Pilgrim Hat Thanksgiving Cupcakes – white cupcakes with a classic buttercream are topped with an edible pilgrim hat – the perfect Thanksgiving cupcakes!
Being that this week is Thanksgiving, I thought I would get my act together and actually put together some Thanksgiving treats!! And I totally wish I came up with this idea, because I think these Thanksgiving cupcakes are the cutest things. But alas, I didn’t come up with it. I actually saw some cupcakes decorated like this when I went on a “back of the store” tour for a local grocery store. When I saw them, I immediately thought – I’m totally stealing that idea!!
Then I got home and as I was blog hopping, I saw similar cupcakes at Our Best Bites and Hoosier Homemade. But just because they’ve been done before doesn’t mean that they can’t be done again!!
These Thanksgiving cupcakes would be a great activity for the kids to put together on Thanksgiving. And I’m sure everyone will have fun eating them!!
You start with white cupcakes. You can really use any white cupcake recipe you want, but the one I’ve included is super easy because it starts with a box mix. Bake your cupcakes and let them cool.
Next up is the buttercream that you will use to frost the cupcakes before they are topped with the Pilgrim hat.
To make the pilgrim hat, all you need is a fudge stripe cookie and a miniature Reese’s peanut butter cup. They are held together by some of the buttercream, making the ribbon and buckle that go on the hat. They don’t have to be perfect. I don’t have a very steady hand, but I think they turned out really cute and fun!
These Pilgrim Hat THanksgiving Cupcakes are so perfect for Thanksgiving. They can be placed at the place settings or served as dessert. Either way, I’m sure they will be a hit!
Looking for more free recipes?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
Pilgrim Hat Thanksgiving Cupcakes
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Yield: 24 cupcakes 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
Description
White cupcakes with a classic buttercream are topped with an edible pilgrim hat – the perfect Thanksgiving cupcakes.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 (18.25 oz.) package white cake mix with pudding
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Buttercream
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3–4 cups powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
Pilgrim Hats
- Thanksgiving/Fall sprinkles (optional)
- 24 Fudge Stripe Cookies
- 24 Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped
Instructions
Make the cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Line 24 muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- In the bowl of a mixer, combine all of the cupcake ingredients and mix on low until combined. Turn the speed up to medium and beat for 2 minutes.
- Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 full of batter. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Make the buttercream:
- With a mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Add in the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. Beat for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add in the milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.
Assemble the cupcakes:
- Reserve about 1/2 cup of the buttercream. Place the remaining buttercream in a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip. Pipe the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes, then add sprinkles, if desired.
- Tint the reserved buttercream orange or yellow. Place in a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Place a peanut butter cup upside down on the bottom (chocolate) side of each of the fudge striped cookies. Pipe the frosting around the base of the peanut butter cup to hold it in place. Pipe a buckle on the peanut butter cup.
- Place one cookie hat on top of each cupcake.
Recipe Notes:
cupcake recipe from Southern Living
Rachel says
Can I use my hand to manually mix as well?
Deborah says
Yes – you definitely can!
Nicole says
I am very excited to make these for Thanksgiving. I will be getting started here in an hour or so. It all looks delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
valerie marinez says
The top hat part was done with Mini Reese’s?? I am making these right now and they look very small for the hat part.
Deborah says
It is one of the regular mini Reese’s – the ones that you have to unwrap, not the ones that come in the bag unwrapped. Hope that helps!
Amy @ www.rockpaperscissorsinvitations.com says
Those are so cute-you could even make them personalized for everyone!
Wonderful.
grace says
GEEZ, why can't i be creative like that? those little hats are brilliants, and so doable. sigh. 🙂
Holly says
I love these!! Sooo cute:)
Monet says
Not only are these cupcakes precious, but sweet Abbi made me melt too! These look like such a fun holiday treat. Thank you for sharing with me…I hope you have a wonderful week of feasting, friends and family!
Madison Marie says
What a cute idea! I wish I'd seen it earlier so I could have brought them into my kindergartners!
Tasha says
These are just too cute! I'm wishing I had a place to bring Thanksgiving cupcakes to.
vanillasugar says
oh deb those are cute. love them!
Julie says
So cute! If I didn't have to work on T-day I'd be making these! Your little one is too sweet 🙂
Tessa says
I love these and your idea to make them the day of with the kiddo's is perfect. Thanks for the idea!
scarlettabakes says
These are absolutely, positively adorable!
I can not wait to make them. Thanks so much for the recipe, and for the gorgeous photographs!
teresa says
eeeeeh, sheer adorability! love this!
Kristy says
Those are so cute! Love them!
Dawn says
So simple and so cute! Can't wait to make these and bring into work to share.
Veeda says
so cute!
Ingrid says
Your babygirl is too cute!
Happy Thanksgiving!
~ingrid
Katie Rose says
Super cute idea! I'm going to have to buy a lot of extra pb cups though, I think some might get…damaged yeah that's it, during assembly 😉
Kim says
Abbi is so precious. Love the pic of her shoveling the sprinkles in 🙂
I'm loving the look of these cupcakes and wish I could go in the kitchen and whip them up right now. My daughter would love them, but my 4 year old is allergic to peanut butter.
Joanne says
These are awesome! I almost forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving with all of the thoughts about food at this time of year but thanks for reminding me what we are REALLY celebrating!
Keersten says
Oh my goodness, those are darling! You could even let the kids help assemble them. Thanks!
Georgia (The Comfort of Cooking) says
These are super adorable, Deborah. You are so creative with cupcakes, cakes and all manner of desserts! Way to go! I hope you and your family have a wonderful and very happy Thanksgiving!
Megan says
How cute and a great cupcake to let the kids help.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Barbara says
How fun are those? And so easy to make, too!
I'm sure they were pleased you stole their idea. I'm going to steal it too!