• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Approaching Food

  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
      • Breads
      • Quick Breads
      • Breakfast Foods
    • Lunch
      • Salads I Have Known and Loved
      • Soups
      • Snacks
    • Dinner
      • Vegetarian Main Dishes
      • Vegetarian Side Dishes
    • Desserts
      • Cookies
      • Cakes
      • Pies
      • Preserves
      • Parfaits and Trifles
      • Ice Cream Treats
      • Desserts Not Otherwise Categorized
    • Drinks
  • Kitchen Encouragement
  • About Margaret van Velthuyzen
    • About Margaret van Velthuyzen
    • Work With Me
    • Disclosure Policy

Easy Cacti Cupcakes, Because Succulents are Super-Trendy

October 1, 2017 by Margaret 2 Comments

3Shares

Plant lady is the new cat lady. Intrigued? Read on!

I love cupcakes, I love buttercream, and I love a good challenge in the kitchen, so when I saw a picture of some Cacti Cupcakes recently, I thought “I can do that!” And decided to craft my own version. So yes, that’s this week’s recipe! Easy Cacti/Succulent Cupcakes! To be specific, spice cake cupcakes with coconut buttercream frosting. Yum, yum, YUM!!!

I read somewhere recently, that “Plant lady is the new cat lady”, and a) burst out laughing and b) was struck by the truth of it. What am I talking about? Well, lately it seems that succulents are all the rage with the younger (or youngish) crowd. If you are on Instagram (or Insta, as the young’uns say, IG for short), you can’t get away from all the photos of succulents, especially in geometric shaped planters. There’s  a ‘hens and chicks’ succulent pic here, a ‘mother of thousands’ succulent pic there…and then a ‘wandering dude’ plant in the corner, just to round things out.

I’m young enough that I follow trends in things like nail design (I just got my nails did, in a glamorous yet impractical almond-tipped shape), but old enough that I’m more of a cat lady than a plant lady, despite the many plants I have in my home (although to be honest, while succulents are trendy now, cats are kind of universal and will never fall out of fashion. Who doesn’t love a purring kitten?). Nevertheless, I jumped on the design trend, and decided that I wanted to try crafting some cacti in buttercream.

And you can too! It only takes three different icing tips (Wilton 104, 7, and 352) to make these designs.  Shall we? (Honestly, it’s easier than it seems. Don’t be intimidated by how much I’ve typed — I can be verbose at times — and try making these cupcakes yourself!)

My faves! Wilton tips 352 and 104.

Easy Cacti/Succulent Cupcakes

  • 1 batch spice cake batter
  • 1 c. graham cracker crumbs (I used chocolate because that’s what I had, but regular ones would likely imitate sand better)
  • 1 batch coconut buttercream frosting
  • green, pink, and yellow food colouring
  • Wilton tips: 104, 7, and 352
  • plastic piping bags
  • two ice cream cones (the wafer type, not sugar cones)

Bake the cupcakes and let cool. Frost the tops lightly with frosting, and press the iced tops into a bowl of the cookie crumbs, making sure all the buttercream is covered in crumbs. Congrats, you’ve just created the Mojave dessert in cupcake form!

Take two spoonfuls of buttercream and place them in a bowl with two drops of pink food colouring and mix to create the pink buttercream that you will be using for the pink flowered cacti. Then do the same with yellow food colouring to create yellow buttercream. With the remaining buttercream, add enough green food colouring to create the shade of green that you want.

Now, you can decide which cacti/succulents to make.

Wilton tips 7, 352, and 104.

For the spiky tipped cacti, take an ice cream cone, and cut it into two horizontally, where the cone widens. Place the bottom of the cone upside down on a cupcake, and place the top of the cone on top (it will drop down, forming a ring around the base). This gives you a shape to pipe onto, because if we tried to create the entire thing from buttercream, it would be too heavy to support itself (and also, that’s too much buttercream for anyone, even ME!). Using Wilton tip 7, pipe little spikes all over the ice cream cone shape, until the entire thing is covered in little spikes. BAM! You’ve just created a buttercream cacti, yo’! You be talented!

For the flower-topped cacti, use Wilton tip 352, and little spiky leaves in a large circle (not touching in the centre) and then build up layer after layer of leaves on top of each other, each layer in a slightly narrower circle than the previous one, until you’ve created a little plant.

To make little flowers, just google ‘how to pipe an icing rose’ on youtube, and you’ll see a million and three videos just like this one. Try making a flower yourself using tip 104 — they’re super-easy, and look super-fancy! The tutorials usually tell you to use a piping nail, but you could use a very small metal bowl turned upside down, or even just a small square of parchment paper. The piping nail makes it easier, but it’s not crucial.

