Jul 222016
Last week we celebrated Christmas in July with make-ahead Christmas projects, like my DIY Christmas coasters. This week we’re continuing the party with holiday-inspired sweet treats and I have adorable Snowman Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes to share with you.
These Snowman Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes combine a couple of treats I’ve been wanting to make for a long while: ice cream cone cupcakes, and snowmen cupcakes. I figured the nod to summer using the ice cream cones was especially perfect for Christmas in July.
Snowman Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
These sweet treats are surprisingly easy to put together, and you can even make them a day in advance.
Snowman Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 12 cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 box cake mix + ingredients called for on box
- 1 pkg jumbo ice cream cones
- 3.5 cups confectioners sugar
- ½ stick butter, softened
- ½ cup shortening
- 1 tsp clear almond extract
- 3 T milk
- tube of black gel icing
- pretzel sticks for arms
- orange cereal loops or candy corn for nose
- edible silver sugar pearls
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Make cake mix according to package directions.
- Set 12 ice cream cones into a muffin or cupcake pan.
- Fill cones about half full (just under the "cup" part) with cake batter.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- Let cool completely.
- Meanwhile, make the buttercream.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and shortening until fluffy. Beat in almond extract.
- Add confectioners sugar, a cup at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. (It will probably look dry.)
- Beat in milk until smooth and at your desired consistency. If too runny, add more confectioners sugar, a quarter cup at a time. If too stiff, add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Frost the top of each cupcake and set aside.
- Refrigerate the remaining frosting for at least an hour, until fairly firm.
- Scoop out small amounts of the buttercream and roll between your hands, forming 3 sizes of balls to make each snowman.
- Place a snowman on top of each cupcake.
- Using the black gel icing, add dots for "coal" eyes and mouth.
- Add silver sugar pearl "buttons" down the front.
- Break a pretzel rod in half and insert on either side of the body for arms.
- Cut the tip off a candy corn (pick up an extra bag after Halloween and save them), or get a few of the orange cereal loops out of a box of the colorful ones, and carefully cut them to resemble carrots.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
These Snowman Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes were really fun to make and really fun to eat, too. Bubbles especially loved them. I think they’d make a cute addition to a dessert table for winter, Christmas, or a fun Christmas in July party.
Here are a few other Christmas-inspired recipes from some of my blogger friends!
- Grandma’s Sand Tart Cookies – Just 2 Sisters
- Christmas Gift Box Cookies – Homemaking Hacks
- Homemade Holiday Thin Mints – As the Bunny Hops
- Snowman Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes – Views From the ‘Ville
What other Christmas treats do you like to bake?
About Liza
Liza is a mom (5-year-old daughter, 20-year-old stepson, and 24-year-old stepdaughter) and wife living in Louisville. She loves spending time with her family, visiting the local zoo and parks, as well as planning travel adventures. Cooking and baking, DIY projects and crafts, and coffee - lots and lots of coffee - round out some of her other hobbies.
These are adorable and perfect for my grandson’s birthday party.
Thanks Clearissa! I hope they were a hit at the party.
These are SO adorable! Absolutely need to make these when it gets a little chillier in California
These look so cool! And delicious!.
How cute! What a great idea! #bloggingboost
These are super cute but DO NOT refrigerate them! That will cause the cones to become soggy!
Thanks for the tip, Lisa! I hadn’t put them in the fridge before, so good to know