There’s something undeniably fun about food that pretends to be something it’s not. These Spaghetti Cupcakes are the perfect example delicious vanilla cupcakes topped with buttercream noodles, strawberry jam sauce, and a Ferrero Rocher meatball.
Spaghetti Cupcakes: A Delightfully Deceptive Dessert That Kids Will Love!
They’re whimsical, delicious, and guaranteed to bring smiles to your dinner table or special occasion!
The Magic Behind the Spaghetti
What makes these cupcakes so special is the clever decorating technique that transforms ordinary vanilla cupcakes into a dessert that looks remarkably like a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. The secret is in the frosting technique using a specific piping tip to create thin strands of buttercream that mimic pasta noodles.
Topped with strawberry jam sauce and a chocolate meatball, the illusion is complete! These cupcakes start with a simple French vanilla cake mix that’s enhanced with butter, milk, and vanilla for a richer taste and texture than what you’d get by following the box instructions.
The result is a moist, flavorful cupcake that serves as the perfect base for our creative topping.
Perfect for Baking with Kids
This recipe is ideal for baking with children. Kids absolutely love the playful concept, and there are plenty of steps where they can get involved.
Let them help mix the batter, fill the cupcake liners, or assist with the decorating. The piping might be a bit tricky for very young bakers, but they’ll delight in adding the sauce and meatballs to complete their spaghetti masterpiece.
Common Questions About Spaghetti Cupcakes
Can I make these cupcakes from scratch instead of using a box mix? Absolutely! If you have a favorite vanilla cupcake recipe, feel free to substitute it. Just make sure it yields about 12 cupcakes.
What if I don’t have a number 3 piping tip? Any small round tip will work for creating the spaghetti effect. In a pinch, you could even use a plastic bag with a very small corner snipped off.
Can I use a different sauce or meatball? Certainly! Raspberry jam works wonderfully as an alternative sauce. For the meatballs, any round chocolate candy will work try chocolate truffles or even chocolate cake balls if Ferrero Rocher isn’t available.
How far in advance can I make these? The cupcakes can be baked a day ahead, but it’s best to decorate them the day you plan to serve them for the freshest appearance.
Helpful Tips for Success
- Make sure your butter is properly softened for both the cupcakes and frosting for the smoothest results.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent the buttercream from melting.
- If your frosting seems too stiff to pipe easily, add a tiny bit more cream. If it’s too soft, add more powdered sugar.
- For the most realistic spaghetti effect, pipe the frosting in a random, squiggly pattern all over the top of the cupcake.
- Warm your jam slightly before putting it in the squeeze bottle for easier pouring.
These Spaghetti cupcakes aren’t just a dessert they’re a conversation starter and a memorable treat that will have everyone doing a double take before diving in with delight!
Makes 12 cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients
1 box of french vanilla cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter
1 cup whole milk
1 tbsp vanilla
cupcake liners
cupcake pan
Directions for cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cupcake pan with the liners.
In a medium bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, milk, and vanilla and mix until combined
Scoop the batter into the cupcake liners and fill about 3/4 of the way full
Bake in the oven for about 21 minutes
Pull out and place on the side to cool
Frosting Ingredients
1 cup unsalted butter
3 cups powder sugar
3 tbsp heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
1 disposable piping bag
1 number 3 piping tip
1 squeeze bottle
1 package of Ferrero Rocher Chocolates
1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam
Directions
Using a hand mixer, combine the butter, powder sugar, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream.
Mix on medium speed until stiff and creamy.
Continue to mix until stiff and creamy. If the mixture is too thick add 1 tbsp whipping cream at a time until desired consistency.
Scoop frosting into the piping bag fitting with the number 3 tip.
Pipe spaghetti quiggles all over the top of the cupcake.
Scoop the strawberry jam into the squeeze bottle and pour some over the top of the frosting spaghetti noodles.
Unwrap the Ferrero Rocher and place on top of the jam.
Yield: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
These playful Spaghetti Cupcakes transform vanilla cake into a dessert that looks just like pasta! Topped with buttercream noodles, strawberry jam sauce, and a chocolate meatball, they’re sure to delight.
Ingredients
- Cupcake Ingredients
- 1 box of french vanilla cake mix
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup of softened unsalted butter
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- cupcake liners
- cupcake pan
- Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cups powder sugar
- 3 tbsp heavy whipping cream
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 disposable piping bag
- 1 number 3 piping tip
- 1 squeeze bottle
- 1 package of Ferrero Rocher Chocolates
- 1/2 cup seedless strawberry jam
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line cupcake pan with the liners.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cake mix, butter, milk, and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Scoop the batter into the cupcake liners and fill about 3/4 of the way full
- Bake in the oven for about 21 minutes.
- Pull out and place on the side to cool.
- Using a hand mixer, combine the butter, powder sugar, vanilla, and heavy whipping cream.
- Mix on medium speed until stiff and creamy. If the mixture is too thick add 1 tbsp whipping cream at a time until desired consistency.
- Scoop frosting into the piping bag fitting with the number 3 tip.
- Pipe spaghetti quiggles all over the top of the cupcake.
- Scoop the strawberry jam into the squeeze bottle and pour some over the top of the frosting spaghetti noodles.
- Unwrap the Ferrero Rocher and place on top of the jam.
Directions for cupcakes
Directions for icing
How to assemble cupcakes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 710Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 117mgSodium: 404mgCarbohydrates: 105gFiber: 1gSugar: 84gProtein: 5g
All information and tools presented and written within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information should only be used as a general guideline.
