Moana Cupcakes
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These tropical Moana Cupcakes, with their vibrant blue waves and sandy beaches, will transport you to straight to the South Pacific. Topped with the cutest edible palm trees and candy flowers, they’re the perfect treat for your own island adventure!
Moana Cupcake Recipe
We’re huge fans of the Moana movie and are counting the days until Moana 2 hits theaters. Until then, these cute Moana Cupcakes are a fun way to build the anticipation. With graham cracker beaches and palm tree toppers, they’re perfect for a Moana-inspired party or movie night.
These super fun cupcakes are really easy to make with your favorite boxed cake mix and store-bought frosting. The decorating is by far the best part and the kids will love helping you add the palm trees, sandy shores and colorful waves of frosting. It’s a dessert that’ll add a bit of island magic to any occasion.
Planning a Moana birthday party? You’ll want to check out these adorable DIY Moana invitations and Free Printable Moana Thank You Cards. This Moana paper doll craft makes a great party activity too!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Easy: These cupcakes start with a boxed cake mix and store-bought frosting, making this recipe quick and simple.
- Fun For Kids: Kids always love a Disney theme so if you’re looking for something fun to do on a rainy day, why not bake together?
- Tropical vibes: This Moana inspired party treat is also perfect for a Hawaiian luau birthday or even a pool party!
Ingredients
- Yellow Cake Mix – plus ingredients needed to make it (usually eggs, water and oil)
- White frosting – you can use a container of store-bought or make it from scratch
- Blue frosting – I used a little blue gel food coloring in white frosting
- Graham crackers – crushed
- Pretzel sticks
- Light cocoa candy melts
- Dark green candy melts
- Dark green sanding sugar
- Wilton candy flowers
*A list of supplies you’ll need can be found in the recipe card at the bottom.
How to Make Moana Themed Cupcakes
Step 1. Bake cupcakes according to the box instructions and let them cool completely before decorating.
Step 2. Melt brown chocolates in the microwave for one minute, stirring after each 15 second interval. Continue until they’re melted and smooth, then dip pretzels 3/4 of the way into the chocolate one by one. Allow them to dry slightly before placing them on parchment paper. Pour leftover chocolate into a piping bag and cut off a small tip.
Step 3. Holding the pretzel, drizzle chocolate over it in a back and forth motion. Lay them on parchment paper and allow them to set completely.
Step 4. For the palm leaves, melt the dark green candy melts the same way, then add to a piping bag. Lay out a piece of parchment paper and pipe palm trees leaves on top, creating 3 leaves on each side. Sprinkle immediately with sanding sugar and let harden completely.
Step 5. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on your work surface. Pipe a line of blue frosting and white frosting on top of the plastic wrap, then roll it up.
Step 6. Cut one end off the wrap. Then, drop the open end down into a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip.
Step 7. Starting in the center and working your way out, pipe frosting on top of each cupcake.
Step 8. Remove your palm tree leaves from the parchment paper, then dab some chocolate on the back. Stick to the top of your pretzel “tree trunk” and hold until set.
Step 9. Sprinkle half the cupcake with crushed graham crackers. Lay the edible flowers on top of your graham cracker sand, then add a palm tree..
Step 10. Serve and enjoy.
How to Store Your Cupcakes
Since these cupcakes are frosted, it’s best to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll stay fresh for up to 4 days. To make it a little easier, you can gently remove the palm tree cake toppers and store them separately.
Before serving, let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes so the frosting softens up a little. Add your palm trees back on top and enjoy!
Variations and Add-ins
- Palm tree cupcake toppers: Don’t have time to make your own? You can find these palm tree cake toppers on Amazon.
- Moana cupcake toppers: For other fun topper ideas, add cupcake toppers that feature Moana, Maui, Hei Hei, Pua and even baby Moana.
- Beachy decorations: Make these even more beach with some chocolate sea shells. I use this shell mold to make my own and it’s super easy!
- Graham crackers: If you don’t have graham crackers, you could also use crushed Nilla Wafer cookies or Golden Oreos for the sand.
- Ocean decorations: For extra fun, add some gummy fish or candy starfish to the “ocean” area.
FAQs
You can freeze them, but it’s best to do so without the decorations, if possible. If the cupcakes are already decorated, place them in a single layer in an airtight container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 2 months. To thaw, remove the container from the freezer and let the cupcakes thaw to room temperature. The trees are delicate and may need touch-ups after thawing.
Sure! Just make sure it’s thick enough to hold the decorations and maintain its shape. This stabilized whipped cream frosting works great!
I find that it’s best to add the palm trees once I get where I’m going. Place the cupcakes in a cupcake carrier or in an airtight container with a piece of parchment paper or wax paper between them. Carefully place the trees in a plastic bag and lay them flat, then just add them when arrive.
These delicious cupcakes are perfect for a Moana birthday party or any summer party. If you’re looking for other Disney Princess cupcake ideas, be sure to check out these strawberry filled Beauty and the Beast Cupcakes.
More Cupcake Recipes
- Campfire Cupcakes
- Unicorn Cupcakes
- Coconut Lime Cupcakes
- Mickey Mouse Cupcakes
- Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
- Butterbeer Cupcakes
- Beach Cupcakes
Moana Cupcakes
Equipment
- Cupcake liners
Ingredients
- 15.25 ounces yellow cake mix plus ingredients listed on box, usually eggs, water and oil
- 1/2 cup Light Cocoa candy melts
- 24 pretzel sticks
- 1 cup dark green candy melts
- dark green sanding sugar
- 16 ounces white frosting
- 16 ounces blue frosting
- 1 sleeve graham crackers crushed
- 48 Candy flowers
Instructions
- Bake cupcakes according to the box instructions and let them cool completely before decorating.15.25 ounces yellow cake mix
- Melt cocoa candy melts in the microwave for one minute, stirring after each 15 second interval. Continue until they're melted and smooth, then dip pretzels 3/4 of the way into the chocolate one by one. Allow them to dry slightly before placing them on parchment paper. Pour leftover chocolate into a piping bag and cut off a small tip.1/2 cup Light Cocoa candy melts, 24 pretzel sticks
- Holding the pretzel, drizzle chocolate over it in a back and forth motion. Lay them on parchment paper and allow them to set completely.
- For the palm leaves, melt down your dark green candy melts the same way and add to a piping bag. Lay out a piece of parchment paper and pipe palm trees leaves on top, creating 3 leaves on each side. Sprinkle immediately with sanding sugar and let harden completely.1 cup dark green candy melts, dark green sanding sugar
- Lay a piece of plastic wrap on your work surface. Pipe a line of blue frosting and white frosting on top of the plastic wrap, then roll it up.16 ounces white frosting
- Cut one end off the wrap. Then, drop the open end down into a piping bag fitted with a 1M tip.
- Starting in the center and working your way out, pipe frosting on top of each cupcake.
- Remove your palm tree leaves from the parchment paper and dab some chocolate on the back. Stick to the top of your pretzel “tree trunk” and hold until set.
- Sprinkle half the cupcake with crushed graham crackers. Lay the edible flowers on top of your graham cracker sand, then add a palm tree..
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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