Surprise-Inside Spring Cupcakes
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read Our Disclosure PolicyYesterday I was so excited to share my Easter tablescape with you. That post also included a few entertaining ideas and sweet treats. As promised, today I’m back with all the details, plus the recipe, for making those fun, colorful, and surprising cupcakes.
When I first saw the Vanilla Cupcake M&Ms, I immediately began to brainstorm how I might use them on my table or in a recipe. As I got to thinking, Amanda of I am Baker came to mind. Not only is she the “Queen of Cake”, but she is also the “President of Surprise-Inside Cakes.” She even wrote the book on it. (It’s called Surprise-Inside Cakes!)
So that’s when my plan came together. I’d bake classic yellow cupcakes, hollow out the centers, fill them with the M&Ms, and top things off with sprinkles. Done!
If you want to join in the fun, first you’ll need to bake cupcakes. I’m sharing a recipe below, but feel free to use a box mix or your favorite recipe.
Once your cupcakes are cooled, use a knife to cut a circle in the top of each cupcake. Carefully, pop that piece out and set it safely aside because you’ll need it later. To create a little space inside each cupcake, use a spoon to remove some of the cake. (It’s OK to sample what you remove. You deserve it.)
Now tuck in 5 or 6 M&Ms in each cupcake and replace the reserved piece of cake in the top.
Finally, pipe on the frosting (I used a classic buttercream that was tinted light pink) and decorate it with sprinkles. The surprise is now set!
Sidenote: Mixing a variety of sprinkles to create one mega sprinkle is now a trend. I gave it a try and must say I’m kind of digging it!
In my opinion, cupcakes are an excellent dessert for almost any occasion. People seem to like them, and they are easy to whip up, especially if you use a box mix. (Please don’t use a store-bought frosting, however. Homemade is a trillion times better.)
Filling cupcakes with M&Ms just makes the whole experience that much better. What do you think?
So fun, right?
As fabulous as cupcakes are on their own, these few extra steps will allow you to create something special and unique for your guests to enjoy.
(Just in case you’re looking for the recipe for the Peanut Butter Cookies for Spring, you can find it here.)
Happy Easter and Happy Baking!
Surprise-Inside Spring Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 3 3/4 cups cake flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 eggs at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 bag Vanilla Cupcake M&Ms (or M&Ms of your choice.)
Buttercream Frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 tablespoons milk
- Pink food coloring
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cupcake pans (24 cupcakes total) with paper liners and set them set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- With an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla at medium speed until light and fluffy (5-6 minutes).
- Add the eggs to your sugar mixture, one at a time, and blend well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- With the eggs incorporated, add the dry ingredients. Alternate with your milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
- Divide the batter into the prepared cupcake pans, filling each cupcake liner about three-quarters full.
- Bake for 16-20 minutes or until the cupcake springs back when pressed in the center. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then remove the cupcakes from the pan and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
- While your cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it becomes pale and fluffy.
- Adjust the mixer to low speed and add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, until it is incorporated. Increase the mixer speed to medium and add the vanilla extract, salt, 2 tablespoons of milk, and food coloring. Add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, to achieve the desired constancy.
- Add the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large open-star tip.
- To add the M&Ms to the cupcakes: Use a small paring knife to cut a circle in the top of each cupcake. Gently remove the section of cut cupcake and reserve.
- Using a teaspoon, create a small cavity in the cupcake. Fill with 5 or 6 M&Ms. Then replace the reserved cake circle to seal in the M&Ms. Pipe each cupcake with buttercream frosting and top with sprinkles.
Adorable and delicious! I filled mine with peanut butter M&Ms – they are my favorite.
Your recipe says “cream together the butter and sugar,” but the butter seems to be missing from the recipe. Amount?
My apologies! It’s been adjusted. Thanks! 🙂
xo Michael
I think I’ll use this idea for my kids school Easter celebrations! What kids wouldn’t be super happy with candy on the inside? 😀 I had thought that I would pipe bright green buttercream on top to look like grass(there is a tip for that) and then nestle a chocolate mini egg on the top though. Just my way of making it Easter-ish.
Michael, will you be posting the sources for the Easter décor or did I just miss it?
Yep! Tomorrow morning. Bright and early! 🙂
xo Michael
I have two grandsons, ages 2 and 8. My first thought was to make these for them for Easter. But my 8 year old loves to cook! So this is going to be Mimi and Justin’s special recipe, to make together, for everyone else for Easter! He’ll be so proud! Thanks for sharing Michael!!!
That’s such a sweet idea! Making them together would be so special. Have fun!
xo Michael
Pretty and fun. Perfect to make with my granddaughter … we might eat some of the candy along the way.
You put a lot of work into creating great content for us readers. Thank you!
Yes! Eating the candy along the way is part of the fun!
xo Michael
Super cute! And I agree – once you make your own frosting you can never go back to store-bought!
Ain’t it the truth! And it’s pretty simple to make, so why not?
xo Michael
These are so cute!!
They would even be perfect for a spring kids birthday party!
http://aneducationindomestication.com
Thanks! And yes, I totally agree. They’d work for any celebration.
xo Michael