Union Jack Cupcakes
How to Make Union Jack Cupcakes
Learn how to make Union Jack cupcakes - the perfect choice for a British-themed celebration, sporting event, street party or red white and blue themed party!
I made these cupcakes for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, but you can make them for any occasion! Find my recipe, plus other recipes, ideas and more on how to make Union Jack cupcakes and be inspired by a dazzling array of cupcake creations.
Whether you are making a few for family and friends or a huge batch for an entire street party, you'll find what you are looking for here.
Photo Credit: Copyright of the Author
This work is the copyright of the author (2012). Please DO NOT copy this elsewhere either in print or online. Photos are copyright of the author.
This is the recipe I always use when I'm making plain cupcakes. Mix it together just right and the cakes come out beautifully light and fluffy.
Ingredients
- 125 g self-raising flour
- 125 g unsalted butter
- softened
- 125 g caster sugar (super fine sugar)
- 2 medium-sized eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- 1. Pre-heat the oven to 190 degrees (Gas mark 5) and line a 12-hole muffin tray with cupcake cases
- 2. Put the sugar and butter in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until fluffy and light, before adding the eggs, milk and flour. Beat again until you have a nice smooth mixture
- 3. Spoon a dollop of the cupcake mix into each case, dividing between them equally. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes (or until they are nicely risen and golden on top)
- 4. Transfer the cakes to a wire rack to cool
- TOP TIP: If, like me, you always forget to take the butter out overnight to soften, you can use butter out of the fridge and warm it in the oven before beating it with the sugar. I cut it into cubes and put it in an oven-proof ramekin, heating it just enough to make it soft (you will get some melted runny butter in the bottom). I actually prefer to do it this way all the time now as it seems to make the cakes lighter and fluffier!
Step 2: Glace Icing Recipe for Union Jack Cupcakes
- 250 g icing sugar or fondant icing sugar
- 60 ml water
- Blue liquid food colouring (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Put the icing or fondant icing sugar in a bowl and add 45ml or 3 tablespoons of the water. Mix together
- 2. Add more water accordingly until you start to get a nice glace paste. Add more water or sugar until you get the right consistency to coat the back of your spoon with a thick, glossy coating
- 3. Make enough to top the 12 cupcakes with a little left over to make the blue flag
- TOP TIP: I used plain white glace icing for these cupcakes as I was decorating with colour on top, but if you want the whole top of the cupcake to be blue, add liquid blue food colouring drop by drop and stir in until you reach the desired shade.
Cook Time
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 5-10 minutes (depending on your icing skills!)
Serves: Will make enough to top 12 standard cupcakes
Step 3: Decorating your Union Jack Cupcakes
- Glace icing (recipe above)
- Liquid blue food colouring
- Writing icing in white red and blue (or black)
Instructions
- TOP TIP: Wait until the glace icing topping has set before putting the design on. To keep your leftover icing from crusting over while you wait, stir it every now and again and keep the bowl covered with a damp cloth between stirs.
- 1. Put a few drops of the blue food colouring into your leftover glace icing and mix together. Keep adding a drop at a time until you get the desired shade of blue
- 2. Using blue writing icing (or black if preferred) draw a rectangle on top of each cupcake to create the outline for the flag
- 3. Using a teaspoon, put a small amount of blue glace icing in the middle and spread it evenly inside each rectangle until completely filled
- 4. Use red writing icing to create the straight and diagonal red lines of the Union Jack (follow a picture as a guide if needed)
- 5. Use white writing icing to carefully put a line of white either side of every red line, as per the flag pattern
- 6. Tidy up any wonky lines or gaps by gently maneuvering the icing with the nozzle of one of the icing tubes/pens or a cocktail stick
- 7. Allow them to set a little before serving, or store in an airtight container or cake tin
Accessories for your Union Jack Cupcakes
Bake your Union Jack cupcakes in these fabulous Union Jack cupcake cases:
Display your Union Jack Cupcakes on this amazing Union Jack Cupcake Display Stand!
If you're not sure about icing your Union Jack Cupcakes yourself, here are some other ways to achieve great results using Union Jack cupcake toppers!
More Recipes for Union Jack Cupcakes - Stunning Union Jack Cupcake Ideas to Inspire You!
- Baking Mad Union Jack Cupcakes
Make patriotic cupcakes with this selection of Union Jack cupcakes, which use flag shapes, circles or the whole icing topping to recreate the red white and blue flag pattern. - Union Jack Cupcakes Recipe
Lovely round Union Jack designs - Fondant Union Jack Cupcakes
Terrific raised fondant toppings, very striking! - Vanilla and Chocolate Union Jack Cupcakes
Make yummy chocolate and vanilla cupcakes with Union Jack hearts
Union Jack Cupcakes Display
Must-Have Gadget for Cupcake Making - Make Union Jack Cupcakes in Seconds
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Where else can you find The Cupcake Club? - Our blog, HQ on Squidoo and Facebook Fan Club.
- The Cupcake Club: The Blog
For even more cupcake ideas. - The Cupcake Club: Facebook Fan Club
This is where we have all our tasty discussions, weekly celebrations, and share our lenses back and forth. - The Cupcake Club: Make your own cupcake page on Squidoo
Where you can go to make your next cupcake page for the club. For free.
