Description
Planning a barnyard bash or a farm-themed birthday party? This Farm Animal Cupcake Cake is the cutest centerpiece you can bake! Each cupcake is decorated to look like adorable animals—think pigs, cows, chicks, and sheep—then arranged into a pull-apart cake that’s easy to serve and impossible to resist. No slicing, no fuss—just fun, sweet farm vibes all around.
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Ingredients
For the Cupcakes (24 total):
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2½ cups all-purpose flour
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2½ tsp baking powder
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½ tsp baking soda
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½ tsp salt
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¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
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1¾ cups sugar
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4 large eggs
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1 tbsp vanilla extract
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1 cup whole milk or buttermilk
For the Buttercream Frosting:
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1½ cups unsalted butter, softened
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5 cups powdered sugar
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2–3 tbsp milk or cream
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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Gel food coloring: pink, yellow, black, white, and brown
Farm Animal Decorations (suggested):
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Candy eyes
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Pink mini marshmallows or fondant (for pigs’ ears & snouts)
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Mini Oreos or chocolate chips (for cow spots & ears)
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Orange jelly beans (for chick beaks)
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Mini marshmallows (for sheep “wool”)
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Black licorice strings or fondant (for mouths or tails)
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Red icing or fondant (for pig mouths)
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Green coconut (for “grass,” optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Bake the Cupcakes
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
Alternately mix in dry ingredients and milk until smooth.
Divide batter into 24 liners and bake 18–20 minutes. Let cool completely.
Step 2: Make the Frosting
Beat softened butter until creamy.
Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix until smooth and fluffy.
Divide into bowls and tint with gel food coloring for each animal.
Step 3: Decorate the Cupcakes
Pig Cupcakes
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Frost with pink icing.
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Use pink mini marshmallows or fondant for snouts and ears.
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Add candy eyes and pipe nostrils and smiles with black or red icing.
Cow Cupcakes
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Frost with white buttercream.
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Stick on Oreo halves or chocolate chips as spots.
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Use black fondant or licorice for ears.
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Pipe pink frosting for snouts and add candy eyes.
Chick Cupcakes
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Frost with yellow buttercream using a star tip for a fluffy effect.
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Add orange jelly bean or fondant triangle for beaks.
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Pipe tiny dots for eyes or use mini chocolate chips.
Sheep Cupcakes
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Frost with white icing and cover with mini marshmallows.
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Use black fondant or cookies for ears and face.
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Add candy eyes in the center for a cute sheep expression.
Step 4: Assemble the Cupcake Cake
On a large board or tray, arrange the cupcakes close together in the shape of a farm scene, like a group of animals or a barnyard cluster.
Use green-dyed shredded coconut around the cupcakes for a grassy look.
Optional: Add a center cupcake decorated like a barn or sun.
Step 5: Serve & Enjoy
No knife needed! Guests can simply pull apart a cupcake and enjoy their own animal creation.
Notes
Use Gel Food Coloring – It provides bold color without thinning the frosting.
Chill Slightly Before Decorating – Helps cupcakes hold their shape.
Get Creative – Add horses, ducks, or even a little pond with blue frosting.
Make It Ahead – Bake cupcakes the day before and frost the day of for freshness.
Use Toothpicks or Tweezers – For placing small candy details precisely.