Circus animal cookie cupcakes. These cupcakes are bursting with pieces of actual animal cookies and topped with a simple vanilla frosting and animal cookie style sprinkles.
Circus animal cookies make me smile. They have always been my favorite cookie. So simple, so sweet, and so tasty!
Another favorite thing of mine? Cupcakes. It never fails, if there’s something I love, I do my best to turn it into a cupcake! I don’t know what it is about them. I much prefer a cupcake over cake. Even if they’re the exact same thing, I prefer the cupcake. Which makes no sense, wouldn’t the obvious choice be to choose the cake since there’s more of it?
Maybe it’s because the frosting on top of a cupcake slightly resembles the shape of an ice cream cone?
Whatever the reasoning, these cupcakes make me smile. A combination of two of my favorite things. Not to mention the sprinkles. Sprinkles, another favorite thing of mine.
These cupcakes are super simple, I used a box mix. A funfetti box mix at that. I even prepared it according to the box, except for one special ingredient. Bits of circus animal cookies. I didn’t really crush them because I wanted big chunks so I just broke them up with my hands and added it to the batter. They baked perfectly. As you bite into the cupcake you will encounter those lovely bits of circus animal cookies.
These cupcakes are topped with a simple vanilla frosting. I’m not a huge fan of buttercream, perhaps I just haven’t found the right one, or I just don’t make it properly. I tend to give away most of the cupcakes that I make though. And I find with the buttercream, they get mushy and melty when they travel. It could be because it’s about 90 degrees here lately though (insert sweaty smiley face here).
The frosting I used just has a little bit of butter in it, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Just how my mom used to make it! She would always make the frosting and I would get to set up all my bowls, so I could make all the colors, and she would let me decorate the cake. It usually involved a rainbow and some flowers.
I used just a little bit of food coloring in this frosting, making it a pale pink. Not quite the same as the pink circus animal cookie, but still pretty. I also left some plain white, of course, just like the cookies themselves! And the sprinkles. Oh the sprinkles. Again, they are just the pefect finishing touch!!
I’m in love with how these turned out.
You will LOVE these cupcakes because of how easy they are to make and how cute they are! These are a treat for all ages to enjoy!
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PinDescription
Cupcakes bursting with bits of circus animal cookies and decorated to resemble the classic childhood cookie!
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 funfetti cake mix
- 1 cup broken up frosted animal cookies
Frosting
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 8 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red food coloring
- Sprinkles
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Prepare the cake mix according to the directions. Fold cookie bits into the batter and bake according to the box directions.
Frosting
- Add all ingredients into large mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed until fully combined and frosting is fluffy.
- Move half the frosting to another bowl and add 4-6 drops red food coloring. Or until desired color achieved.
- Add to piping bag, I frosted these cupcakes using the Wilton 1M tip. Frost half the cupcakes with pink and the other half with white frosting.
- Add sprinkles immediately after frosting.
- Store cupcakes in airtight container at room temperature.
PS..I think you’ll like these too 😉
Mint Chip Chocolate Cookie Dough Frosting
9
marcie says
May 1, 2014 at 8:06 AMThese are so adorable! Circus animal cookies were also my favorite growing up, and I haven’t had them in a LONG time. These would be a great way to fix that and then some! 🙂
Serene says
May 1, 2014 at 12:03 PMThank you so much Marcie!! These cookies remind me so much of being a kid 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Matt Robinson says
May 1, 2014 at 9:32 AMLoved reading this – we absolutely love circus animal cookies here too! And especially so while my wife has been pregnant. This is such a great combination.
★★★★★
Serene says
May 1, 2014 at 12:04 PMThanks so much Matt. Circus animal cookies are a classic! And especially when pregnant! Anything goes right?? Thanks for taking time to comment 🙂
Sherrie says
May 1, 2014 at 2:55 PMLove the one with the pink critter. You have come a long way since decorating our cakes with beautiful rainbows.
★★★★★
Serene says
May 1, 2014 at 4:40 PMThanks mom!
Kristen says
May 1, 2014 at 5:07 PMI’m not a huge fan of box mixes, but i LOVE the idea of adding cookies to batter. And your photos are gorgeous! Love your site..poking around now!
Serene says
May 1, 2014 at 5:31 PMKristen! I absolutely know what you mean about box mixes! Nothing beats homemade 🙂 and thanks so much for checking out the site!! Hope you enjoyed.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
May 1, 2014 at 7:03 PMOh my gosh, I’m so in love with these!! So pretty too. Pinned!
