Cute Ice Cream Themed Cupcakes for a Party

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When you’re hosting a DIY party, adorable desserts are essential! So, if you’re on the hunt for a cute treat to serve at your next birthday celebration, you’re going to love these cute ice cream themed cupcakes. Transform a plain boxed cake mix into a cute summer treat with the help of ice cream buttercream and chocolate dipped cones on top!

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I love cute cupcake recipes that don’t require special decorating skills. That makes these cute treats some of my favorite kid’s party desserts! All you need is an ice cream scoop to create some seriously adorable treats in minutes.

Ice Cream Themed Cupcakes

You’re going to love just how simple these fun ice cream cone cupcakes are to make! That’s because there’s no special decorating skills needed.

When you’re searching for cake ideas for a kid’s birthday party, cupcakes are the way to go! They’re quick and easy to make, and so much simpler to decorate than a full cake. To make these fun summer birthday cupcakes, you’ll need:

• Cupcakes. I used a boxed cake mix to make the cupcakes, but you could also use store-bought cupcakes for this quick party idea.
• Ice cream. You can’t make ice cream themed cupcakes without ice cream! Use melted ice cream in your frosting to give it a hint of ice cream flavor.
• Butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. In addition to the ice cream, you’ll also need traditional buttercream ingredients to make your frosting.
• Sugar cones. You can use any type of ice cream cone you want to decorate the top of your cupcakes. But I love the look of sugar cones!
• Chocolate chips. Decorate your cones with some melted chocolate to give them a sweet touch for the kids to snack on before they dig into the cake.
• Rainbow sprinkles. Add a pop of color to your cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles. You can use any color combination you want to match your party’s theme.

How to Make Ice Cream Buttercream

The key to making these easy ice cream treats is the buttercream scoops on top. Just follow the easy instructions below to make your own ice cream buttercream frosting at home.

Start by setting your ice cream out on the counter to melt. You can do this while your cupcakes are baking if you want! I suggest scooping out at least 1/2 cup of ice cream. You won’t need that much for your buttercream, but it’s good to have a little extra on hand if you need it!

When you’re ready to start preparing the butter cream, first beat together the butter and vanilla in a large bowl. Make sure the butter is softened before you start mixing! The best way to do that is allow the butter to sit out at room temperature for around one hour before you start mixing.

You can also soften the butter in the microwave in 10 second increments. Just make sure not to heat it too long or it will start to melt!

Once the butter is light and fluffy, add the melted ice cream and powdered sugar. Start with around 1/4 cup of melted ice cream and add more, as needed, until your frosting is a spreading consistency.

How to Decorate Ice Cream Cupcakes

Now that you have your buttercream ready to go, it’s time to start decorating! Follow these easy instructions for turning your plain cupcakes into adorable treats!

Start by melting the chocolate chips in 30 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the chocolate is fully melted.

After that, dip the round end of the sugar cone in the melted chocolate until it’s evenly coated.

Immediately dip the melted chocolate into your rainbow sprinkles while the chocolate is still soft. Then, place the cones on a piece of parchment paper to cool. Once the chocolate has hardened, they’re ready to add to your cupcakes!

While you wait for the chocolate to set on your cones, use an ice cream scoop to scoop out your buttercream. Lightly press the scoop of icing onto the top of your cupcake and use the lever on the side of the scoop to release it from the spoon.

Once the frosting plops down on the cupcake, it will probably be messy. Just use a flat spatula to carefully smooth the top of the scoop to make it look a little more presentable.

Then, grab your rainbow sprinkles and add some color to the top of each scoop of buttercream.

Finish decorating your ice cream cupcakes by lightly pressing each cone into the top of the icing upside down. After that, your treats are ready to enjoy!

Ice Cream Themed Cupcake Ideas

These chocolate dipped cones and sprinkles are perfect for decorating your ice cream cupcakes! But they’re not the only way you can create adorable cupcakes for your party!

These recipe ideas are a fun way to change up these treats and make them your own! Try these substitutions and additions to create some fun summer snacks for your next birthday celebration:

• Try different flavor combinations. It’s easy to change up the flavor of your treats! Simply use different flavored cupcakes or add a different flavor of ice cream to your buttercream!
• Use different cones. Any type of ice cream cone will work to decorate the top of your treats. In addition to sugar cones, you can also use waffle cones or cake cones.
• Add some toppings. Turn your ice cream cupcakes into sundaes with the addition of toppings. Try adding a drizzle of chocolate or strawberry syrup or a sprinkling of chopped nuts!

How to Transport Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

These adorable cupcakes are sure to be a hit at your party. But first you have to get them there safely! When transporting your cupcakes to a new location, I would suggest leaving the cones off the top of the treats. Simply store your decorated cones in a separate container to keep them from falling off.

Once you get to your location, you can press the chocolate covered cones into the top each cupcake before serving.

How Long Do Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes Last?

Since these ice cream cupcakes aren’t topped with real ice cream, they can be kept at room temperature! After you’re finished serving your treats, transfer them to an airtight container or cover them tightly with plastic wrap. They’ll stay good for up to three days.

More Easy Party Ideas:

Ice Cream Topped Birthday Cupcakes

Patriotic Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Easy Flower Cupcakes Decorated with Marshmallows

Birthday Cake Milkshake