Cartoon Butterfly Cupcakes

Beautiful butterfly cupcakes with candy melt wings.

A colourful and playful cupcake design.

Bright butterfly cupcakes displayed on a wooden board

These Cartoon Butterfly Cupcakes are pure joy in dessert form. I wanted to make something lighthearted and whimsical, and butterflies felt like the perfect choice. The candy melt wings give them that bold cartoon look, while the grassy buttercream base makes it feel like they’ve landed in a little garden. They’re such a fun way to celebrate spring, birthdays, or any occasion that calls for a pop of colour.

The Design

For the base I baked a batch of my chocolate cupcakes. They are topped with chocolate buttercream, a sprinkle of crushed cookies and bright green buttercream grass. Perched delicately on top is the star of the show: a bold cartoon-style butterfly. The butterflies are made using candy melts, creating a sturdy yet edible topper. With their bold outlines and playful colours, they look like they’ve flown straight out of a storybook. Follow all my tips on how to use candy melts here.

Why You’ll Love These Cartoon Butterfly Cupcakes

  • Playful design with bold cartoon-style butterflies.

  • Entirely edible — even the candy melt butterflies!

  • Perfect for birthdays, kids’ parties, or spring celebrations.

Things I Used

  • Cupcake tin + liners – I used bright purple cases for a colourful touch.
  • Grass piping tip –  I used the Wilton 233 to create the buttercream grass.
  • Piping bags – Disposable or reusable.
  • Candy melts – You can use pre coloured candy melts if you like. I coloured white candy melts using oil based food colours in purple, teal, pink. I always buy the black ones as pre coloured as i find it way easier that way.
  • A silicone sphere mold – I used a large sphere mold, to pipe and set the butterfly wings.
  • Offset spatula or palette knife – For spreading the buttercream
  • Food-safe paintbrush (optional) – I love using my brushes to help tidy up the black outlines.
  • Crushed cookies – Like Oreos or chocolate bourbons, for the soil topping (see notes)
  • Buttercream – I recommend making 1/2 a batch of my basic buttercream to make these. You wont need it all for this design as the butterflies are the star of the show. I find it easier to make more than needed and store it for your next project.
  • Green food colouring – I use Wilton gel colours to get a bright green for the grass.
  • Edible glitter – I love to add a little sparkle of edible glitter to designs like this. Although, this is optional as they are perfect already.

 

Rachel Lindsay

Rachel Lindsay

Chief Resident Cake Baker

Ingredients

  • 12 Chocolate Cupcakes
  • 1/2 batch of my basic buttercream
  • 20g Cocoa powder
  • 2Tbsp Heavy cream
  • Green gel food colouring
  • 1 Cup of Crushed up chocolate biscuits
  • 6 Matcha pocky sticks (cut in half)
  • Candy melts (black, pink, purple, teal)
  • Vegetable shortening
  • Edible glitter (optional)

Equipment

  • A large silicone half sphere mould
  • 4 piping bags
  • 1 large grass piping tip (Wilton 233)
  • Tweezers
  • A metal spatula
  • Cocktail sticks
  • A baking tray
  • A sheet of parchment paper

How to...

Bright butterfly cupcakes displayed on a wooden board

Step 1

Make a 1/2 batch of Basic Buttercream per the recipe instructions. Transfer a 1/3 of the buttercream to a separate bowl and set aside. Add the cocoa powder and the heavy cream to the rest of the buttercream and mix until smooth. Cover the bowl with cling film until your ready to use it. Add a drop of green gel colour to the smaller bowl of buttercream and mix it through. Continue to add a drop at a time until you achieve the perfect green. You don’t need much colour to get a gorgeous green, and remember that it will deepen in colour over time.

candy melts butterfly outline, step 1

Step 2

Gently melt the black candy melts in the microwave using a low heat setting. Transfer the melted candy into a piping bag and trim a small portion of the tip to allow for controlled piping. If the opening is too large, the candy will dispense too quickly and become more difficult to control. Place the silicone mold upside-down on a baking tray and start piping the outline of the butterflies. They don’t have to be perfect, just have fun.

making candy melts butterfly, step two

Step 3

To create the bodies, pipe the mixture onto the silicone mold for a curved appearance. Alternatively, piping flat onto parchment paper will work too. Allow all pieces to set at room temperature. Prepare the coloured candy melts and transfer them into piping bags.

