Mike had a long day of work on Lily’s birthday, so to celebrate we invited some friends over for a cupcake decorating birthday party! It was super simple: I baked two dozen cupcakes, and put out dixie cups filled with different kinds of candy.
We didn’t have any eggs, the only oil I had was olive oil, and I didn’t want to go to the grocery store. So I improvised this recipe based off of wacky cake, and it was shockingly good:
Egg Free Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup baking cocoa (dutch processed always tastes better, I think)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup of water
- 1 Tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/2 cup applesauce (we used a single serve berry flavor one, which gave a nice berry undertone to the cupcakes)
Mix all the dry ingredients together well, then add the wet ingredients. I add the vinegar last, because it triggers a reaction. Stir well, spoon into cupcake liners/tins, and bake at 350 for 25 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean). These were very moist, and I LOVE that they all turned out looking beautifully uniform!
Then I made some pink frosting (butter, crisco, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla) for my pink-loving girl, and we were set!
Everyone enjoyed decorating AND eating their cupcakes – sometimes at the same time! This was such a fun and simple party!!!
And don’t worry – we decorated a second round with Mike when he got home!
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Oh perfect, Mary Anne!
Quinn and I have been wanting to do this for her 6th birthday this week. Another great idea for a holder for all the little decorations – use the muffin tins! With the cups, though, you can reach them around more easily.
Quinn, however, wants to celebrate at my parents’ now and on our long drive home from Venice yesterday we got her birthday perfectly planned out from morning till evening. :) Still, I am thinking of doing the super and simple cupcake decorating at a great playground that is central in the countryside for us and all potential guests – cupcakes and playing – perfect!
Happy birthday, Lily!
You went to Venice?! How lovely! Did you have a good trip?
I hope Quinn has a wonderful birthday – can’t believe she is turning 6!
I love that you kept it simple. I’m sure she enjoyed it just as much as if you had worn yourself out with lots of details.
What FUN!!!! And so nice of you to decorate another batch for when Mike got home. :-)
A cupcake decorating party sounds like such a fantastic idea! It looks yummy, too!
Oh, I love the picture of Lily with her cupcake. She looks so pleased. I added your recipe to my Pinterest to try in the future :)
those look so good. what a great idea xo
I love your super simple party ideas. The decorations remind me of a mosaic. With older kids it could be fun to try for a candy mosaic effect.
That’s a great idea!
Cute pics. That sounds like a great time!
I love the combination of simple, low stress, and crowd-pleasing! :)
that is a perfect birthday party!!!!
Princess has been itching to make cupcakes for awhile, maybe I’ll use yours and let them decorate.
I love that with these they can taste the batter without worrying about salmonella.
Those were great cupcakes! And I love the pictures of Lily and Johnny enjoying them.
Perfect idea for a party!