In this quick & easy tutorial, I’m going to show you how to make CUTE leopard print cupcakes by creating leopard print buttercream and cupcake toppers!
Who doesn’t love a good animal print? Maybe I’ve been watching too many episodes of the Real Housewives lately (everyone seems to be walking around in leopard this season!) –but I decided that today was the perfect day to jump into the wonderful world of leopard print cupcakes!!!
I know that I say this a lot…but these adorable leopard print buttercream cupcakes really are not as hard as you would think to pull off!
Leopard print buttercream and leopard print cake toppers will lend themselves to so many FUN cake decorating and party themes!
In this post you will find our step-by-step leopard print buttercream blog tutorial, as well as a quick minute video tutorial. (We made the blog tutorial first and recently decided to update with a quick video.)
Let’s get started on our cupcakes!
How to Make Leopard Print Cupcakes
First, I started with various shades of crusting vanilla buttercream. (If you will be using the “Viva Paper Towel method” of smoothing as we are today, you’ll want your frosting to crust.)
I piped a quick spiral of crusting vanilla buttercream onto my cupcakes using a Wilton tip 12.
Allow to sit for about 3-5 minutes or until you can lightly touch the frosting without any coming off. The buttercream should develop a light crust. Then it’s time to smooth! We like to use Viva brand paper towels because they do not have any quilting or impressions.
Next, apply some pink spots of buttercream to your cupcakes with a small round piping tip. (I’m using a Wilton 4)
Next, a darker shade of pink.
Next, a few black buttercream accents. You can see that I outlined the spots almost entirely, but not quite. Then, I added a few random black markings here and there. This cupcake is getting it’s leopard spots before our very eyes ;0) –
*I wanted to mention that if you are working with a non-crusting buttercream, or if you just don’t want to smooth your cupcakes, this pattern still looks great with texture!
Since I’m working with a crusting buttercream, I’m going with a smooth look but both options work perfectly.
As you work on spotting all of your cupcakes, you can circle back with a Viva paper towel as the first cupcakes begin to crust.
Ahhhh…I love this smooth leopard buttercream finish!
Next, I did the same but with a different color scheme.
Here’s a look at the difference between using three accent colors vs. two accent colors. I like both designs! Just go with what works best for you.
Sometimes I like to add fondant cake toppers. These painted leopard accents are so simple to make! For my paint, I mixed a bit of coloring gel with vodka and applied as if working with watercolor paints. The vodka allows the paint to dry very quickly.
(You can knead a little tylose or cmc powder into your fondant to make them dry firmer if you’d like! I prefer to add them just before the event.)
Aren’t these leopard print cupcake toppers the cutest?!
And finally….here’s the entire platter! I love these cupcakes. They are so much fun to make, and would be perfect for jungle or safari themed parties, fashion themes, “Wild About You” themes or even “Born to Be Wild” baby showers!
Isn’t it nice when we can find a pattern that kids and adults will love?! Make sure to scroll below for a few notes about our favorite crusting buttercream recipes. Thanks for stopping by!
Leopard Print Cakes and Cupcakes on the Inside!
If you love all things leopard print, we have a really fun Leopard Print Cake and Cupcake Tutorial in the Member Section of My Cake School, where we demonstrate how to carry the pattern to the inside of the cake! Leopard Print on the Inside- Cake and Cupcake Tutorial!
How to Make Leopard Print Cupcakes
Learn how to make Leopard Print Cupcakes in this quick and easy step by step tutorial.
Materials
- Cupcakes
- Vanilla Buttercream (We used our Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Recipe)
- Fondant (if creating toppers)
- Piping Tip 12 or tips of choice
- Coloring Gels: Americolor Deep Pink, Black, Chocolate Brown (or colors of choice)
- Tylose Powder (Optional-I like to knead a little into the fondant for quicker drying)
- Small paintbrushes
- Vodka or lemon extract for combining with coloring gel to create paint
- Disposable Piping bags
- Plate or Palette for mixing colors for painting
Instructions
For the Leopard Print Buttercream
Start by creating a base layer of frosting onto your cupcake. I pipe on a flat spiral using a piping tip 12. (This is the background color that you will be piping leopard spots onto)
Smooth. (For an extra smooth finish, allow to crust for a few minutes and then smooth over the surface of the frosting with a Viva Paper Towel (Viva brand has no impressions)
Pipe on the leopard spots. I used a piping tip 3 (small round tip) to pipe on the pink or brown spots, followed by black.
