Celebrate Independence Day with these festive July 4th Fireworks Cupcakes!
A vibrant display of candy-coated pretzel sticks in red, white, and blue explode from basic cupcakes.
With a swirl of creamy vanilla frosting and a sprinkle of patriotic stars, these cupcakes are a delightful treat for Independence Day festivities.
How to Make Fireworks Cupcakes
For this July 4th cupcakes recipe, you will need:
- 12 cupcakes – store bought or homemade
- 2 to 3 cups vanilla frosting – store bought or homemade
- 1 (16 ounce) bag pretzel sticks (10 to 12 for each cupcake)
- Candy melt wafers in royal blue, red, and white
- Sprinkling sugar in blue, red, and clear
- Star sprinkles
You will also need:
Large open star tip – I used the Wilton 1M Open Star Piping Tip.
Piping bags – I prefer disposable plastic piping bags.
Instructions:
- Divide pretzel sticks to dip in three colors.
- Place candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Melt on high heat, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted. Do not overheat. If the candy is too thick, add vegetable shortening or coconut oil in 1 teaspoon increments, up to 1 tablespoon, and stir well. Do not add water.
- Place pretzel sticks on a fork or candy dipping scoop. Pour candy melts over the pretzel sticks, allowing extra candy to drip back into the bowl. Move pretzel sticks to waxed paper. Use toothpicks to separate the pretzels. Immediately sprinkle with colored sugar. Dry completely.
- Pipe frosting over cupcake in a circular direction working from the outer edge of the cupcake towards the center.
- Press 10 to 12 candy-coated pretzel sticks into each cupcake in alternating colors.
- Top each cupcake with star sprinkles.
Tips for July 4th Fireworks Cupcakes
Short on time? Check out these time-saving tips for making Fireworks Cupcakes.
Use a Pre-made Mix: Opt for a high-quality boxed cake mix to reduce preparation time without compromising taste.
Frosting Hacks: Buy pre-made frosting and use it straight from the container, or microwave it for a few seconds to make it easier to spread.
Prepare in Advance: Bake the cupcakes the day before and store them in an airtight container. Decorate them on the day of the event.
Buy Ready-made Cupcakes: Purchase premade cupcakes from the store. As long as the icing is white, red, or blue, they will work.
July 4th Fireworks Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 12 cupcakes
- 2 to 3 cups vanilla frosting
- 1 16 ounce bag pretzel sticks (10 to 12 for each cupcake)
- 1 bag royal blue candy melt wafers
- 1 bag red candy melt wafers
- 1 bag white candy melt wafers
- 1 container blue sprinkling sugar
- 1 container red sprinkling sugar
- 1 container clear sprinkling sugar
- 1 container star sprinkles
Instructions
- Divide pretzel sticks to dip in three colors.
- Place candy melts in a microwave safe bowl. Melt on high heat, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted. Do not overheat. If the candy is too thick, add vegetable shortening or coconut oil in 1 teaspoon increments, up to 1 tablespoon, and stir well. Do not add water.
- Place pretzel sticks on a fork or candy dipping scoop (pictured: https://amzn.to/2YQk9eQ). Pour candy melts over the pretzel sticks, allowing extra candy to drip back into the bowl. Move pretzel sticks to waxed paper. Use toothpicks to separate the pretzels. Immediately sprinkle with colored sugar. Dry completely.
- Pipe frosting over cupcake in a circular direction working from the outer edge of the cupcake towards the center.
- Press 10 to 12 candy-coated pretzel sticks into each cupcake in alternating colors.
- Top each cupcake with star sprinkles.
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