Mother’s Day is this weekend, and there’s nothing more meaningful than a handmade gift for the special mom in your life.
This Mum Cupcake Bouquet says it all. It’s not only beautiful but delightfully tasty too.
Although it looks like a real chrysanthemum, each “petal” is actually a marshmallow half dipped in colored sanding sugar. The marshmallow pieces are placed on an iced cupcake—homemade or store-bought—to create a vibrant, flower-like effect.
Add a few green licorice sticks and the whole arrangement becomes a charming edible bouquet.
I first shared this idea in 2014. It was so popular that I’ve revisited it every year for Mother’s Day.
Despite their intricate appearance, these Mum Cupcakes are easy to make. I’ve taught the technique to young children (with appropriate supervision), and it’s an activity the whole family can enjoy.
Gather your ingredients before you begin so the assembly goes smoothly and you can focus on creating your own stunning Mum Cupcake bouquet.
I also made a short video years ago that demonstrates the basic steps. It’s simple, but it shows the process clearly.
Here’s my video for creating this beautiful Mum Cupcake Bouquet.
For the full recipe see below.
Mum Cupcake Bouquet
Yield: 12 cupcakes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: Depends (baking optional)
Total Time: 15 minutes plus any baking time
Ingredients:
- 12 cupcakes (your favorite recipe or a box mix)
- Icing, homemade or canned
- Sanding sugar or sprinkles (any color)
- Miniature marshmallows
- Candy pearls, Good & Plenty, or jelly beans
- Green licorice
Directions:
- Cut about 40 miniature marshmallows in half on the diagonal and place them in a bowl.
- Pour sanding sugar or sprinkles into a shallow container for dipping.
- Spread a generous layer of icing on the top of a cupcake. Work one cupcake at a time so the icing stays tacky and the marshmallows will adhere.
- Dip each marshmallow half into the sanding sugar or sprinkles, then press the sugared side inward and arrange the halves around the outer edge of the cupcake to form the first circle of petals.
- Continue adding rows of marshmallow petals, placing them close together and slightly overlapping as you move toward the center. Leave a small empty space in the middle.
- Place a candy pearl, a Good & Plenty candy, or a jelly bean in the center to complete the flower.
- Repeat the process with the remaining cupcakes.
- Arrange the finished cupcakes on a platter and place green licorice pieces at the base of each cupcake to resemble stems, creating a bouquet effect.
Enjoy!