How to Make Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes: such a fun treat for a birthday party! Try this easy hack that will make baking and transporting them a breeze!
If you are planning a kids’ party, cupcakes are an absolute must!
I do a ton of cupcakes every year for my kids’ class parties. The kids go crazy for them. They also love when I make cookies, like these Monster Cookies and these Homemade Oreos. And my older son has asked for Junk Food Brownies for the last 2 birthdays in a row.
But nothing gets a better reaction than ice cream cone cupcakes! I love how everybody’s eyes light up when they see these fun treats!
WHAT ARE ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES?
These are such a fun treat for a kid’s birthday! They’d be great for a class party too. You can decorate them the way you see here, or use holiday-specific colors for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or 4th of July.
It’s basically just an ice cream cone baked with cake inside, and topped with frosting that’s piped to look like soft serve ice cream.
They’re adorable, but the first time I went to make them, I was completely stumped as to how to get the cones to stand up straight while baking! This is the hack I came up with.
HOW TO BAKE ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES
It’s as easy as covering a 9×13-inch pan with foil, and popping little holes in the foil to push the ice cream cones into.
You can use any kind of rectangular pan you happen to have on hand.
I like to use heavy duty foil (I feel like it’s sturdier), but the regular kind will work too!
Use the tip of a sharp paring knife to cut little x’s into the foil. When you push the ice cream cones in, they will open up the x’s to just the right size, so the cones are supported.
WHAT KIND OF CAKE CAN BE BAKED INTO ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES?
You can fill the ice cream cones with any kind of batter you like! This idea is completely customizable.
If you want to bake your ice cream cone cupcakes from scratch, I have some recipes I think you’ll love. There are TONS of cupcake recipes on this site, but here is just a sampling of my very favorites:
For the pictures and video you see here, I used my favorite funfetti recipe, linked right above.
WHAT FROSTING TO USE ON ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES
Any kind of frosting will work! I used my favorite American-style buttercream here, because it’s quick and easy to make, and it pipes easily. But you could mix things up with your favorite icing, or try one of the following:
HOW TO DECORATE ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES
I think these ice cream cone cupcakes look their best when topped with a generous swirl of buttercream! They’re meant to look like a soft-serve cone, so don’t be afraid to really pile it on!
Featherweight piping bags are my favorite for cake decorating, because they clean up easily with hot, soapy water. But you could also use the disposable kind! No cleanup required, just toss ’em when you’re done!
I’ve used a jumbo open star tip here to pipe on the frosting. A jumbo round tip would work really well too.
A pinch of rainbow sprinkles is the final touch! They’d also look really cute with a maraschino cherry on top.
HOW TO TRANSPORT ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKES
You can use the same pan/foil setup to transport the cupcakes as well. This way, you don’t have to worry about the ice cream cone cupcakes tipping over, and the beautiful frosting getting messed up.
If you have the kind of baking pan with a tall lid, that’s even better! You can fit the lid right over the foil-covered pan.
I’ve seen disposable foil pans in the grocery store that have extra-tall clear plastic lids. A couple of those would be absolutely perfect!
Your kids will LOVE these ice cream cone cupcakes! And you’ll love this easy baking hack!
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How to Make Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 9x13-inch rectangular baking pan
- heavy duty foil
- 12 ice cream cones
- 1 cake batter of your choice
- 1 frosting of your choice
Instructions
- Cover the baking pan tightly with foil.
- Use the tip of a sharp paring knife to cut little x's in the foil.
- Push ice cream cones into the openings.
- Fill the cones halfway with cake batter.
- Bake according to the recipe directions.
- Cool completely, then top with frosting.
How do you store the cupcakes? If I make them the night before the party- how do I store them until the party?
And do you leave them in the foil while they Re cooling?
It probably ultimately depends on the cupcake recipe you’re using. I’d follow the storage instructions of that particular recipe. But I’d say you probably can’t go wrong by loosely covering them with plastic wrap. You can leave them in the foil as they cool or take them out. It shouldn’t really make much difference.
Can these be frozen ahead of time or will the cone get soggy? With or without the frosting?
When I make ice cream cones cup cakes. The cones always. Get soggy. Or soft. Is there any way to prevent that.
Perhaps the cake recipe you’re using is very wet? I’d suggest trying a recipe that yields a thicker batter, like the one I’ve linked here.
would a cupcake tin work instead of using the tinfoil?
I’m not sure how that would successfully keep the ice cream cones upright?
I used a 24-mini cupcake pan. The cones fit perfectly and I had no problem with them standing upright.Â
Great idea for baking the cupcakes.
Thanks!
Super love this…its just what I needed, i too was stumped on how to get them stand up while cooking! I home school my kiddos and were doing this tomorrow! Your foil hack was genious!!! Thanks for sharing
My pleasure Heather! I hope everyone enjoys!
What piping tip did you use?
All the equipment is listed and linked under the heading “How to decorate ice cream cone cupcakes.” The piping tip is linked a second time, with a photo, just above the recipe card.
These Ice-Cream cone cupcakes are looking so beautiful…!
Thank you! So happy you like them!
Plastic disposable cups are great for transporting these. Just buy ones that are tall enough and put some candy on the bottom to help keep them upright. Pop on the lid and your good to go.Â
Great tip; thanks for sharing!
I have heard the cone gets soggy baking them this way? Â Does this happen and if so is there a way to avoid this? Â Thank you
I have not had this problem- sorry I can’t be of more help!
If you pierce the bottom of the cone while they are cooling that should take care of the soggy cone problem!
I have a question. Can I make the ice cream cupcakes ahead of time? Like a day before? Or is it better to make them the same day?
Hi Maria! It’s totally fine to make them a day ahead. Good luck and enjoy!
Wow, this cake is really looking so delicious, thank you for sharing your blog
These are always such a fun and adorable treat!
Dang these are so ridiculously cute!Â
Such cute idea for a birthday party!
Such a cute idea! Perfect for summer gatherings!
These ice cream cone cupcakes are so fun! Such a great idea for birthday parties!