Sometimes it’s not enough to have a dessert that’s sweet. Sometimes you just need something that’s equal parts sweet AND cute. Something that you can enjoy looking at almost as much as you enjoy eating it. But just almost. We don’t want to go overboard here.
My sophomore year in college (and we’re not even going to talk about how long ago that is at this point) I befriended a Chinese exchange student who introduced me to the wonderful world of kawaii and k-pop.
I’m not even afraid to say it at this point, k-pop and kawaii are my guilty pleasures. Heck, they’re not even guilty pleasures because I practically wear them on my sleeve. Quite literally in some cases.
Step into my car for any amount of time, you’re going to hear k-pop. Look closely enough at my purse or any one of my jackets, you’re going to see a kawaii pin. Spend 10 seconds on my blog, something kawaii inspired will probably slap you across the face with preposterously high levels of cuteness. #SorryNotSorry
And although Kawaii doughnuts have kind of been my jam as of late, I couldn’t let breakfast get all the kawaii cuteness love. Dessert’s gotta get some love too, yo! So here to spread the kawaii dessert love are these I-just-want-to-squeeze-their-cheeks-and-squuuuuuuuuuuuuee panda cupcakes.
Panda Cupcakes
These Kawaii inspired panda cupcakes are paws-atively adorable! And if you use store bought cupcakes and frosting, they come together in a flash.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 12
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 12 cupcakes
- 4 1/2 cups frosting
- 1 package mini Oreos
- Black non pareils
- White food coloring
Instructions
- For this tutorial you’ll need a dozen cupcakes and 4 1/2 cups frosting. You can buy this sort of thing at the store (judgement free zone here) but if you need some recipe suggestions, this is my favorite cupcake recipeand favorite frosting recipe (you’ll want to make 3/4 of the recipe for the frosting).
- Gently twist all of your Oreos a part. Using your white food coloring and a food-only brush, paint eyes onto the cookies without the cream filling. Allow to dry completely.
- To make the perfect mounds of frosting you’ll want to use an ice cream scoop that has been chilled in the freezer. A cold ice cream scoop will keep the frosting from sticking when you try to transfer to the cupcake and will give it that smooth finish. Scoop a small mound of frosting onto each cupcake.
- Add a black non pareil for the nose, the painted Oreos for the eyes, and the remaining oreos for the ears.
OMG these are SOOO cute! They are the perfect use for oreos 🙂
Love these! They definitely have an anime feeling!
These are so stinkin’ cute!
Oh my gosh, these are just way too adorable! How creative and what a great way to use mini oreos. I wouldn’t have thought to decorate with them like this!
Oh my gosh these are so adorable! I love pandas, and these would be so awesome for a bday party
These cupcakes are just darling! I am totally not creative when it comes to things like this and love this idea!
These are the cutest things ever… And bonus that these are covered in Oreos and frosting!
You make the cutest stuff and are very punny. I love the eyes you put on these little treats.
These are the cutest and yes – I like sweet and cute! And I love that these are not overly complicated to make which means I can give this recipe to my 10 year old and she can make these with no problem! What a fun thing for the kids to do and we can enjoy the sweet treat! Thanks!!!
These are just so cute! I am imagining how perfect they would be for a little zoo-themed birthday party – my son would go nuts for these! 🙂
Very creative of you to make this little cupcakes look like pandas. My kids are going to love this!
Oh my goodness! These are soooo cute! I love the use of the mini oreos, great idea!
OMG!!! They are soooo cute! I want to eat one right now!