You can smooth over the spots once they've crusted for a few minutes or so using a Viva paper towel, OR you can skip the smoothing and leave the leopard design with a raised look which also looks nice.
For the Cupcake Toppers
Add a little tylose powder to your fondant if you have any for faster drying. Roll the fondant to about ⅛ inch thickness and cut out your shapes. You can use the round end of a large piping tip for circles if you'd like.
Paint on the leopard pattern using coloring gel or foodwriter pens. For coloring gel, create an edible paint by putting a dot of coloring gel onto a plate or palette and then mix with a touch of vodka. I usually just apply the vodka to the coloring gel with a small paintbrush. This will give you something similar to a fast-drying watercolor paint.
All the toppers to dry and add to the cupcakes. If you are using a non-crusting buttercream, apply the toppers close to the time of the event. Toppers will soften if placed in an airtight container.
Crusting Vanilla Buttercream Frostings that are Great with the Viva Method of Smoothing
In this tutorial, we used our Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, which is a great option when you need a crusting buttercream. The recipe is lighter in color than our Classic Vanilla Buttercream (which we also love). The reason for the difference in brightness is that the Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream recipe contains shortening in addition to butter.
Another option for a crusting vanilla buttercream is our High Ratio Frosting recipe. This recipe is the brightest white of all because it is shortening based. This is a good choice for times when the weather is very warm and you need a frosting that can hold up a bit better in warmer temperatures.
All three of these crusting vanilla frostings are great to have in your recipe box. They all taste great, pipe beautifully and smooth very easily!
Even More Animal Print Cake and Cupcake Fun!
Looking for even more animal print cupcake cuteness? Check out this fun and easy “Wild About You” step by step cupcake tutorial:
We also love this Zebra Print cake effect and it is so easy to create! How to Make a Zebra Print Cake
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…..me wearing leopard print may just be a crime punishable by death. However, these are no crime! Now my to-do list just keeps getting looooonger and loooooonger!
Awesome!! Thanks for the super simple but totally awesome idea!! LOVE it!
What is the trick to making black buttercream? I read somewhere that you are supposed to use chocolate bc and then add black coloring? Can you just add black coloring to regular buttercream?
Thanks!
You make it look so easy :-) But I guess that’s why you do what you do. I love the pink ones with 3 colors. They look gorgeous. I’m almost tempted to try it tonight myself.
Too cute! I think I like the two colored ones best, but they are all darling!
Absolutely wonderful!!! I can’t wait to try them!!!!
These are outrageously creative! Love them. You truly make them look easy to make.
I like the two colored ones but they all look nice! You made it look easy enough for me to give it a try!
So I tried this tonight and it’s SUPER EASY!!! I’ve been hesitant to do leopard out of fear of how to draw the shapes and yet have them look random/natural. With this method, I didn’t have to be precise with the pinks and blacks because when I smoothed it out they all blended together in the right ways and naturally ended up looking like leopard print. This is a great technique and I’d encourage everyone to try it. Thanks again for sharing!!
Oh yes, darling. Can’t wait to try it. I particularly like the 2 colors but enjoy the brightness of the pinks in 3 colors. You are a very talented lady. Thanks, D
love them! Thank you for the tutorial! =D
So cute! Thanks for making it doable!! :)
You have made it look so simple and beautiful
I will try this one out
made some last night it was so easy! thank you!
Love the look of three colors.
I have a question about the crusting Buttercream, though. The Buttercream recipe that I use contain the same ingredients in different quantities (Buttercream with only butter doesn’t hold up in Texas). I haven’t tried this recipe yet but I was wondering about the crusting. I understand the need for it with all these amazing decorating techniques but I was wondering if those who have tried it can tell me about the taste. Does it taste like several day old crusty frosting or is a nice texture for eating? Thanks so much–love this site!
Olá Melissa seus trabalhos são maravilhosos e sua imaginação não tem limites
Parabéns
I LOVE these! I wish to make these my signature cake!
Wow, these are brilliant :) cant wait to try!
Thanks everybody!!! @Kelly–I just use Americolor Super Black, even when starting with white buttcream, and once it has some time to intensify, it looks good. @Kia & Natalie–Glad that you tried them!!! :0) — @Daniebark–I love crusting buttercream…it’s really just a very thin crusted layer, and beneath it is the soft icing. After 2 or 3 days at room temp, there is a texture change and they become a little “crustier”. I refrigerate if they have to sit out more than a couple of days. @Addie–these should TOTALLY be your signature cake, lol :0)
These are so cute!! Thank you for sharing how to make them!!
