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BBQ Grill Cupcakes

Adorable and delicious chocolate cupcakes decorated to look like miniature backyard BBQ grills, complete with candy hot dogs and gummy skewers.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Summer
Calories: 310
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cupcake Base
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
  • 0.5 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.5 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs large, room temperature
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 0.5 cup hot water or hot coffee
Decorations
  • 1.5 cups dark chocolate frosting store-bought or homemade
  • 18 white lollipop sticks cut in half (need 36 halves total)
  • 24 brown M&Ms or Junior Mints for the wheels
  • 24 red oblong candies like Hot Tamales or jelly beans
  • 1 edible black food marker
  • 1 cup assorted small gummy candies bears, drops, or cut up worms
  • 12 toothpicks sharp ends snipped off

Equipment

  • Muffin tin
  • Mixing bowls
  • Piping bag with small round tip
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with dark-colored paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. Add vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix on low speed until combined.
  4. Carefully pour in hot water and mix until the batter is smooth. Do not overmix.
  5. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full. Bake for 18-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  6. Draw slanted grill marks on the red candies using the edible black food marker.
  7. Thread 3-4 pieces of assorted gummy candies onto the safe toothpicks to create skewers.
  8. Using a dab of frosting, glue an M&M wheel to the bottom of two-thirds of your cut lollipop sticks. Let set.
  9. Spread a smooth, flat layer of dark chocolate frosting on top of each cooled cupcake.
  10. Using a piping bag with a small round tip, pipe frosting lines across the top in a grid pattern to resemble grill grates.
  11. Carefully insert three prepared lollipop sticks into the bottom of each cupcake to form tripod legs.
  12. Place the candy hot dogs and gummy skewers on top of the piped frosting grates. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

For best results, wait to attach the lollipop stick legs until you are ready to serve or display them, as they can tip over during transport.