Learn to make adorable animal print cupcakes in this free step by step tutorial! These cuties are perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and more- and you’ll love how simple they are to make!
Well, it’s officially Valentine’s Day season….
I feel like we could all use a dose of lovey dovey sweetness –Especially if it involves….ANIMAL PRINT!
How I do love animal print :0) — And even more when we throw cupcakes into the mix. Today’s theme is “Wild About You”. Who are YOU wild about? Your hubby, your kids…the mailman ;0) –Whoever they are, they are going to love these….
Materials for Wild About You Cupcakes
Cupcakes
Crusting Buttercream (important if you want a smooth finish). I tinted mine with Wilton Pink, Americolor Electric Pink, & Americolor Super Black. Our Classic Vanilla Buttercream or Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream recipes are good options!
Viva brand paper towels
Piping Tips– Wilton Tip 2 (small round) & Tip 12 (medium round)
Wilton Jumbo Heart Sprinkles (optional)
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How to Make Animal Print Cupcakes
In this cupcake tutorial, I’m going to demonstrate how to create animal print buttercream while using a crusting vanilla buttercream frosting (links are beneath our Materials). We’re also going to show you how to paint designs onto fondant cupcake toppers! Pick and choose from your favorite designs- there’s something for everyone!
I started out by piping on my base coat of frosting with a tip 12 (a larger round tip is fine too.) –Once crusted, I smoothed with a Viva brand paper towel. If you’d like to see more on this technique–click HERE.
Then, I used a piping tip 2 to pipe on zebra, giraffe, & leopard print patterns! Since this is a Valentine’s Day theme, I thought it would be fun to throw in a lot of pink ;0)
Once the patterns were piped onto the smooth buttercream, I allowed them to sit for about 5 minutes or so until the buttercream had crusted.You’ll notice in the photo below that the details are bumpy (and really, that’s okay too…but we’re going with a smooth look today.)
Time to smooth with a Viva paper towel (or any smooth napkin)
Oh so pretty! It’s the magic of a crusting buttercream!
I thought it would be fun to make some animal print toppers also– we decided to go with zebra print and leopard print.
I already had some fondant cut-outs from a previous project. To make these, just roll out some fondant (I like to knead in a little tylose powder so that it will dry more quickly) and then cut out your shapes. Allow to dry (this could take several hours if you want them to be firm.)
Then, I painted some of my hearts with a “base coat” of pink paint. I made my paint by mixing pink coloring gel with a small amount of vodka. (Lemon extract works also)– The alcohol evaporates quickly, leaving the color behind.
After about five minutes, the surface was dry and I was able to use my food coloring pen to draw on some zebra stripes! These are so cute resting on top of a swirl of buttercream.
Here’s a heart that I made in the same way. (Painted stripes with food coloring pen writing and accents.) –This one is larger because it holds the main theme of our display! ;0)
That’s all that there is to it!
Now, time to gather all of these wild cupcakes together for a group shot~ ;0)
For More Valentine’s Day Cake and Cupcake Decorating Fun….
Don’t miss our full roundup of FAVORITE Valentine’s Day Cakes, Cupcakes, Tutorials, Recipes, and Ideas! Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays- there are so many cute and creative design options!
Don’t miss our other fabulous tutorials in our Free Tutorials Section— we have a free video tutorials subcategory also if you’d like to check it out!
For those of you who would like to have full access to the hundreds of cake decorating video tutorials that we’ve made over the years, you should consider becoming a member of My Cake School! You can find all of the details here: Joining Information for My Cake School.
I hope that you enjoyed these—now, go make them for someone you love! See you next time ;0)
ya know what I am wild about…MY CAKE SCHOOL and all your GREAT IDEAS! Oh yaaaa, I went there! So cute and a GREAT and FRESH twist on VDay themed cupcake. LOVIES!
These are so cute, Melissa.
These are so nice!!
I’m not a fan of cupcakes but these are adorable. My daughter-in-law is a social worker at a children’s psych hospital. I may whip up a batch for her to take to the children on Valentines Day. They’re all so adorable!
Adorable and too cute! Love the colors!! Thanks!
I am also “WILD” about my cake school. I can’t get enough of it. I think my husband is a little jealous. Thank you Melissa and BeBe for all you do; I have learned so much in just a short time!!!!!
I think these are absolutely adorable…thanks for posting
Adorable!! I love them all! Great job! Thanks for sharing!!! xo, Reannah
What a fun twist for Valentine’s Day!
Wow! Beautiful!!! Thank you so much for sharing i recently found your website like two days ago & i fell in love with everything you have made. I love baking! I have learned so much in the last two days thanks to you :)
Beautifull ideas!!! thank you so much for share….
Very, Very Cute! Thanks for sharing :)
Love your website, I am new to it but what i have learned in just a few days is amazing, can’t wait to see what is next.
Sooo cute, creative and educational! I forgot about the paper towel trick … thanks for showing it.
I am no speak english, but i understood everything.
is beutiful all
thanxs for all your ideas
What a cute idea! Where did you find the little Wilton hearts?
Hi, I think we bought those at Michael’s
We did–I’m not sure if they sell them year round now…. I’d stock up just in case ;0) — I use them year round!
my daughter will have a blast making these for her Valentines Day Market at school!
These are gorgeous! I can’t believe they are as easy as buttercream. I’m gonna review the post again for tricks. :)
These are AMAZING! I would have never thought of doing an animal print with buttercream icing. You make it look easy enough for me to try :) I’ll definitely do it for my daughter’s b-day party (hot pink with zebra stripes is her theme). THANKS FOR THE TUTORIAL!!!
I love this idea. My daughter turns nine next week and she love pink and zebra strips. Thank you so much I am going to try this
Which brand of food pens do you use? I use wilton and mine never come out with such rich shades of black :( maybe it’s where I’m purchasing them from…any suggestions?
of course I see wilton on the list after rereading lol sorry Melissa
Hi Jamie, we usually use Americolor pens that we order from globalsugarart.com
Just letting ya know Melissa, I’m using this tutorial to help me through my culinary school finals. We are decorating cupcakes using a theme we picked at random. I got valentines day! These will be so cute.
@Aliys, yay! That makes me so happy. ;0) —Good luck, I know they will be fabulous!
I will post pics :) I totally fat fingered the keyboard & misspelled my name in that 1st post. Doh!
This is simply breathtaking and amazing
Glad to know
About Americolor pens. I’ve also had issues with the Wilton ones!
What equipment an supplies did you use for this creation? Want to try for my niece party next month.
LOVE this idea and will be using it in the upcoming month. Thanks for sharing