Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Ice cream cone cupcakes combine two delicious worlds – the fun of an ice cream cone and the deliciousness of a cupcake. This easy recipe uses a simple cake mix and a few other ingredients to create a treat that’s perfect for birthdays, parties, or any time you want to add a little fun to your dessert table.

To make these cupcakes, you’ll need a cake mix, along with the ingredients to make the batter according to the package directions. You’ll also need flat-bottomed ice cream cones, which are sometimes labeled as “cake cups” and can usually be found near the ice cream toppings in major stores.

What are Ice Cream Cupcake Cones?

They are simply ice cream cones filled with cake.

Have you ever noticed those flat-bottomed ice cream cones at the store? They’re usually right next to all the ice cream toppings, just begging to be filled with something sweet. Turns out, they’re not just for ice cream – they’re called cake cups, and they’re perfect for baking cake mix in!

The flat bottom of these cones makes them ideal for holding cupcake batter and frosting. You can fill them up without worrying about anything spilling out or tipping over. Plus, the crunch of the cone adds a fun difference to the soft, fluffy cake inside.

Ingredients

• Box cake mix, yellow, white, or chocolate
• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Ice cream cones (cake cones with flat bottoms)
• Vanilla Buttercream frosting

Substitutions and Additions

• If you’re feeling creative, switch up the flavors by using a different flavor of cake mix. Red Velvet or Funfetti cake mix could add a fun twist! Chocolate cake mix for chocolate lovers would be another great option.
• For a dairy-free option, substitute the buttercream frosting with a non-dairy frosting. 
• You can add a touch of uniqueness too! Instead of sprinkles, try a small amount of crushed cookies, nuts, chocolate chips, or even some shaved chocolate on top. 
• To further enhance the ice cream illusion, add a maraschino cherry on top of the frosting. 
• You can add food coloring to vanilla frosting to suit the theme of your gathering or party.

How to Make Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Do not use the ingredients listed on the box and the recipe card. Use one or the other.

1 – First, preheat your oven to the temperature mentioned in the cake mix packet (usually 350F). Then, just follow the instructions on the box to make the cupcake batter. That usually means adding eggs, oil, and water. Mix it using a stand mixer or hand mixer in a large bowl until you’ve got a nice, smooth batter. 

2 – To make cupcakes in ice cream cones, place cones on a muffin tin, fill them two-thirds full with cake batter, and bake them in the oven for 12 to 17 minutes. Test for doneness with a toothpick.

3 – When the cupcakes are done, take them out of the oven and allow them to cool before you frost and decorate. 

4 – Use your favorite frosting to create the illusion of soft serve ice cream on top of the cone. Add decorative flair with an open star tip piping bag for an extra touch and perfect cupcakes, or use an ice cream scoop to place a “scoop” on top.

Recipe Tips

• You can use your favorite homemade cake batter for these. Just remember to lower the baking temperature like cupcakes.
• Be sure to only fill the cones 1/2 to 2/3 full, or the cupcakes may overflow.
• If you don’t have a cupcake pan, you can use a 9 X 13 cake pan and use crumpled tin foil between the cake cups to hold them in place, so the cups don’t tip over when transferring to the oven.
• To get a bit fancy, consider tinting your frosting with a few drops of food color for a pleasing touch. 

Storage

Storing your leftover cupcake cones is a breeze. Simply place your extras in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge. They should stay fresh for about 2 to 3 days. 

If you want to keep them longer, freezing is an option without the frosting. Wrap each cupcake individually in plastic wrap and put them in a freezer bag. The next time you’re ready to eat one, just take it out of the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours. Then add the frosting, and you are ready to go. They may not be as crunchy because the cones will absorb some moisture.

Can I use a Different Type of Frosting?

Absolutely! While we use our vanilla and chocolate buttercream frosting recipes, you can use your favorite kind, even store bought. Here are the recipes we use for homemade vanilla and chocolate frostings.

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients – 1/4 cup butter softened, 1/4 cup shortening. 1 pound powdered sugar about 4 cups, 3 tablespoons room temperature milk more may be needed, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.

Instructions – Place butter and shortening in the bowl. Mix until creamy. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and mix on slow until all sugar is incorporated. Mix milk, extracts, and salt in a small bowl. With the mixer turned off, add milk mixture to icing. Turn mixer to slow and mix until incorporated. Turn mixer to high and beat until fluffy. Test icing for consistency. If you want a thinner icing, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time and mix for 1 an additional minute.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients – 1/2 cup softened salted butter, 3 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1/2 cup cold coffee.

Instructions – In a small bowl, whip the butter until light and creamy. Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder onto the butter and mix. Add the cold coffee and beat until light and fluffy. Add additional coffee 1 tablespoon at a time until it is the desired consistency.

My Cupcakes Overflowed While Baking. What Went Wrong?

This usually happens when the cones are filled too much with the cake batter. Remember only to fill them two-thirds full to avoid this. 

What Can I do if I Don’t Have a Muffin Tray?

No problem! You can make a makeshift muffin tray using aluminum foil. Just crumple the foil into the shape of the bottom of the cones, then push the ice cream cones into them. This will keep the cones upright while baking.

Can I Make These Cupcakes in Advance?

Yes, these cupcakes can be made a day in advance, which is very handy if you have an upcoming birthday party. Just store them in an airtight container and add the frosting the day of the party.

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