Menu

Ladybug Cake and Cupcakes

  • Save Recipe
Ladybug Cake and Cupcakes
New Personalized Recipes Just for You - Take the Quiz Now
  • Prep 45 min
  • Total 4 hr 0 min
  • Servings 18
  • Save
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Email
Ready to Make?
  • Save
  • Shop
  • Share
  • Keep Screen On
What’s sweeter than a ladybug birthday cake? A ladybug birthday cake AND ladybug cupcakes!
Updated Feb 28, 2023

Ingredients

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease bottoms and sides of 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with shortening or cooking spray. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
  • 2
    Make cake mixes as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Divide half of the batter between cake pans. Divide remaining batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about two-thirds full. Bake as directed on box for 8-inch rounds and cupcakes. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
  • 3
    Reserve 5 cupcakes; save remaining cupcakes for later use. For easier handling, refrigerate or freeze cake 30 minutes to 1 hour or until firm.
  • 4
    On serving plate or foil-covered tray, place 1 cake layer, rounded side down. Remove paper liners from 3 of the reserved cupcakes; position cupcakes against front of cake, slightly angled, for ladybug’s head. Spread thin layer of chocolate frosting over bottom cake layer and cupcakes to seal in crumbs. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • 5
    In another medium bowl, mix vanilla frosting and red food color. Spread second cake layer with red frosting. Cut second layer in half crosswise; frost rounded top and cut sides. Refrigerate or freeze 30 minutes to 1 hour. Frost bottom cake layer and 3 cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Position red cake halves, rounded side up and slightly angled, on bottom layer to look like ladybug’s wings. Place peppermint patties on red cake for spots.
  • 6
    Cut marshmallow crosswise in half; push 1 blue candy into each. Attach marshmallows to ladybug’s head for eyes. Insert licorice twist pieces for antennae.
  • 7
    For baby ladybugs, cut off and reserve rounded tops of remaining 2 cupcakes. Spread flat cupcake tops with chocolate frosting. Spread cutoff tops with red frosting; cut each crosswise in half. Position red halves, rounded side up and slightly angled, on cupcakes to look like wings. Add brown candies to wings for spots. Flatten gumdrops; attach 1 gumdrop to front of each cupcake for head. Use frosting to attach blue miniature candies for eyes. Insert string licorice for antennae.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    Decorate additional cupcakes to serve more company.

Nutrition

540 Calories, 23g Total Fat, 3g Protein, 79g Total Carbohydrate, 5g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
540
Calories from Fat
210
Total Fat
23g
36%
Saturated Fat
6g
28%
Trans Fat
3g
Cholesterol
60mg
21%
Sodium
500mg
21%
Potassium
115mg
3%
Total Carbohydrate
79g
26%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
5g
Protein
3g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
10%
10%
Iron
8%
8%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 4 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 4 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
5
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
© 2023 ®/TM General Mills All Rights Reserved