So adorable! Love them! And I love Real Housewives! :)
Just stumbled across your site and I’m in love! I’m a self taught baker and love learning all I can. This technique is amazing. You mention adding “CRC” to fondant. What is CRC? Also, when adding vodka to make the ‘paint’ would you worry about serving it to kids?
Sorry, CMC.
Thank you!
Hi Reine–thanks for your comment! I sometimes use CMC or tylose powder to firm up the consistency of my fondant. It makes the fondant a little bit more of an elastic consistency which can make modeling and handling cupcake toppers a little easier. Adding a lot of tylose gives you something more like gum paste…so for cupcake toppers and things that may be eaten, I just add a little. It is optional.
As for vodka/coloring gel “paint”, the alcohol evaporates very quickly, just leaving the color. However, if you are worried…you can substitute lemon extract in place of the vodka. Good luck!
These are adorable (and probably delicious)! I’m going to repost a link to this on my blog!
These are amazing! The instructions were so clear ad easy to follow! Thanks!!!
My cousin is having a survival themed birthday party and wants camo cupcakes. I’m going to use a forest green icing instead of white as the base and use the 2 color print with brown and black. Hoping it looks camouflage!
These are simply gorgeous….and so easy to make! I always wondered how they were made. :)
can you do the cupcake trick on a cake as well? my sixteenth birthday is coming up and i hate fondant. so could i just use the butercream icing and do the design and smooth it like you did?
Yes you can! ;0) –Hope you have a great birthday~
How to you get the Buttercream to Crust??? do u let it simply dry out??? at room-temp.?
Hi Kimberly, buttercream will crust in just 5 to 10 minutes depending on your humidity. When you touch the buttercream with your finger and the frosting does not stick to it, you should be ok to smooth with your Viva paper towel. You will need to be using a crusting buttercream recipe.
Hi,
Just wanted to know if I could paint the leopard spots on a buttercreamed cake instead of piping the dots on. I have to make a graduation cake themed with jaguar. Could you kindly please email me on the details. Thank you and your work is absolutely beautiful :)
This so cute! If I were making a leopard print fondant bow for a cake, would you suggest painting it, prior to making the bow or afterwards? Also, how long in advance can one make fondant? So new to this :0) Thanks!
@Geet–I’m sorry, I don’t know if you asked this question anywhere else (it sounds familiar) but just in case, painting doesn’t work well on buttercream. The only alternative that I can think of would be to create “press on” fondant spots. You could paint those if you’d like.
@Kirst– I would probably paint on the spots after drying the bow. (I actually prefer to use gum paste or fondant with a good amount of tylose kneaded in, rather than straight fondant.) — I use pre-made fondant these days…but if I were making it from scratch, I would make the fondant the week that I need it, to be on the safe side. Some people would say it lasts a few weeks as long as it is tightly wrapped and sealed in an airtight container. My experience though is making it closer to the event. You want to make sure that you allow several days for the bow to dry. Good luck!
@Geet–I’m sorry, I don’t know if you asked this question anywhere else (it sounds familiar) but just in case, painting doesn’t work well on buttercream. The only alternative that I can think of would be to create “press on” fondant spots. You could paint those if you’d like.
@Kirst– I would probably paint on the spots after drying the bow. (I actually prefer to use gum paste or fondant with a good amount of tylose kneaded in, rather than straight fondant.) — I use pre-made fondant these days…but if I were making it from scratch, I would make the fondant the week that I need it, to be on the safe side. Some people would say it lasts a few weeks as long as it is tightly wrapped and sealed in an airtight container. My experience though is making it closer to the event. You want to make sure that you allow several days for the bow to dry. Good luck!
Amazing! But one question – what is a viva paper towel? Never heard of this! Thanks :-)
Hi Alysia, Viva is the brand name of a paper towel (paper towels are used for drying hands). We like that brand for smoothing buttercream because it has a perfectly smooth texture. If you are in an area that does not sell Viva, you might try using smooth paper napkins.
Could you also do the leopard print inside the cupcakes???
I like all or each of them but I really think the painted gumpaste toppers are my personal favorites. Could you do the cupcake batter in the same way as the cake batter but with smaller piping tips?