Once you’ve made the flower, place it on top of your succulents, using a pair of scissors (what a weird, yet useful, technique, yes?). You can see this technique in the video that I’ve linked to, just above. Such a pretty cupcake, yes?

To make the long-lined cacti, take the bottom half of a ice cream cone (using the same cutting technique as before), and ice lightly in green buttercream. Stick on top of a cupcake. Using the same Wilton leaf tip (352) that you used before, angle the tip and pipe thick lines all the way up and down the cone. Then top with a flower. Now that’s a tasty cacti!

All packaged up and ready to be delivered! (This was actually a custom order.)

If you’ve never used piping tips before, they’re honestly not as intimidating as they might seem. I encourage you to pick up a few and play with them! You’ll find that they up your cupcake game, and garner you lots of compliments!

Kitchen Hack: If you don’t have piping bags, you can create a temporary one by reinforcing a Ziploc baggie with packing tape all over to reinforce the seams. (I tried it first without reinforcing the seams, and WHOOSH! Buttercream all over my hands. Learn from my mistake and reinforce the baggie.) Cut the tip off of a corner and place a tip inside the baggie, with the pointing end of the tip just coming out of the corner that you snipped. Et voila! You’ve successfully hacked yourself a piping bag!

Next Post: Hmm. How about a Coconut Apple Spice Cake recipe? Or should I save that for later, and do something hearty to balance out my buttercream posts? Let me know in the comments!

Linking up at Meal Plan Monday! And at Happiness is Homemade!

3Shares

Filed Under: Cakes

You might also like:

Sky High Souffle Style pancakes, served with berries and maple syrup.

Sky-High Souffle-Style Pancakes

Look, ma! I’m fancy! Or at least my Meringues are.

Super-Easy & Pectin-Free Bumbleberry Jam!

Previous Post: « Coconut Buttercream Frosting, Plus How I Develop Flavour Combinations
Next Post: Vegan Coconut Apple Spice Cake »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BIN

    October 3, 2017 at 12:14 am

    They look awesome!

    Reply
    • Margaret

      October 3, 2017 at 12:45 am

      Thanks, B!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Visit Us On TwitterVisit Us On FacebookVisit Us On PinterestCheck Our FeedVisit Us On Instagram

Want fresh content delivered to your inbox?

Subscribe to my blog posts & get a FREE copy of my e-book "This for That: Easy Kitchen Swaps & Hacks." It's hot off the presses!

Recent Posts

  • Shortcut Spanakopita Hand Pies & Eating Well as a Mum
  • Buttercream Truffle Bombs, How to Use Leftover Icing, and a Bonus (a Romantic Keto-Friendly Gift Idea)
  • My Mother’s Dutch Pea Soup, and Cooking for Baby
  • Chocolate PB Cookies (Two Ways) and This Year’s Christmas Baking
  • Pumpkin Spice Waffles, aka Pumpkin Pie in Waffle Form

Follow me on Instagram!

approachingfood

Cook, baker, & chocolate eater! Love encouraging others to learn & experiment w/ preservative-free recipes in the kitchen! Subscribe: FREE E-book!

Want a hearty meal to warm you up and fuel you? Th Want a hearty meal to warm you up and fuel you? This recipe for 🥣 My Mother's Dutch Pea Soup 🥣 is a winner! Studded with chunks of carrots, potatoes, and celery, this soup actually IMPROVES the next day! Leftovers for the win! [Recipe on the blog; link in bio.]
.
.
.
#wintersoup #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #preservativefree  # thickandhearty #peasoup #dutchfood #motherknowsbest #leftoversforlunch #ordinner #babyfoodtoo
Boost your immunity with this 🌞 sunshine-on-pla Boost your immunity with this 🌞 sunshine-on-plate salad! 🍊 Oranges and 🥕 carrots are all you need, and it makes a surprisingly delicious side dish. Great for the whole family, from babies eating finger foods to adults trying to get their fruits and veg in. [Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]
.
.
.
#immunity #boost #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #preservativefree  #sunshineonaplate #salad #saladsihaveknownandloved #vitaminc #eatyourcolors #delish
Short on time but craving cookies? Make one dough, Short on time but craving cookies? Make one dough, but two types of cookies! These buttery, crunchy 🍪 PB Cookies 🍪 are a snap to make, and so easy to pull together for a last-minute gift or dessert! [Recipe on the blog, link in bio!] 