Adding colour to the butterfly wings. Step 3

Step 4

Using one colour of candy at a time, fill in the butterflies. Make sure that the candy has cooled down a little in the bag before you use it, if it is hot, it will melt the black outline. Transfer them to the fridge to set. You can use a cocktail stick to spread the candy into corners.

A cupcake with buttercream grass and crushed chocolate biscuit soil. Step 4

Step 5

Use a metal spatula to apply a thin layer of chocolate buttercream on the tops of the cupcakes. Hold each cupcake over the bowl of chocolate biscuit soil and sprinkle some along the edges, leaving a gap in the centre for the grass. Place green buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a large grass piping tip (234), and pipe grass into the middle of each cupcake.

Lifting the candy butterfly from when it has set. Step 5

Step 6

Once the grassy centres are piped, remove the chilled butterflies from the fridge. Use a wooden skewer to gently press the mold around the edges of each butterfly. You will feel them as they start to release, lift them off to reveal that gorgeous pattern. Carefully set them aside until you are ready to add them to the cupcakes.

Adding a pocky stick to the cupcake. Step 6

Step 7

Push half a matcha pocky stick into the middle of each cupcake and add some melted candy to the top.

Attaching the cartoon butterfly to the pocky stick. Step 7

Step 8

Carefully sit a butterfly onto the top of the meted candy. Hold it in place for a minute until the candy sets. Add some melted candy to the back of the bodies and then stick them to the centre of the wings. I sprayed mine with edible glitter for some extra sparkle.

Cartoon butterfly cupcakes with candy melt wings in bright colours.

The result

Conratulations. You just created an absolute showstopper!

Notes & Tips

  • Candy melts; I absolutely love these little treasures. They are so easy to use. Think of them like an alternative to chocolate, with no tempering required. They set so firm that they don’t melt in your hands and they won’t crack easily. They also come in a variety of colours and flavours, or you can colour them yourself (you must use oil based colours for this) The brand I use is Wilton, though there are many different brands available. You can purchase these from cake decorating supply shops or online. When working with them I like to add a little vegetable shortening or a thinning agent, as this makes them so much easier to use. Find my beginner friendly guide on candy melts here.
  • Chocolate biscuit soil: When making the soil, you can use regular chocolate biscuits or Oreos. Oreos are darker and look like real dirt. Sometimes I prefer to use a lighter coloured biscuit for this, but it really is up to you. I remove the cream from the centres first. Add the biscuits to a food processor and blitz until they turn into crumbs. Alternatively, you can use a sharp knife to finely chop the biscuits. Once crushed, transfer them to a bowl.

Serving Ideas

  • Display on a wooden board or cake stand for maximum charm.
  • Mix them with flower or bee-themed cupcakes for a full spring party collection.
  • Put them in individual cupcake boxes for your guests to bring home with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake the cupcakes and pipe the wings in advance. Store the wings in an airtight container at room temperature, and assemble on the day of serving.

Can I freeze these cupcakes?
The cupcakes themselves can be frozen undecorated for up to one month. I don’t recommend freezing once the wings are attached, as they can soften or warp.

What if I don’t have the exact piping tips or tools?
You can use any large round tip (or even a cut piping bag) for the swirls. The look might vary slightly, but they’ll still be beautiful.

How long will the cupcakes keep once decorated?
These cupcakes are best enjoyed within 2–3 days. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature (unless it’s very warm, then refrigerate).

Can I use fondant instead of candy melts for the wings?
Yes — fondant or gum paste can be shaped into wings. They won’t have the same snap as chocolate, but they’ll hold their form and can be coloured easily.

Can I make the butterflies ahead of time?
Absolutely. Candy melt butterflies can be made several days before and stored at room temperature or in the fridge until ready to use.

Final Thoughts

Cartoon Butterfly Cupcakes are the ultimate mix of edible art and playful design. They’re guaranteed to be the star of your party table and will delight kids and adults alike.

Share Your Creations

I’d love to see how your Easy Rose Cupcakes turn out!

If you enjoyed this tutorial, please leave a comment or review on the blog — it helps others find these designs too.

 

Find this guide online at https://cakedbyrach.com/designs/cartoon-butterfly-cupcakes/

Related Designs

Related Recipes

Leave a Comment