HOW TO MAKE JUNGLE CUPCAKES

Easy Jungle Cupcakes

Four simple and easy to make animal jungle cupcakes — a zebra, monkey, tiger, and a panda.

Check out this fun recipe for making Jungle Cupcakes from Chelsea's Messy Apron.  They look adorable and are relatively easy to make.  Kids are sure to love them.

(Source: Chelsea's Messy Apron)

I first made these jungle cupcakes about four months ago for my babe’s first birthday and promised I’d share a little tutorial for them. Well, I’m finally making good on that promise and have a quick video and description for each of these jungle cupcakes below.

First up, ZEBRA CUPCAKES.

Of course, I had to start with my favorite animal! While I don’t know if these are the cutest or not (I’m kind of partial to the monkeys below), I do have to say that as far as jungle animals go, zebras are my FAVORITE. Black + white stripes are the coolest. 

In case you can’t find the ingredients in the store, or prefer the convenience of shopping online, here are links to the ingredients I used:

• Black Candy Melts
• Black Sparkle Gel
• White Sparkling Sugar

Zebra Cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 42 mins

Four simple and easy to make animal jungle cupcakes -- a zebra, monkey, tiger, and a panda.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Calories: 254 cal

Author: Chelsea
 

Ingredients

• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup full-fat sour cream or full-fat vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk (or sub scant 1/2 cup milk + 1/2 tbsp vinegar- mixed together and let sit for 5 minutes)
• 1 package (15.25 ounces) chocolate fudge cake mix dry
• 1 package (3.4 ounces) chocolate instant pudding mix dry
• 1 container cream cheese frosting OR your favorite homemade frosting

Make 'em into a ZEBRA

• White Sparkling Sugar
• Black Candy Melts
• Brown M&Ms
• Black Sparkle Gel

Instructions

Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with liners and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, briskly whisk the eggs for 20 seconds. Add in the vegetable oil, sour cream, vanilla, and buttermilk. (If you don't have buttermilk, combine 1/2 cup of milk with 1/2 tbsp. white vinegar in a separate cup and let sit for 5 minutes and then add to mixture.) Mix.
3. Add in the cake mix and pudding mix (both not prepared) and stir to combine. (Do not over-stir or beat in too much air.)
4. Fill up the liners 3/4ths the way full and bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Remove and allow to cool completely.

Frosting and Decorating

1. Frost the cupcakes smoothly with a butter knife. 
2. Pour the white sparkling sugar into a bowl and dip the frosted cupcakes into the sugar. Gently press to coat all of the frosting in the sprinkles.
3. Frost the back of a black candy melt and adhere it to the bottom half of the cupcake. Add 2 M&M's for ears.
4. Use the black sparkle gel to add hair to the zebra (in between the M&Ms), stripes, eyes, and a smile face to the candy melt. Serve them on a cupcake tray/display.
   
   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   These cupcakes are a lot of fun to make and are sure to be the hit of any birthday party!