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How to Make the Best Geode Cupcakes

How to Make the Best Geode Cupcakes

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Today we are going to make Geode Cupcakes! Have you ever seen a geode before? Geodes are rocks that have crystals inside them and they can be found on the side of the road or in old mines. The word “geode” comes from two Greek words meaning “earthy” and “like a seed.”

How to Make the Best Geode Cupcakes

In this blog post, we will show you how to make geode cupcakes using edible sugar crystals!

History of geodes:

Geodes were first discovered around 1797 but more about them was not know until 1821 when solid geodes (instead of hollow ones) were found at Sicilian volcano Mount Etna. This discovery led to an understanding of what these formations looked like on the inside.

What do geodes look like inside?

Geodes usually have many small crystals lining the geode’s interior. These are often of different types and colors, including quartz, amethyst, and citrine.

What causes the crystals inside a geode?

Geodes are formed when geothermal heat and pressure cause fluids such as water, gas, or oil to evaporate. These liquids get trapped in tiny cracks inside a rock that is typically porous like limestone. The geodes grow larger over time as more fluid seeps into the cracks.

A Great Video about All About Geodes and How They Are Formed – good for kids to watch too!

Geode Coloring

When rocks are created, impurities can be in them. The colors can depend on what type of impurity is in the rock. Iron oxides will make the quartz look a reddish color. Other crystals like amethyst can also be found in some geodes. Some geodes have banding or crystals that are different. You can’t tell what they will be like on the inside until you cut them open. But if you find geodes from a certain place, they might have similar colors and shapes to them.

Some geodes are dyed with artificial colors. Geodes that do not look like they should have been altered might have been artificially changed.

Geodes are so popular with kids in the world of STEM, Science-Technology-Engineering-Math, that there are even kids toys of break open geodes, etc. National Geographic has the best set out there for kids.

Geode Cupcakes for Kids

Now, without all of that fancy geothermal activity, can we take that incredible crystal concept and turn it into a cupcake?

YES!!!

Both kids and adults alike will be in awe of the gorgeous result when you are showing them off.

I’m not saying that everyone knows a Geologist, but these would make for great Birthday Cupcakes too!

Geode Cupcakes Designs

This was the tricky part – I didn’t have all that quartz, amethyst, and citrine lying around, let alone in an edible form. So, I went with citrine geodes since it’s the one that most closely resembles quartz.

I used rock candy.

I found it on Amazon, but even your local Dollar Tree carries it. Keep in mind that ONE rock candy sucker makes 2-3 geode cupcakes.

You can see how you can make variations by using other colors too (like pink or purple) to represent amethyst geodes! The look will totally change with whatever color candy you choose to run with.

🙂

Geode Crystal Cupcakes Ingredients

Geode cupcakes recipe

These cupcake bases can be made with either a yellow boxed cake mix or a recipe from scratch.

Geode cupcakes recipe

A good yellow cupcake recipe for the base:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs at room temp
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1/2” cubes
  • 1/2 cup milk – the higher the fat content the better
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp vegetable oil
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and place the shelf in the middle of the oven. Line the muffin tin with cupcake liners.

How to make Geode cupcakes

In a large bowl whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together. Set aside.

Place butter and milk in a microwave-safe dish and zap 2 minutes on high to melt the butter.

In a separate bowl, beat eggs for 30 seconds on medium-high speed.

With the beater still going, pour the sugar in over 30 seconds.

Beat eggs for 6 minutes more on a highly faster speed, or until tripled in volume and almost pure white.

When the egg is whipped, scatter 1/3 flour across the surface, then beat on low for 5 seconds. Stop beating, add half the remaining flour, then mix again on low for 5 seconds. Add remaining flour, then mix on Speed 1 for 5 – 10 sec until the flour is just mixed in. Once you can’t see flour, stop straight away.

Pour the hot milk/butter, vanilla, and oil into the now empty flour bowl. Add about 3/4 cups of the Egg Batter into the hot milk. Use a whisk to mix until smooth. It should look kind of foamy.

With the beater on low still, pour the milk mixture into the Egg Batter over 10-15 seconds, then turn the beater off.

Fill your muffin tins with batter until they are 2/3 full. Bake 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Easy Geode Cupcakes recipe

Use a dressed-up boxed cake mix. (snort)

How do you store Geode Cupcakes?

Here is the thing – with the more futzy designs, I like to make them in advance of an event or get-together. The best way to usually store your finished creations? Room Temperature.

Granted, they aren’t going to be around that long – my family of three could easily take them out in two to three days. Since you are using fondant and rock candy, they should be fine for five to six days. You can learn more about that in our article How To Frost A Cupcake.

Geode Crystal Cupcakes Ingredients:

Geode Crystal Cupcakes Ingredients

Making Geode Cupcakes:

Remember, these are geological treasures. Geodes are often NOT perfect – so you want to make sure yours are not perfectly round either. A little off center, elliptical, or even with the crystals not perfectly places makes for a more authentic looking Geode cupcake.

Bake cupcakes per recipe and let them cool completely.

Making Geode Cupcakes

Knead white and black fondant with a little food coloring of your choice until a marble effect is achieved.

Making Geode Cupcakes

Place fondant between 2 sheets of wax paper and roll it out to a circle just a little larger than the cupcake top, leave a thicker space in the middle to press the rock candy into.

Making Geode Cupcakes

Break the rock candy apart and then press some into the fondant. You will have a few “crumbs” from your candy so make sure you use those also! Sprinkle them into your Geode face.

Making Geode Cupcakes

Spread or pipe a light layer of frosting onto the cupcake and place the fondant geode cupcakes toppers on it.

Use a small paintbrush to brush on just a tiny bit of vegetable oil to create a shiny surface around the rock candy.

Aren’t they gorgeous?

How to Make the Best Geode Cupcakes

Other fun cupcakes you may like:

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