Cute Plant Pot Cupcakes

Cute smiling plant cupcakes inspired by Jellycat

Finished cute plant pot cupcake decorated with realistic green candy melt leaves, Oreo soil and chocolate legs.

Inspired by the popular Jellycat plant characters, these adorable cupcakes are made inside edible chocolate plant pots and topped with realistic chocolate leaves. Finished with a simple smiling face and little legs, they’re guaranteed to make everyone smile.

The edible chocolate plant pots are made using a paper cup as a mould, making them easy to recreate without any specialist equipment or expensive silicone moulds. Once filled with cake and buttercream, the chocolate leaves are arranged to create a cute succulent before adding the simple facial details.

Whether you’re making them for a plant lover, a birthday party or simply because they’re irresistibly cute, these Jellycat-inspired cupcakes are sure to be a talking point.

If you like this design then you will also love my Hedgehog Cupcakes, Toadstool Cupcakes, Baby Chicks or my Blueberry Cupcakes

Three hedgehog cupcakes decorated with buttercream spikes and pink cupcake toppersClose-up of toadstool cupcakes with red chocolate domes and white spots, styled on a decorated board.Easter chick cupcakes with buttercream chicks in chocolate egg shellsThree blueberry cupcakes topped with buttercream blueberries in yellow and white striped chocolate cups.

Things Used

Candy Melts

I used white candy melts for this design and coloured them using Colour Mill Oil Blend in the shade peach. Candy melts and compound chocolate melt smoothly and set firm without the need for tempering, making them ideal for edible cupcake liners and decorations.

Baking Cups

I used the thick card baking cups as the mould for the edible chocolate wrappers. They are the perfect size and shape for a cupcake to sit inside and create the scalloped flower pot edge around the top.

Once the chocolate has fully set, the wrapper pushes away cleanly from the baking cup so the moulds can easily be reused for future designs. The thicker card cups also help the chocolate hold its shape better while setting compared to standard paper liners.

Lemon Cupcakes

My Lemon Cupcakes are the perfect choice for this design. Make sure they are fully cooled before assembling. If needed, trim the dome so that the cupcakes sit lower inside the edible liner.

Orange Sanding Sugar

Mixed directly into the melted candy melts, the orange sanding sugar creates tiny sparkly speckles throughout the chocolate. It gives the finished plant pots a subtle ceramic look with a little shimmer.

Chocolate Buttercream

I used chocolate buttercream to fill the top of the cupcake before adding the cookie crumb “soil”. You can pipe it on or simply spread it with a spoon. It seals the cupcake and gives the cookie crumbs something to stick to.

For the buttercream, see my Basic Buttercream Recipe

Crushed Oreo Biscuits

I used crushed Oreo biscuits to create the “soil” on top of the cupcakes. The fine crumbs give a realistic dirt-like texture while adding extra flavour that pairs perfectly with the chocolate buttercream.

You can crush the biscuits in a food processor or place them in a zip-lock bag and crush them with a rolling pin until fine. Chocolate cake crumbs or crushed chocolate biscuits also work well as alternatives.

For a little extra sparkle, I mixed a small amount of green sanding sugar through the Oreo crumbs before sprinkling them over the buttercream. It adds a subtle shimmer that makes the finished cupcakes even more magical.

Pocky Sticks and Chocolate Buttons

I used Pocky sticks for the little legs and chocolate buttons for the feet. I assembled the legs first before dipping them completely in melted chocolate to create a smooth, seamless finish. Once set, they were attached to the chocolate pot with a little extra melted chocolate.

This step is completely optional, but coating the legs in chocolate gives them a neater appearance and helps secure the feet in place.

Face Details

I used melted black candy melts to add the eyes and smile. A piping bag with a very small opening makes it easy to create the simple facial features.

If you have an edible black marker, that’s an even easier option and works just as well for drawing on the eyes and smile.

Green Candy Melts

I used green candy melts to create the Jellycat-style leaves. Melt the candy melts until smooth, then use a silicone pastry brush to brush a generous strip onto a sheet of parchment paper. The silicone bristles naturally leave behind the fine lines, creating a realistic leaf texture.

While the candy melts are still wet, use a small paintbrush to pull the sides into a pointed leaf shape. Once set, carefully peel the leaves away from the parchment paper.

