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Fireworks Cupcakes

Fireworks cupcakes are tall swirled vanilla cupcakes topped with a tri-color buttercream peak and red, white, and blue star sprinkles. Perfect for 4th of July cupcakes—each one gets a sparkler pick for a firework-burst look and an easy patriotic dessert finish.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 380
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cupcakes
  • 1 white or vanilla cake mix Use a box mix and prepare the additional ingredients exactly as directed on the package.
Buttercream
  • 1 cup unsalted butter Softened to room temperature.
  • 4 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp heavy cream Use 3–4 tablespoons total for a pipeable consistency.
  • 1 red and blue gel food coloring Use enough to color one portion red and one portion blue; keep one portion white.
Decoration
  • 1 red, white, and blue star sprinkles
  • 1 sparkler picks or flag picks for decoration Insert into the center after frosting and sprinkles.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 stand mixer

Method
 

Bake the cupcakes
  1. Heat oven and bake cupcakes according to the cake mix package directions in lined muffin tins, using the exact pan time and temperature listed on the box, then cool completely on a wire rack.
Make vanilla buttercream
  1. Beat softened unsalted butter until fluffy, then gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream.
  2. Beat the mixture on high for 3 minutes until very light and fluffy, then adjust with 1 additional tablespoon heavy cream if needed to reach a thick but pipeable consistency.
Color and load the piping bag
  1. Divide the buttercream into three portions: keep one white, color one portion red, and color one portion blue using red and blue gel food coloring.
  2. Load a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with all three colors side by side for a tri-color swirl effect.
Frost, sprinkle, and decorate
  1. Pipe a tall swirled peak of frosting onto each cooled cupcake, building height for a dramatic firework look.
  2. Shower each cupcake with red, white, and blue star sprinkles, then insert a sparkler pick into the center.
  3. Serve immediately to keep the frosting looking crisp and the sparkler pick standing upward.

Notes

Pro tip: For the tallest “fireworks” peaks, fill the piping bag firmly and pipe without stopping—lift straight up to form a sharp tip. Refrigerate cupcakes in a sealed container for up to 3 days; for best texture, let them sit at room temperature 15–20 minutes before serving. Freezing is not recommended because the sprinkles and sparkler decoration can soften. For a lighter option, you can swap part of the powdered sugar with a reduced-sugar confectioners blend, but keep the buttercream thick enough to pipe.