Whether you’re planning a camping-themed birthday party, celebrating a summer camp adventure, or just looking for a fun dessert to make with the kids, these Campfire Cupcakes are sure to spark smiles.
Chocolate cupcakes are transformed into tiny campfires with candy logs, glowing “coals,” and swirls of colorful frosting that look just like flickering flames. They’re surprisingly easy to make and are a fun activity for little helpers too.
These Campfire Cupcakes are perfect for camping-themed birthday parties, backyard campouts, or a fun afternoon at the cottage. If you’re planning a full day of family fun, be sure to check out our 50+ Summer Family Fun Activities at the Cottage for even more ideas.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes (using prepared cupcakes)
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 3 cupcakes (easily doubled or tripled)
Ingredients
- 3 chocolate cupcakes
- 9 Tootsie Rolls
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 1 container chocolate frosting
- 1 container white frosting
- 10 drops red food coloring
- 6 drops yellow food coloring
- 6 drops orange gel food coloring
Equipment
- Piping bag
- Large star piping tip
- 3 small bowls
- Offset spatula or butter knife
Instructions
Lightly frost each cupcake with the chocolate frosting.
Place three Tootsie Rolls on top of each cupcake to resemble campfire logs. Scatter the mini chocolate chips around the logs to cover any exposed frosting and create the look of charcoal.
Divide the white frosting evenly among three small bowls.
Tint one bowl red, one yellow, and one orange using the food coloring and gel food coloring.
Spoon each color into one side of a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Keeping the colors separated as much as possible will create a natural flame effect as you pipe.
Pipe the frosting directly over the center of the candy logs using an up-and-down motion to create flickering flames.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Prepared bakery or homemade chocolate cupcakes both work well.
- Gel food coloring produces more vibrant colors than liquid food coloring.
- If making these ahead of time, wait to pipe the flames until closer to serving for the freshest appearance.
These Campfire Cupcakes are a simple way to add a little extra fun to any camping-themed celebration. They’re quick to decorate, easy to customize for a crowd, and make an eye-catching dessert on any party table.
Planning a camping-themed party or a backyard campout? After decorating these Campfire Cupcakes, keep the fun going with some of the free printable camping games and activities from Parks Canada.
If you make these Campfire Cupcakes, I’d love to hear how they turned out! Leave a comment below and don’t forget to save this recipe to Pinterest so you can find it the next time you’re planning a camping party or summer get-together.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes. Assemble the cupcakes up to one day in advance and store them covered in the refrigerator.
Can I use homemade frosting?
Absolutely! Homemade buttercream works just as well as store-bought frosting.
Can I make more than three cupcakes?
Yes. Simply multiply the ingredients to make as many as you need.
What can I use instead of Tootsie Rolls?
Pretzel sticks dipped in chocolate or chocolate wafer sticks also make convincing campfire logs.
Looking for something to keep the kids busy while these cupcakes are being decorated? Our DIY Travel Tic Tac Toe Game is easy to make and is perfect for camping trips, road trips, and family adventures.
Campfire Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 3 chocolate cupcakes
- 9 Tootsie Rolls
- 2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 1 container chocolate frosting
- 1 container white frosting
- 10 drops red food coloring
- 6 drops yellow food coloring
- 6 drops orange gel food coloring
Instructions
-
Lightly frost each cupcake with the chocolate frosting.
-
Place three Tootsie Rolls on top of each cupcake to resemble campfire logs. Scatter the mini chocolate chips around the logs to cover any exposed frosting and create the look of charcoal.
-
Divide the white frosting evenly among three small bowls.
-
Tint one bowl red, one yellow, and one orange using the food coloring and gel food coloring.
-
Spoon each color into one side of a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Keeping the colors separated as much as possible will create a natural flame effect as you pipe.
-
Pipe the frosting directly over the center of the candy logs using an up-and-down motion to create flickering flames.
-
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to enjoy.
Recipe Notes
Prepared bakery or homemade chocolate cupcakes both work well.
Gel food coloring produces more vibrant colors than liquid food coloring.
If making these ahead of time, wait to pipe the flames until closer to serving for the freshest appearance.
Planning a family camping or beach weekend? Our Beach Scavenger Hunt Bingo is another fun activity that gets kids exploring outdoors.
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