them once a week. Co . . .

Read more

San Diego Family Magazine Logo

Be Family Informed – Sign up for our Newsletters below!