Hi Danielle and Shirley– Yes, you can. I forgot that I had this blog tutorial called “Leopard Print Cupcakes”— ;0) — I’m posting another version of leopard print cupcakes this weekend except it will be a video–the ones in the photo with my leopard print baby shower cake. In this video, you’ll see how I do the leopard print on the inside–it’s a slightly different process.
Thanks for the great tutorials! I just finished the cake video too! Just wondering if you did the inside of the cupcakes leopard print also?
Melissa, these are great and will be so much fun to see what people think when they get a slice of cake…my co-worker is having a boy and her hubby is army…what colours do you think I should make the spots….green and brown??
Thanks for any ideas
Stunning!
I love them so much so cute!!!!!!!!!! how would you make cheetah cupackes, any ideas……
Can’t wait to make these!!! I love to make cupcakes and usually will send them to the kids at church. I’ve missed a cple of wks of sending cupcakes and a little girl came up to me just this past Sunday and requested that I mk them some cupcakes next Sunday…lol But these I’m mking for a special friend that requested them when she saw them. Hope they turn out as great as yours!
Just finished making these — this tutorial is FABULOUS and my cupcakes turned out AMAZING!!! THANKS!!!!
Wonderful!
These’s are super cute so glad I found them!!!!!! Just one question what is buttercream? Is it icing? (: Thanks for the amazing idea!
I prefer the two color prints on such a small surface! I just mastered the leopard print CUPCAKE this week and the 13 yo girls they were for went gaga over them when the bit into them!
That’s great, Gina! 13 is a perfect age to go gaga over leopard print! ;0)
hi, ive tried to do this but it turned out my buttercream cant be crusted eventhough i was using the crusting vanilla buttercream recipe. well, i was using this ingredients
Ingredients
2 cups real butter (4 sticks), softened
2 cups vegetable shortening (14 ounces)
4 pounds of confectioners sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract (use Wilton’s Clear Vanilla if you want a whiter frosting, although the “tint” that regular vanilla adds is not noticeable to me)
2 teaspoons of Wilton butter flavoring
6-8 tablespoons of milk or cream
well, is it because of my recipe, or because my room temperature outside. 25’c
Hi Eish, Your ratio of fat to sugar should give you a crusting buttercream.
If your cake or cupcakes are cold (partially frozen) it will take many hours for the buttercream to crust. Is this a possibility?
When you do the fondant cutouts on top, do you mix it with gumpaste, or i ut jut fondant? If it is just fondant do you let it sit out so that it can harden. Just wondering how you get it to stand up?
Hi Danielle, you can look above the picture for a quick description of the process. Melissa used CMC powder in the fondant, it is a powder that makes fondant more like gumpaste. You could use straight fondant, it would just take longer to dry.
How do you get the buttercream frosting to crust? I make buttercream following the recipe in my Wilton book. Love these cheetah/leopard cupcakes. Thank you!!
Hi Char–Just letting the icing sit out for maybe 5-10 minutes should be enough time for the icing to crust. I’ve never used Wilton’s recipe but I’m pretty sure that it is a crusting recipe. The biggest advice that I can give is to frost your cupcakes at room temperature. Frosting cold cupcakes leads to condensation, which often prevents crusting (or delays it for a very long time.) — Very humid conditions can lengthen the amount of time before crusting also–hope this helps!
Wow! Looks so easy!
I did it in a similar way and they turned out amazing:))))) it was very easy
Justbeautiful
Hi Melissa, how do I make brown/tan buttercream frosting, need some hints please
This is a great cupcake but where do we get the supplies from
Hi Melisa and MH, To achieve the brown and tan buttercream frosting, I start with white buttercream, it can be the same buttercream you are frosting the cupcakes with. Take out a small amount of buttercream and add a tiny dot of brown gel food color to achieve tan. We use AmeriColor Gel coloring…….use the end of a toothpick to add the gel color. You would just add more brown gel color to get the brown color you desire.
MH, AmeriColor can be ordered from http://www.globalsugarart.com or google to find the best price.
Hi, great recipe. Do you use crusting buttercream for the design on top too?
Hi July, yes ;0)
Wow! Great instructions! I am so pleased by the turnout of these. I am definitley coming to this website again. These were easy and perfect for a birthday! :D
I have made this pattern now on 2 cakes, but they were both large cakes and people absolutely loved it – did a 3 tier birthday cake for my 15 y.o. granddaughter – leopard print on the bottom, plain pink in the middle and zebra stripes on the top, all done in crusting buttercream. Not perfect by any means but she loved it. Thanks Melissa
thank you.