4th of July Brownie Topped Cupcake Recipe

If you’re throwing a 4th of July party this year for your family and friends, you’re going to love our new patriotic red, white and blue cupcake! And the best part, it’s actually two desserts in one because we topped our Independence Day cupcake with a brownie! That’s right – let freedom ring – we’re going all out this summer! Keep scrolling and see how we decorated these festive chocolate cupcakes because I know they’re soon to be your new favorite party food for Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day!

A few years ago we moved into a house with a pool, which means 4th of July party hosting usually falls on my plate. And I absolutely love having friends and family over for a day of playing in the pool, yard games, BBQ and fireworks! It’s always fun to put together patriotic party decor, make some special treats like Sangria Popsicles for my sister-in-laws and I really love baking up a special red, white and blue dessert! Today, let me share my new 4th of July Cupcake recipe with you – take a look…

4th of July Cupcake Ideas

You know I love homemade desserts that look super fancy and taste amazing, but are actually fairly easy to put together if you don’t do everything from scratch, right? Well this is another example. By all means, if you love baking from scratch go right ahead. But if you want to save some time, there’s no shame in buying box cake mix and pre-made brownie bites. That’s what I did here and no one was the wiser.

Here are a few key things you’ll want to make sure you pick up or have on hand (the full ingredient list is below with the recipe):

• Dark Blue Cupcake liners (or go for something a little more festive like these)
• Red, white and blue glitter star cupcake toppers
• Red, white and blue sprinkles
• A box of your favorite chocolate cake mix
• Pre-made brownie bites
• Squeeze bottle (for applying the chocolate ganache)

Patriotic Dessert Assembly

You’ll begin by making your chocolate cupcakes. You can follow the directions on the box or add in a few extra ingredients like we did in the recipe below. Either way, you’ll need to let the cupcakes completely cool before you begin assembly.

Meanwhile, mix up your chocolate frosting and chocolate ganache following the recipes and directions below. Once your cupcakes are cool, use an ice cream scoop to grab enough frosting for each cupcake. Using a mini angled spatula, lightly spread and smooth the frosting evenly into a thick mound of frosting on top of your cupcake.

Next, you’ll grab your squeeze bottle filled with chocolate ganache and pipe some onto the top of the frosting (kind of in a firework burst pattern). Before it has a chance to dry, carefully sprinkle some of your patriotic sprinkles on top like pictured.

While the ganache is setting, mix up your red, white and blue frosting as described in the recipe below. You’ll put all 3 colors carefully into a single piping bag to achieve the mixed color look that decorates the brownie bites. Top each brownie bite with frosting and some more patriotic sprinkles and then use two toothpicks to attach the brownie bite to your cupcake at a slight angle.

The final step is to add a glitter star cupcake topper to the other side of the cupcake, completing your decoration. And that’s it! Show-stopping 4th of July Cupcakes for your nearest and dearest!

I hope you give these a try at your 4th of July party this year! Be sure to Pin this post to your Recipe board too!

Print Recipe

4th of July Brownie Topped Cupcakes

This festive and fun 4th of July Cupcake is the perfect patriotic dessert idea for your party! Our kid friendly red, white and blue brownie topped chocolate cupcake recipe will be your new favorite party food for Memorial Day, the Fourth, Labor Day and all summer long!

Course

Dessert

Servings

cupcakes

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes

• 1 box triple chocolate cake mix
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened
• 1 1/4 cup whole milk
• 24 cupcake liners

Chocolate Frosting

• 3 cups unsalted sweet cream butter softened
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 5-7 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Chocolate Ganache Ingredients

• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 squeeze bottle
• Patriotic sprinkles

Red, White and Blue Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 3-5 tbsp heavy whipping cream
• Red and blue gel food coloring
• Patriotic sprinkles
• 3 bowls
• 1 medium star tip and large piping bag
• 24 pre-made mini brownie bites
• 1 package glitter star cupcake toppers
• 1 package toothpicks (2 per cupcake)

Course Dessert Servings cupcakes Ingredients Chocolate Cupcakes 1 box triple chocolate cake mix 3 eggs 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened 1 1/4 cup whole milk 24 cupcake liners Chocolate Frosting 3 cups unsalted sweet cream butter softened 6 cups powdered sugar 1/2 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder 5-7 tbsp heavy whipping cream 2 tsp Vanilla Extract Chocolate Ganache Ingredients 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 squeeze bottle Patriotic sprinkles Red, White and Blue Frosting 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter softened 2 cups powdered sugar 1 tsp Vanilla Extract 3-5 tbsp heavy whipping cream Red and blue gel food coloring Patriotic sprinkles 3 bowls 1 medium star tip and large piping bag 24 pre-made mini brownie bites 1 package glitter star cupcake toppers 1 package toothpicks (2 per cupcake)

Instructions

Chocolate Cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line your cupcake pan with the cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cake mix, butter and milk; mix until combined.
3. Fill the cupcake liners ¾ way full with batter.
4. Bake in the oven for about 21 minutes.
5. Pull out and place on the side to cool completely before frosting.

Chocolate Frosting

1. Using a standing mixer combine the butter, powdered sugar, heavy whipping cream, vanilla and cocoa powder; mix on medium speed until combined and smooth.
2. Using the ice cream scooper, scoop out some frosting and place it onto the top of the cupcake.
3. Using a mini angled spatula, lightly spread and smooth the frosting evenly into a thick mound of frosting.

Chocolate Ganache

1. Using a small pot, bring the heavy whipping cream to a slow boil.
2. Place the chocolate chips into a heat proof bowl.
3. Pour the hot heavy whipping cream over the chocolate chips.
4. Let the mixture sit for 1 minute before whisking until smooth.
5. Pour the ganache into the squeeze bottle.
6. Using the squeeze bottle, pipe ganache onto the chocolate frosting in a firework pattern as shown.
7. Carefully sprinkle some patriotic sprinkles onto the ganache before it sets.

Red, White and Blue Frosting

1. Using a standing mixer, combine all ingredients except the food coloring into the bowl and mix on medium speed.
2. If your frosting starts looking like powdery rocks, add another tablespoon of heavy whipping cream and then mix until you see creamy stiff peaks.
3. Scoop ¼ cup of frosting into each of the 3 bowls.
4. Add the red food coloring to one bowl and mix well. Add the blue food coloring to the second bowl and mix well. Leave the third bowl white.
5. Fit the star tip into the piping bag and place the bag inside a cup, pulling the bag over the edge of the cup (this helps to hold it while you put the frosting inside).
6. Using a spoon, scoop the red frosting and put it on one side (about 1/3) of the piping bag. Repeat with the blue and white frosting.
7. Pipe the patriotic frosting onto the brownie bites and sprinkle some more patriotic sprinkles on top.
8. Place two toothpicks into the bottom of the brownie bite and place it onto the top of the cupcakes at a slight angle on one side.
9. Place a glitter star cupcake topper next to the brownie bite on the other side to finish your decorations. Serve and enjoy!

Share this Recipe

You Might Also Like...

3D Stacked Christmas Tree Cookie Recipe Easy “Eat Me” Alice in Wonderland Cupcake Toppers Christmas Holly Cupcakes Delicious Milk and Cookies Cupcake Recipe