Also, check out my cookie tin: I made sugar-topped spritz cookies, as well as Milano-style spritz chocolate sandwich cookies. One dough, two cookies is a huge time-saver!
.
.
.
#lastminutegifts #cookies🍪 #cookiesofinstagram #peanutbutter #chocolatechips #peanutbuttercups #cookonceeattwice #nomnomnom #christmasevebaking #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement
It's still PSL season, people! And this combo of p It's still PSL season, people! And this combo of pumpkin spice and 🧇WAFFLES🧇 is everything breakfast dreams are made of! Plus, they freeze and toast really well -- weekday mornings, I'm looking at you! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]

#preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #psl #pumpkinspice #waffles #brunch #toasterwaffles #fall #weekendvibes #easybreakfastideas
Whether you're a PSL enthusiast or a lover of pump Whether you're a PSL enthusiast or a lover of pumpkin pie, these 🎃 Pumpkin Spice Pancakes 🥞 will hit the spot! Preservative-free, yet ready in 10 minutes (including prep!), these buttery, plush, and delicately spiced buttermilk pancakes are so tasty, you'll eat them regardless of the season!
.
.
.
[Recipe on the blog; link in profile]
.
.
.
#psl #pumpkinspice #pumpkinpie #realfood
#preservative-free #preservativefreemovement #preservativefreecommunity #pumpkinspicepancakes #pumpkinpiepancakes #realfoodrecipes #noaddedsugar
When to make these Short-cut Cranberry Crumble Squ When to make these Short-cut Cranberry Crumble Squares? When you're rotating your pantry and come across a can of homemade Better-Than-Storebought Cranberry Sauce! Or replace with your fave can of jam. 

A buttery shortbread crust topped with a tart and tangy filling, then covered in a crunchy crumble, these squares are great for coffee time, snack time, dessert! 

(Recipes on the website; link in profile)
.
.
.
#pantryorganization #pantry #cranberrysauce #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #jam #shortcut #shortbread #crumble #allthenoms #snacktime
Feeling peckish? Looking for a luscious filling & Feeling peckish? Looking for a luscious filling & flaky pastry? These 🍋 Light-as-Air Lemon Curd Turnovers 🍋 are perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a coffee break! (Also, INCREDIBLY easy to make!)

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]

#lemon #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #pastry #turnovers #flaky #lemoncurd #breakfast
#brunch #coffeetime #allthenoms
In case you hadn't noticed, I disappeared off IG ( In case you hadn't noticed, I disappeared off IG (and my blog www.approachingfood.com, and all social media) this fall. Why? Pregnancy!!! 
.
I'm pregnant with my second child, a little girl, and had an awful first trimester. I was so sick that my toddler's pretend play now includes imitating mummy vomiting. #truestory 
.
I was too sick to develop recipes or post or do anything regarding food or blogging. But I feel better now and am back to a semi-regular blogging schedule. Am also working on creating new freebies and a recipe book, so stay tuned!!!
.
.
.
#preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #approachingfood #pregnancy #morningsickness #alldaysickness #funtimes #underdevelopment #timeout #debtfreecommunity #pandemicbaking
When you're craving fresh food, this 🥭Chunky Ma When you're craving fresh food, this 🥭Chunky Mango Guac🥑 hits the spot! Juicy mango, creamy avocado, garden fresh tomatoes, a squeeze of lime, and some chopped cilantro combine into one juicy, creamy, tangy mouthful!

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile. ]

#summer #guacamole #avocado🥑#salsa #fruitsalad #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #scoopitup #freshfood #approachingfood
Excess zucchini? Just make Zucchini & Provolone Pi Excess zucchini? Just make Zucchini & Provolone Pizza!🍕This tender-crusted, golden cheese-topped pizza is flecked with shredded zucchini and is basically veggies in cheese pizza form. 

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]

#pizzaislife🍕 #cheesepizza #veggiepizza #zucchinirecipes #zucchini&provolone #eatyourveggies #gardenproduce #freshveggies #homemadepizza #toomanyzucchinis #ormaybenot
When you want a low-cal, nutrient-dense comfort fo When you want a low-cal, nutrient-dense comfort food, this garlicky stir-fried broccoli with freshly zested ginger (finished with fragrant sesame oil) definitely hits the spot! Ready in 20 minutes, it's just as fast (or faster!) than fast food! Peservative-free for the win!

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]

#lowcarb #vegan #lowcal #comfortfood #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #20minutedinner #stirfryveggies #broccoli #garlic #ginger
Creamy, dreamy, and packed full of raspberry-licio Creamy, dreamy, and packed full of raspberry-licious flavour, this 🥤smoothie also contains 5 g of fibre and 6 g of protein. Plus, it's made with real food ingredients. A great preservative-free mini-meal or post-workout snack!

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]

#realfood #raspberries #creamy #proteinsmoothie #fibrerich #fullofflavour #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #beattheheat☀️ #postworkoutmeal
Guilt-free 🍫chocolate cake🍰 is REAL! This su Guilt-free 🍫chocolate cake🍰 is REAL! This super-moist fudgy loaf cake is hiding a healthy secret: each loaf contains a zucchini🥒, a sweet potato🍠, and two bananas🍌!!! Great for lunch boxes, snacks, or as a healthy dessert. Freezes well too!

