How to Make Dinosaur Cupcakes for Jurassic Park Fans

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The latest new Jurassic World movie got me thinking. If you’re looking for a fun baking project to get everyone excited, look no further than fun dinosaur cupcakes! These prehistoric treats are perfect for Jurassic Park fans of all ages. We’ll show you how to make them using simple ingredients and easy techniques. So get ready to roll up your sleeves and bake some dinosaur cupcakes!

Dinosaur Experts

Let’s face it – we are never more knowledgeable about dinosaurs than when we were four unless we are stuck on movies to watch, like the Jurassic Park franchise. Ask any toddler about dinosaurs and be prepared to hear about them from A to Z.

What to do for a dinosaur birthday party

That is why so many people have a Dinosaur Birthday Themed Party for their kids, I know we did! I dressed my daughter up like Pebbles Flintstone when she was turning four. We had a “dino dig,” made “dino eggs,” and more! I got most of my dinosaur party supplies from Oriental Trading or made them myself.

My cupcakes back then were pretty basic – I used either candy chocolate rocks on them or plastic toy little dinosaurs as the dinosaur cupcake topper. I might have even used Oreo cookie crumbs to resemble the dirt. That is why I wanted to keep these fun cupcakes easy peasy to make.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a dinosaur expert to make these cupcakes. All you need is some basic baking knowledge and a little bit of creativity. Most of the decorating ideas are easy enough for the kids to help you. So let’s get started!

I used chocolate cupcakes for the base on these lovely dinosaur muffins, but you can use vanilla cupcakes if you prefer. Even Red Velvet cupcakes would work, but I like to avoid the extra food coloring around kids.

How do I make these easy dinosaur cupcakes?

The chocolate cupcake base can be made from the following recipe:

You will need:

• 2 C sugar
• 1 3/4 C flour
• 3/4 C cocoa
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 C canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 C boiling water

How to make my Chocolate Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with paper liners.

Whisk the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.

Combine the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in a smaller bowl. Add this to the dry ingredients beating on medium until the batter is smooth. Gradually add the boiling water, milk, and oil and blend until the batter is smooth.

Using a medium scoop, fill the paper-lined cupcake tins with the prepared batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, and then allow them to cool slightly before transferring to wire racks.

What you need for your Dinosaur Cupcakes :

• Baked and cooled chocolate cupcakes
• Large malted milk ball robin egg candy
• Toasted coconut
• Chocolate buttercream frosting in a piping bag with a small cut tip
• Gray buttercream frosting in a piping bag with a medium cup tip
• Green buttercream frosting in a piping bag with a leaf tip
• Green and chocolate swirled buttercream frosting in a piping bag with a star tip
• Large Sugar decorative eyes – you can do the normal ones or the “red eye” Halloween ones
• A toy dinosaur

Dinosaur Cupcake Tutorial

I remember the chills that went down my spine when those Velociraptor nests were discovered in the first Jurassic Park movie. They inspired these Nest Cupcakes.

To Make the Dinosaur Nest Cupcakes

Use the gray frosting to pipe a smooth flat swirl on the cupcake.

Use the chocolate frosting to pipe a circle in the middle of the cupcake.

Place 1-3 egg candies over the chocolate frosting.

Sprinkle on the toasted coconut to complete the nest look.

Use the green frosting with leaf or star tip to create some plants around the nest, after all, they need to be hidden a little bit.

To Make the Dinosaur Eye Cupcakes

Nothing could be scarier than being one of those kids in the upside-down car and having a giant dinosaur eye looking back at you! Let’s make some!

Use the green/chocolate frosting mix to pipe stars over the entire surface of the cupcake.

Place the decorating sugar eye in the middle.

Then pipe a few stars at an angle just slightly over the top of the eye to create an angry eyebrow.

To Make Dinosaur Tracks Cupcakes

If only we could fill them with a little water and create that ripple effect from the impact tremors they show in the movies. Since we can’t do that, here is the next best thing.

Use the gray frosting to pipe a smooth flat swirl on the cupcake, then place the cupcake in the freezer for about 10 minutes.

Brush a very light amount of oil on the bottom of the toy dinosaur feet and press them firmly into the chilled gray frosting to leave an imprint.

Fill the imprint with the chocolate frosting.

Add leaves and plants with the green frosting with the star or leaf tip.

Sprinkle a small amount of toasted coconut around the tracks.

Just look at your finished dinosaur cupcakes – aren’t they great? These are sure to be a huge hit for that next dino party!

Pro Tip:

To fill piping bags the easy way, place the piping bag into a large glass and fold the sides of the bag over the rim of the glass. Scoop the frosting into the piping bag. Bring the pastry bag edges up and twist them together to start decorating.

If you don’t have a piping bag, try a plastic bag with the tip snipped off. Frost the cooled and filled cupcakes.

Dinosaur Cupcake FAQs:

Q: Can I use a cake mix instead of baking the cupcakes from scratch?

A: Yes, you can – YOU are the boss in your kitchen. You can usually grab a box of the grocery store brand for a buck or two.

Q: Can I use a different kind of frosting?

A: Yes, you can use any type of frosting that you like, as no one really knows what colors dinosaurs were. We just went with what scientists are currently guessing.

Q: What if I don’t have any dinosaur toys?

A: If you don’t have any dinosaur toys, you can use anything that will make an imprint in the frosting. For example, you could use a fork or your fingers.

Q: Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?

A: Yes, you can make these cupcakes ahead of time. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge, and they will be good for up to a week.

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