Hot Air Balloon Cupcakes
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These Hot Air Balloon Cupcakes are adorable and, best of all, they are easy to make—the perfect treat for birthday parties and baby showers.

When it is time to celebrate a birthday, or special occasion, I am always looking for something fun and simple to make like these Minion Twinkie Cupcakes, Lorax cupcakes, or these easy-to-make basketball cupcakes.
I think these adorable balloon cupcakes have the qualities I’m looking for: they are simple and fun. They would look lovely lined up at a birthday party.
What is it about hot air balloons that makes them feel so magical? Whenever I see one flying in the sky, I feel just as excited as the kids do. I knew I had to create something inspired by a hot air balloon.
Ingredients for Hot Air Balloon Cupcakes
- Pre-baked cupcakes in a brown liner – I found these basket weave cupcake liners on Amazon that I thought worked great for this idea
- 16 oz. of vanilla frosting
- 1 cup of powdered sugar
- If you want to do a flame colored frosting, you’ll need food coloring – yellow and red
For Balloons
- paper straws
- small balloons – I found 5-inch balloons that I think work great for this balloon cupcake idea
- clear tape
Equipment Needed
Piping bag with a star tip
How to Make Hot Air Balloon Cupcakes
To frost cupcakes with a flame colored frosting, divide the frosting into three bowls
Using yellow and red food coloring, color the frostings orange, one red, and one yellow

Spoon each color separately into a piping bag fitted with a star tip

Pipe the frosting onto cupcakes
I confess – my piping skills need improvement. I’m sure your piped fire will look so much better. 🙂
Cut paper straws in half
Push the two halves into the cupcake on opposite sides

Blow up balloons to the size you would like

Use tape to tape the balloons onto the straws

Pro-Tip
Don’t get a headache from blowing up balloons; use a balloon inflator pump
Variations
Frosting – I thought that adding a flame-colored frosting would best represent a hot air balloon, but you could use any color of frosting for the cupcake. I think a white frosted cupcake would be beautiful.
Replace the straws with lollipop sticks.
Add decorative stickers to the balloons to make colorful designs on them
What to Serve With
- Frozen Lemonade
- Shirley Temple Drink
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Chocolate Whipped Cream
- Whipped Cream Recipe
- Homemade Watermelon Ice Cream
- No-Bake Ice Cream Cake
Storage
These cupcakes are best served the day of, but if you need to make them in advance, they can be stored covered at room temperature for a couple of days.

FAQs about cheesecloth
Serving Size
This recipe will make 12 hot air balloon cupcakes

Hot Air Balloon Cupcakes
Equipment
- 12 paper straws –
- 12 balloons
- clear tape
Ingredients
- 12 pre-baked cupcakes any flavor in a brown wrapper
- 16 oz. vanilla frosting
Instructions
- To frost cupcakes with a flame colored frosting, divide the frosting into three bowls
- Using yellow and red food coloring, color the frostings orange, one red, and one yellow
- Spoon each color separately into a piping bag fitted with a star tip
- Pipe the frosting onto cupcakes
- Cut paper straws in half
- Push the two halves into the cupcake on opposite sides
- Blow up balloons to the size you would like
- Use tape to tape the balloons onto the straws
Notes
Nutrition
~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.Com