Dinosaur Cupcakes

Fun Dinosaur Cupcakes – Perfect for Kids’ Parties.

The results, A Triceratops dino cupcakes Step 11.

 

I’ve been asked to make dinosaur cupcakes so many times, and now I finally get to share one of my favourites — the triceratops! With its bold frill, playful horns and sweet little face, this design is guaranteed to be a hit at any dino-themed party. These cupcakes combine simple piping techniques with a few clever details to create a cupcake that is both impressive and fun.

The Dinosaur Cupcakes Design

The triceratops is one of the most recognisable dinosaurs, and I wanted to capture its unique look in a way that’s both cute and approachable for home bakers. I made a batch of chocolate cupcakes to start and a batch of my basic buttercream. The big frill is made with my pipe-and-swipe technique, this works so well using what you already have at home. The horns are made from candy melts, which add more structure than buttercream. With just a handful of details — like sprinkle eyes and cheeks — this dino really comes to life.

Why You’ll Love These Dinosaur Cupcakes

Perfect for kids’ parties, especially dinosaur lovers.

Uses simple tools and buttercream techniques that anyone can master.

You can swap candy melt horns for fondant if you prefer.

Fun, bold design that looks amazing on a cupcake display.

Things I Used

Here are the tools and ingredients I used to bring these triceratops cupcakes to life. You can swap or substitute as needed:

Cupcake tin + liners: I used green cases to match the dinosaur theme.

Piping bags: Reusable or disposable.

Large round piping tip – (Wilton 1A) For the frill.

Extra-large round piping tip (Ateco 809) – for the face

Candy melts (white) – Melted and piped into horn shapes (see my Candy Melts Guide for tips).

Sprinkle balls – For the eyes, I used black round sugar balls. You could also use fondant.

Green gel colours – I used green for the face and darker green for the frill. See my Buttercream Colouring Guide for tips on achieving vibrant shades.

Small pink sprinkles for the cheeks.

Rachel Lindsay

Rachel Lindsay

Chief Resident Cake Baker

Ingredients

  • 12 Chocolate cupcakes
  • 1 Batch of my basic buttercream
  • Green gel food colouring
  • 1/4 Cup candy melts (white)
  • 24 round black sprinkles
  • White candy melts (for eyelets)
  • 24 Small pink sprinkles

Equipment

  • 1 Large round piping tip (Wilton 1A)
  • 1 Extra large round piping tip (ATECO 809)
  • 1 small round piping tip (Wilton 12)
  • An extra piping (for swipng the buttercream)
  • 4 piping bags
  • A Sheet of parchment paper
  • Cocktail sticks

How to...

Two shades of green buttercream in bowls. Step 1.

Step 1

Make a batch of my basic buttercream and divide it into two separate bowls. Colour one bowl a light green and the other bowl a darker shade of green.

Starting to buttercream frill using pipe and swipe technique around the edge of the cupcake Step 2.

Step 2

Add a small amount (approx 1/2 a cup) of the dark green buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a small round piping tip (12) secure the top and set it aside. Add the rest of the dark green buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large round piping tip (1A) Pipe a dot at the edge of the cupcake

Creating buttercream frill using pipe and swipe technique around the edge of the cupcake. Step 2.

Step 3

Use the large end of a piping tip to swipe the buttercream in a straight line towards the centre of the cupcake.

The buttercream frill with five large buttercream swipes. Step 4

Step 4

Continue this step around the edge of the cupcake to form a frill. You should have five dots in total, swiped into the centre.

The complete green buttercream frill on a cupcake. Step 5.

Step 5

Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a smaller round piping tip (12) and add two smaller dots to the gap at the bottom of the cupcake. Swipe the two dots into the centre to complete the frill.

A dome of pale green buttercream for the dinosaurs face. Step 6.

Step 6

Add the lighter green buttercream to a piping bag fitted with an extra-large round piping tip (Ateco 809) Pipe a large dome onto the cupcake. It should be towards the bottom of the frill. Use a metal spatula to swipe the pointed tip off the dome, leaving a flat surface for the nostrils to be added later.

Adding small candy melt horns to dinosaur cupcake. Step 7.

Step 7

Gently heat the white candy melts in the microwave using a low heat setting. Transfer the melted candy into a piping bag and trim a small portion off 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. Add small spikes around the top of the frill. I added seven for each dinosaur.

 

Adding candy melt horns to the face on a dinosaur cupcake. Step 8.

Step 8

Pipe the horns onto a sheet of parchment paper. For each cupcake you will need three horns. Two curved horns for the head and a smaller straight one for the nose. Let them set in the fridge and then add them to your cupcakes. Push them into the buttercream, if the buttercream is too soft then pop the cupcakes into the fridge for 5 minutes first.

Using tweezers to add black sprinkle eyes. Step 9.

Step 9

Add the eyes: Use tweezers to add two black round sprinkle balls for the eyes. Use a cocktail stick to dot the eyes with a little white candy melts or edible marker, I like to do this for a little sparkle but it’s totally optional.

 

Adding nostrils and a smile with a cocktail stick. Step 10.

Step 10

Finishing touches: Add small pink sprinkles for cheeks and then use a cocktail stick to mark nostrils and a little smile into the buttercream.

The results, A Triceratops dino cupcakes Step 11.

The Results!

Amazing! Your triceratops is ready to roar!

Notes & Tips

Buttercream colours: Gel colours give the best vibrancy for your dinos. A little goes a long way, so start with less and build up.

Make-ahead friendly You can bake the cupcakes a day or two before and store them in an airtight container. Buttercream can also be made ahead and kept in the fridge (just bring to room temp and re-whip before using).

Edible decorations – candy eyes, sprinkles, or coloured fondant details work well for finishing touches and can be swapped in and out depending on what you have at home.

Sprinkles: Add any coloured sprinkles or candy eyes the day of serving, the colours will bleed if they are added and put in the fridge.

Kid-friendly piping – if little ones are helping, try filling piping bags only halfway so they’re easier to handle.

Serving Ideas

Perfect for dinosaur-themed parties and birthdays.

Use them as part of a prehistoric dessert table with toy dinos as props.

Great for school events, bake sales, or themed playdates.

A fun activity to decorate with kids — let them add the horns or eyes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?
Yes! Pipe the horns with candy melts up to a week in advance and store them in an airtight container. Decorate the cupcakes the day of serving for best results.

Can I use fondant instead of candy melts?
Absolutely. Fondant can be shaped into horns if you don’t want to work with melted candy.

Do I need special piping tips?
No — just a couple of round tips will do. I used a large one for the face and a medium one for the frill.

How do I get vibrant green colours?
Use gel or oil-based food colours. Remember that buttercream colours deepen as they rest, so mix a little ahead of time.

Can I freeze these cupcakes?
You can freeze the undecorated cupcakes for up to a month. Once decorated, they’re best enjoyed fresh.

Final Thoughts

These Dino Cupcakes are a brilliant way to bring some fun and imagination to your baking. Whether you make them for a birthday party or just for fun, they’re sure to get plenty of smiles.

Share Your Creations

I’d love to see how your Dinosaur 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/dinosaur-cupcakes/

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