If you’d like a little more movement, gently bend the leaves while they’re still slightly soft, or allow them to set over a rolling pin or bottle to create a natural curve.

Rachel Lindsay

Rachel Lindsay

Chief Resident Cake Baker

Ingredients

  • 12 Chocolate cupcakes
  • A batch of my basic buttercream
  • 2 Cups candy melts (white)
  • 1/4 Cup orange sanding sugar
  • 2 Cups candy melts (green)
  • 4 Tbsp vegetable shortening
  • Oil based food colouring (rust)
  • 24 Chocolate covered pocky sticks
  • 24 Milk chocolate buttons
  • 1 Cup melted milk chocolate
  • 2 Cups chocolate buttercream
  • Black candy melts or edible pen

Equipment

  • 12 Baking cups
  • A baking tray/ board (sized for the fridge)
  • A sheet of parchment paper
  • A pastry brush
  • A small decorating brush
  • Small microwave safe bowl
  • A small spoon
  • 1 Large Piping bag

How to...

White candy melts being melted and coloured with Colour Mill oil-based colours before making edible chocolate cupcake liners.

Step 1

Melt the white candy melts using short bursts in the microwave, stirring well between each burst to prevent overheating. Once smooth, colour the melts using oil-based colouring.

If the candy melts feel too thick, add a small amount of vegetable shortening and stir until smooth and pourable. This helps thin the melts and makes them much easier to brush inside the cupcake liners.

Pink candy melts mixed with red sanding sugar in a bowl to create a speckled flower pot effect for cute plant pot cupcakes.

Step 2

Add the red sanding sugar to the melted peach candy melts and stir until evenly combined. If the mixture is too thick, stir in a little extra shortening until it reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.

Pouring speckled pink candy melts into a paper cup to create an edible chocolate flower pot.

Step 3

Working on one baking cup at a time, pour around 1 tablespoon of the melted candy melts into the bottom of the baking liner.

 

Paper cup fully coated with speckled pink candy melts ready to chill and set into an edible flower pot.

Step 4

Turn the baking cup slowly to coat the sides evenly with the melted candy melts, allowing the excess to run back into the bowl. Gently tap the sides to help move the melts up towards the edges and create a more even coating. Let them fully before moving to the next layer.

Coating the inside of a paper cup with speckled pink candy melts to form an edible cupcake flower pot.

Step 5

Once the first layer has fully set, add more melted candy melts into the liner and use a small brush or spoon to coat the sides with a second layer. Pay extra attention to the edges and corners, as these areas are more likely to crack if they are too thin.

Chocolate plant pot removed from paper cup.

Step 6

Continue coating all of the liners, then place them into the freezer for around 10 minutes, or until fully set and the coating feels solid. As the chocolate cools, it contracts slightly, making it easy to push each flower pot out of the paper cup.

chocolate cup

Step 7

If you’d like, place the chocolate flower pots back into the paper cups before decorating. I find this helps support the chocolate while adding the buttercream and Oreo soil, reducing fingerprints and preventing the pots from being overhandled.

Vanilla cupcake placed inside the set chocolate flower pot after removing the paper cup

Step 8

Add the ready baked cupcakes into the chocolate pots, if needed, trim a small amount from the bottom or top of the cupcake so it sits slightly lower inside the liner. Sit the cupcakes into the chocolate liners and gently press them into place using the back of a spoon.

Chocolate buttercream piped over the cupcake inside the edible flower pot.

Step 9

Add a layer of chocolate buttercream to the top of the cupcake. Use the back of a spoon to smooth it, leaving it slightly below the rim of the chocolate flower pot to allow room for the Oreo soil. This seals the cupcake and provides a sticky surface for the Oreo soil to adhere to.
Pressing the chocolate flower pot into the Oreo crumb mixture to coat the top with edible soil.

Step 10

Spread the crushed Oreo biscuit mixture evenly over a sheet of parchment paper, creating a layer larger than the top of your flower pot. Turn the chocolate pot upside down and gently press it into the crumbs until the surface is completely covered.

Edible chocolate flower pot with Oreo soil and a smiling face piped onto the front.

Step 11

If needed, use a spoon to sprinkle extra crumbs over any bare spots and gently press them into place.

Pressing the chocolate flower pot into the Oreo crumb mixture to coat the top with edible soil.

Step 12

Once the Oreo soil has been added, gently remove the paper cup. Your chocolate flower pot is now ready to decorate.