Serene says
May 2, 2014 at 11:40 AMThanks so much Dorothy! And thanks for the pin. Happy Friday 🙂 Hope you have a fantastic weekend coming up.
Kelly says
May 2, 2014 at 2:28 PMAnimal cookies are quite possibly the most addicting cookie on the planet! Definitely giving these cupcakes a try! Thanks for sharing!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
May 2, 2014 at 2:42 PMCookies in a cupcake? Whoa, now that is cool! And your frosting is absolutely gorgeous! These are bakery worthy Serene! I always think I don’t like Circus Animal cookies … and then I eat one … and then another, and I’m like, yeah, guess I do like these! A lot! So I would love these cupcakes 🙂 Pinned!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
May 3, 2014 at 3:16 AMThese cupcakes look so cute- love the colours and idea!
Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home says
May 3, 2014 at 7:47 AMSuzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home
Your cupcakes are darling!
I love the piping, sprinkles, and the animal cookie toppers. LOVE!
Thanks so much for sharing,
Suzanne
Serene says
May 6, 2014 at 10:50 AMThank you so much Suzanne! Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂 Hope you have a fantastic day!
Laura O |Petite Allergy Treats says
May 3, 2014 at 7:13 PMHi Serene! Such beautiful and FUN cupcakes! You have some amazing frosting skills too. The pictures capture the details beautifully! Visiting from SNL. Pinned these to my Awesome Cupcakes board!
Serene says
May 6, 2014 at 10:50 AMThank you so much Laura! And I’ve been working on my frosting skills so thank you 🙂 hope you have a fantastic day!
Justine@CookingandBeer says
May 5, 2014 at 8:53 AMCircus animal cookies make me smile, too! These cupcakes are so adorable and that added cookies factor makes me want one RIGHT NOW! Making this ASAP!
Serene says
May 6, 2014 at 10:48 AMThank you so much Justine! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂 Hope you’re having a great day!
Selena @ How About Cookie says
May 5, 2014 at 8:21 PMThese look amazing!! I found you through kitchenfunwithmy3son’s linkup and just had to get a closer look 🙂
Serene says
May 6, 2014 at 10:48 AMThank you so much Selena! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 Hope you have a fantastic day!
Mallory says
May 6, 2014 at 7:28 PMOh wow. These would be so fun for a child’s birthday party! Excellent food photography too!
Gloria // Simply Gloria says
May 7, 2014 at 10:24 AMSerene, I have to say, you make the most gorgeous and creative cupcakes EVER! Love animal cookies… 🙂
Serene says
May 7, 2014 at 10:31 AMThanks so much Gloria!! I love cupcakes 🙂 I figure the more I make the better I’ll get at them! Such a fun way to practice right??
Jelli says
May 8, 2014 at 5:45 AMThese cupcakes look absolutely gorgeous! That frosting is picture perfect. Mine never ever looks that good! Serene, you’re the frosting whisperer!
Serene says
May 9, 2014 at 10:45 AMThank you so much Jelli, you’re so sweet! I just follow the Wilton frosting tutorials that they have online, http://www.wilton.com/technique/1M-Swirl. I also get a lot of practice since I make a lot of cupcakes!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife says
May 10, 2014 at 10:59 AMThese are stunning!! Almost too pretty to eat.. Almost! 😉 Pinned!
Serene says
May 12, 2014 at 8:42 PMThank you so much Jocelyn!
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says
May 13, 2014 at 1:47 AMThey look lovely, I love the colour of them. We don’t have animal crackers here, they look very cute on top of the cupcake. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Tamara says
May 16, 2014 at 4:50 AMI love, love love these adorable cupcakes! You have done an amazing job on them! Can’t wait to try them myself…just hope I can get the frosting right…your’s look so beautiful! Thank you for sharing them!
★★★★★
Serene says
May 16, 2014 at 10:08 AMThank you so much Tamara!! They were so fun to make! For the frosting, if it’s the color just start by adding small amounts of red food coloring and stirring until you get it just how you want it. And I posted a link to a Wilton frosting tutorial in previous comments on here be sure to check it out!! That’s how I learned how to frost cupcakes 🙂 still working on it! Practice makes perfect 😉 that means we have to make a lot of cupcakes! Oh darn! Hope you have a great weekend!