Easy Cupcake Decorating Ideas for Kids (That Actually Look Cute)

Decorating cupcakes is one of our favorite “arts and crafts” in the kitchen. Kaylee and I love baking together, and frosting is basically edible paint! These cupcake decorating ideas for kids are simple enough for little hands and still come out looking adorable.

What you’ll need

• Cupcakes, baked and completely cooled (homemade or from a mix)
• Frosting (our easy buttercream recipe is below)
• Butter knives, small spatulas or spoons for spreading
• Zip-top bags or piping bags, plus a few piping tips (optional)
• Sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, candy eyes, mini marshmallows and fruit
• Small bowls for toppings and a tray or baking sheet to contain the mess

Easy vanilla buttercream

This makes enough to frost about 24 cupcakes.

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt
• Food coloring (gel colors give the brightest results)

1. Beat the butter until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.
2. Add 3 cups of powdered sugar a little at a time, mixing on low so it doesn’t fly everywhere.
3. Add the vanilla, salt and 2 tablespoons of milk. Beat until fluffy.
4. Too thick? Add a splash more milk. Too thin? Add more powdered sugar.
5. Divide into bowls and let your kids choose and mix the colors.

8 cupcake decorating ideas for kids

1. The sprinkle dip

Frost the cupcake, then turn it upside down and dip it into a bowl of sprinkles. It’s the easiest decoration there is, and kids love it.

2. Silly faces

Use candy eyes, a chocolate chip nose and a licorice or frosting smile. Let kids give each cupcake its own personality.

3. Animal friends

Mini marshmallows make great ears, and cookies can turn a cupcake into a bear, a bunny or a lion with a frosting mane.

4. Rainbow swirl

Put three colors of frosting side by side in one piping bag and pipe a swirl. Every cupcake comes out a little different.

5. Flower garden

Use a star tip to pipe little dots or rosettes. Add a green frosting leaf and you have a bouquet.

6. Little monsters

Bright green or purple frosting, lots of candy eyes and a messy “fur” texture made by dabbing with a fork. The messier, the better!

7. Under the sea

Blue frosting waves, gummy fish and crushed graham cracker “sand.”

8. Holiday toppers

Match the season: hearts for Valentine’s Day, pastel eggs for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, red and green for Christmas.

Tips for decorating with kids

• Chill the cupcakes for 15 minutes before frosting so crumbs don’t mix in.
• Stand piping bags in a tall cup to make filling them easier.
• Give each child a tray so sprinkles stay (mostly) in one place.
• Use a “practice plate” so kids can try piping before decorating a cupcake.
• Let go of perfect. Lopsided, sprinkle-covered cupcakes taste just as good.

Want more kitchen crafts? Try our easy sugar cookies to decorate with kids, or read about why creative time is so good for kids.