Pocky stick legs with chocolate button shoes attached to the edible flower pot cupcake.

Step 13

Add the face details. I used black candy melts to create the eyes and smile, but black fondant or a black edible food pen work just as well.

Ingredients for making the chocolate legs for cute plant pot cupcakes, including Pocky sticks, chocolate buttons and a bowl of melted chocolate.

Step 14

For each flower pot, gather two Pocky sticks, four chocolate buttons and a little melted chocolate before assembling the legs.

A Pocky stick is attached to a chocolate button with melted chocolate and propped upright while it sets, creating legs for the flower pot cupcake.

Step 15

Dip the end of a Pocky stick into the melted chocolate, then press it onto the flat side of a chocolate button. Prop the Pocky stick upright while the chocolate sets. Repeat until you have made enough legs for your flower pots.

Step 16 - Cute Plant Pot Cupcakes

Step 16

Dip the chocolate button into the melted chocolate until the Pocky join is completely covered. This strengthens the join and creates a neat finish. Gently shake off any excess chocolate.

Two chocolate-coated Pocky legs rest on a sheet of parchment paper while the chocolate sets beside a bowl of melted chocolate.

Step 17

Once coated, place the legs onto a sheet of parchment paper and leave them to set completely before attaching them to the flower pot.

Step 18 - Cute Plant Pot Cupcakes

Step 18

Once the legs have set, trim them to the desired length using a sharp knife. Place the flower pot onto a sheet of parchment paper. Dip the cut end of each leg into the melted chocolate, then press it against the flower pot and leave the chocolate to set completely.

Bowl of melted green candy melts with a silicone pastry brush and small paintbrush used to make realistic candy melt leaves for cute plant pot cupcakes.

Step 19

Melt the green candy melts according to the package instructions, then stir in the shortening until smooth. If the mixture is still too thick, add a little more shortening until it reaches a brushable consistency.

Silicone pastry brush used to brush melted green candy melts onto parchment paper to begin creating textured candy melt leaves.

Step 20

Using a pastry brush, paint a brushstroke onto a sheet of parchment paper. While the chocolate is still wet, use a small paintbrush to score the outline into the chocolate. Repeat to make leaves in different shapes and sizes. If you’d like the leaves to have a gentle curve, tilt the parchment paper and prop one side up while the chocolate sets. Repeat to make leaves in different shapes and sizes.

Close-up of handmade candy melt leaf showing realistic ridges created with a silicone pastry brush.

Step 21

Allow the chocolate leaves to set completely, then carefully peel them away from the parchment paper. They are now ready to use to decorate your cupcakes.

Handmade green candy melt leaves with textured brush strokes for decorating plant pot cupcakes.

Step 22

Store the chocolate leaves on a flat surface in the fridge until you’re ready to decorate your cupcakes.

Inserting the first green candy melt leaf into the Oreo soil of the edible flower pot cupcake.

Step 23

Using the back of a spoon or a butter knife, make small indents in the Oreo soil wherever you’d like each leaf to go. This helps prevent the delicate chocolate leaves from cracking as you insert them. Insert the largest leaf into the centre indent, pushing it gently into the buttercream until it stands upright.

Adding a second handmade candy melt leaf to the edible flower pot cupcake.

Step 24

Add the remaining leaves one at a time, placing them into the prepared indents. Arrange them at slightly different angles and heights to create a natural-looking plant.

Placing a third green candy melt leaf into the flower pot cupcake to build the plant.

Step 25

If you’re finding it difficult to insert the leaves through the Oreo soil, use a spoon or knife to make a small hole in the centre of the cupcake. Fill the hole with a little fresh buttercream, then insert the leaves into the buttercream instead. Finish by sprinkling a little extra Oreo crumb over the top to hide the buttercream.

Adding the fourth candy melt leaf to create a fuller edible houseplant.

Step 26

Continue filling the remaining indents until you’re happy with the shape of your plant. Adjust the angles slightly to give the leaves a full, realistic look.

Finished cute plant pot cupcake decorated with realistic green candy melt leaves, Oreo soil and chocolate legs.

The Results!

Congratulations! Your adorable chocolate plant pot cupcake is complete.

Notes & Tips

 

Find this guide online at https://cakedbyrach.com/designs/cute-plant-pot-cupcakes/

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