Today I’m going to share some CUTE cupcake designs in this Valentine’s Day cupcake tutorial!
These festive cupcake decorating techniques are so adorable and easy. Whether you choose to duplicate all of these Valentine’s Day cupcakes designs or just one, you are going to have the cutest platter of cupcakes in town!
One of my favorites is this easy method for fondant Valentine’s Day cupcake toppers. Simply roll out a bit of pink or red fondant and use heart cutters to make double hearts that fit together like a puzzle.
I always love a nice swirl of buttercream on cupcakes, but every now and then I like to change things up & create a nice, smooth finish. This is especially helpful if I’m going to be writing on top of them.
In the photo below, I’m demonstrating the “Viva Paper Towel Method” of smoothing. Remember…this only works with crusting buttercreams. (Our Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream & Classic Vanilla Buttercream recipes are examples of Crusting Buttercreams.)
We use Viva brand because there is no quilting or impressions. I applied my frosting in a flat spiral starting in the center and rotating outward until the entire cupcake was covered.
I allowed the frosting to sit for 5-10 minutes until crusted. Then, I placed a Viva paper towel on top and lightly smoothed over it moving my hand back and forth.
Here’s the same method of smoothing….only this time, I layered two colors of buttercream. I piped on my color with a Wilton tip 12.
I LOVE sprinkles!!! These heart sprinkles are great not only for Valentine’s Day, but year round! I often place them vertically on top of a cupcake swirl for a sweet finishing touch.
For the icing lovers out there…
And finally, I piped some chocolate candy coating decorations! You can use any brand of candy melts or candy coating/chocolate bark. This is one of my favorite mediums because the decorations are ready to use in minutes!
Simply pipe your Valentine’s designs onto a parchment or waxed paper-lined cookie sheet and pop in the freezer for a few minutes to speed-set! Instant Valentine’s Day cuteness!! You can see that I piped little anchors for my hearts so that they can stand upright. The more thick the piping, the less fragile these will be.
*It’s best to handle candy coating decorations while they are chilled. They are less fragile that way!
Here’s a group picture of our sweet Valentine’s Day Cupcake platter! I snuck in a few other designs too! The pink rose swirl is made with a tip 2D, and the heart within a heart topper was also made with the “puzzle technique” mentioned above.
If you’re interested in finding out about even more fun Valentine’s Day cakes, recipes, tutorials, and ideas, don’t miss our roundup of favorites!: Roundup of The BEST Valentine’s Day Cakes and Tutorials.
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These are terrific ideas for Valentine’s Day! Thank you so much for sharing!
How perfectly lovely! Can’t wait to try these ideas! I am loving your blog and following you on Fbook.
Donna @ http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com
all of those ideas are super cute for vday!!!!
those cupcakes are so awesome looking! who wouldnt want to get a valentines cupcake when they look like yours.
What a wonderful selection of designs you’ve come up with!!
They look amazing!! I have never made cupcakes before.. Now i have a good reason to try :)
Thank you!!!!
Super cute! I am probably going to do these for son’s Kindergarten class next week!
Great! They will love them!! :0)
I’m enjoying getting to “know” you via your blog. I’m seriously considering joining your “school”.
Have I missed where you share your buttercream recipe? I’m not familiar with the
term “crusting”….are all buttercream recipes “crusting”?
Hope I don’t sound too much the beginner…oh wait, I am :-)
Those are adorable!!! Had not seen them before, but would LOVE to try and
make some next Valentine’s day!!!
Melissa, you are soooo talented!!!!!!! :)
I’ve seen you use a roller to smooth your buttercream, what type/kind is the roller and where did you get it? Thanks!
Hi–When I use a roller, it’s a high density foam paint roller (that you can find in the paint dept of home improvement stores). Just wash thoroughly before and in between use.
Thanks Melissa!!
These are amazing!! Will definitely be giving these a go this Valentines Day!
When you smooth the cupcake with the paper towel, is it damp? Do you just press down? I’m a bit confused. Thanks!
Hi Sandy, no it is not damp, it is a dry paper towel. After the frosting has crusted, you just press and smooth lightly. We have a video of this on our site, but you could also google Viva Towel Method and find more information on line.
Adorable. I’ve got to pin this one on my “Valentine/Heart” Board.
I did….I really did. I squealed out loud. And I mean loud. This is darling. Ooooh what a GREAT use of time hopping catching up here tonight. I LOVE EWE 2!!!
I am the village idiot. I meant to put this on the I love EWE post…….
thanks very beautiful……
So cute! I love the idea with the sprinkles!
Please share your crusting buttercream recipe. I have yet to come across a good one that isnt too runny. Thank you so much!
Paddy Cakes Gluten Free Bakery
These are adorable! I am still working on my frosting techniques and these are beautifully simple. Just need a better buttercream recipe.
Thanks! Shannon, the recipe linked below is a good basic crusting buttercream recipe similar to the one that I use when making an all butter (rather than shortening based) frosting. The only difference is that we use 1/3 c. milk with our 8 cups confectioner’s sugar. — Also, we let the mixer mix for a good 6 minutes, as the consistency just gets better and better ;0)
**We often use clear vanilla (imitation) extract when we want the frosting to be whiter. Real vanilla will give a slight ivory tint to your frosting, which is still very pretty also but I just wanted to give you a head’s up! The whitest of frostings are made with shortening rather than butter…but the taste isn’t as good ;0)
http://www.marthastewart.com/255817/magnolia-bakery-vanilla-buttercream
I want to know the recepie of the butter cream
Super!! Love it!!
Thanks for sharing. Super cute
hello i am your avid fan, wud like to ask what is the buttercream u used mostly in your cakes? is it crusting buttercream? or the swiss meringue or italian meringue buttercream? in thsese cupcakes is it crusting buttercream? I presume its crusting buttercream since u mentioned using viva? Thank you
Very cute!
What tip did you use for the green details on the flowers?