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]

#guiltfree #chocolatecake #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #fudgy #sweetpotato #zucchini #zucchinirecipes #bananabread #pandemicbaking
When you're craving Indian takeout🥡 but don't w When you're craving Indian takeout🥡 but don't want to order in, try this easy recipe for 🍆Shortcut Eggplant Bartha🍆 (aka a curry by any other name). 

It's essentially a tomato-based veggie stew seasoned with classic Indian flavors like 🌱cumin and 🌱coriander. 

Easy and flavourful, plus it freezes and reheats well...what's not to love? 

[Recipe on the blog; link in profile]
.
.
.
#preservativefree #shortcutcooking #indianfood #noneedfortakeout #vegetarianrecipes #veganrecipes #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #potluckdish #dinnerpartydish #foodblogger
Love the baked treats from ☕Starbucks☕ but try Love the baked treats from ☕Starbucks☕ but trying to find a less-processed aka healthier version? These Copycat Starbucks Fudge Oat Squares are practically identical! With an oatmeal cookie base, a fudge filling, and more oatmeal cookies on top, you can't go wrong . Great as a mid-morning boost in between zoom meetings, or for Netflix and snacking. Soooo yummy! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile. ]
.
.
.
#starbucks #copycatrecipe #fudgeoatbar #fudgeoatsquare #fudge #oatmealcookies #preservativefree #preservativefreemovement #preservativefreecommunity #goesgreatwithcoffee #allthenoms
Want to join in the pandemic bread baking, but can Want to join in the pandemic bread baking, but can't be bothered to source a sourdough starter? This No-Knead Shortcut Artisan Bread will allow you to humble brag on IG or fb  with minimal effort. But honestly, this bread tastes better than any social media 'like' ever could. Freshly sliced, warm out of the oven, and served with a pat of butter...it goes great with breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Freezes well and heaps healthier than the storebought longlife sliced bread. Soooo yummy! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]
.
.
.
#pandemicbaking #covidcooking #shortcut #easyaf #freshbread #homemade #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #impressyourself #carbsforlife
Not into sourdough but want a pandemic stress reli Not into sourdough but want a pandemic stress reliever? Make these Cinnamon & Sugar Aggression Cookies! 🍪 You pound the dough and get out all your stress. And then you have less stress...and COOKIES!!! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]
.
.
.
#cookiesofinstagram #cookies🍪 #cinnamonandsugar #stressrelief #stressbaking #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefreemovement #foodblogger #allthecookies #handoverthecookies
Got a summer berry surplus? This Low-Sugar Healthy Got a summer berry surplus? This Low-Sugar Healthy Berry Crumble is like a cross between berry jam and an oatmeal cookie. Jam-packed with flavour, antioxidants, and fibre, you'd never know it was low-sugar! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]
.
.
.
#berrylicious #preservativefree #preservativefreecommunity #lowsugar #berrycrumble #healthy #yummy #easypeasy #preservativefreefood #foodblogger #foodbloggertoronto
Summer heat getting to you, but trying to eat less Summer heat getting to you, but trying to eat less processed food? This rich 🍫chocolate 🍫🍦ice cream🍦 is swirled with ribbons of real peanut butter, and only has 4 real food ingredients! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile]
.
.
.
#preservativefreemovement #chocolate #preservativefreecommunity #icecream🍦 #chocolateislife🍫 #peanutbutter #peanutbutterswirl #homemadeicecream #preservativefree #chocolateicecream #allthenoms
Because comfort eating is a thing. Cinnamon sugar- Because comfort eating is a thing. Cinnamon sugar-dusted pillowy doughnuts, filled with 🍒cherry🍒 preserves...but with an easy shortcut (pizza dough!) because the quicker you make them the quicker you can eat them! [Recipe on the blog; link in profile.]
.
.
.
#preservativefreemovement #cinnamonsugar #donuts🍩 #cherry #cherry🍒 #preservativefreefood #preservativefreecommunity #preservativefree #justplaintasty #quickaf #doughnuts🍩
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Categories

  • 101 Series aka How-To
  • All About the Food(ie Books)
  • Blatherings
  • Breads
  • Breakfast Foods
  • Cakes
  • Cook-a-Longs R Us
  • Cookies
  • Desserts Not Otherwise Categorized
  • Drinks
  • Food Odyssey
  • Ice Cream Treats
  • Memories of Meals Past
  • Parfaits and Trifles
  • Pies
  • Preserves
  • Quick Breads
  • Recipe Smackdown
  • Salads I Have Known and Loved
  • Snacks
  • Soups
  • Uncategorized
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian Main Dishes
  • Vegetarian Side Dishes
  • Waste Not Want Not

Copyright © 2022 Approaching Food on the Foodie Pro Theme