Valentines Cupcakes with M&M's and Pink Candy Corn

Since grabbing a bag of Valentine M&M's and also Valentine Candy Corn, we couldn't help but dive into them and start making all sorts of Valentine cupcake designs. Here's some ideas and patterns we've come up with and wanted to share. The red, pink(s) and white colors are a wonderful mix of holiday M&M's and the candy corns (also called cupid corn - isn't that a perfect name?) also come in pink, red and white Valentines colors.

Shown here is a new design of layered hearts (on a heart shaped cupcake no less) and there's several others to check out listed below.

I think it's the memories from grade school and childhood that make Valentines cupcakes, treats and crafts so fun to make.

For the middle cupcake I used pink icing because I wanted to use a white M&M in the middle and needed the contrast. The cake recipe I used on these particular cupcakes is chocolate pound cake. I mixed up half a batch of batter, reduced the temperature to 300 degrees and cooked them for about 35 minutes. One thing I really liked about using that recipe was that the cupcakes didn't mound up very much on top. And the flavor - OMG - I shouldn't have made them while hubby is trying to diet!

We still love making the tried and true M&M flower which is one M&M in the middle and six around. The Valentine M&M bag has a great mix of colors and I think these flowers look quite artsy. Leveling the tops of the Cupcakes may be needed: Depending on the cupcakes and the room temperature, you may have to level the tops of the cupcakes so the M&M's stay put! If the cupcakes have a mounded top and it's warm inside, the M&M's may slide around some. *If you use cupcake liners, this may not be necessary as the liners provide support for the icing.

We had an idea to turn the M&M's to stand up like this. I think I could have even tightened up the design and added one more row going outward toward the edge. Note: Nope, I tried it and it was just too many pieces and too much going on. I like this way much better. This pattern reminds me of eyelet (fabric). Cute and easy to make Valentine's Cupcakes.

Always check the size of the liners since 2 sizes are available. There's the standard size and also a mini size for mini cupcakes.

This cupcake is a regular round cupcake with heart shaped icing on top. I've also added 2 cupid corns for decoration.

With four colors in the bags, all sorts of combinations can be made.

On Heart Shaped Cupcakes!

This is our favorite design so far. I used heart shaped cupcakes (more on that when you scroll down) and layered the M and M's in a heart pattern.

To make this design, I added the row of three M&M's first (widest part) because I wanted to be sure to stay centered. Then I tucked in the 2 M&Ms at the top keeping them layered. Then finished up with 2 and then 1. I like it!

Made from Silicone

Yes, I like them and will use them again. I made some cupcakes with paper liners (see some really nice options below) and some without. To my surprise I like the results with the liners better than without! I know the big selling point for silicone is that it's easy release...and it was. BUT, the shape seems more striking with the liner on the cupcake.

And just a note: I used regular round liners. My liners took on the shape of the heart as the cupcakes baked. How cute for Valentine's Day!

Here are some options for heart shaped cupcake pans.

My daughter keeps telling me how much she likes these. She says the one on the right is unusual and unique. I think so too.

Next time I'm going to try to fit 5 M&M's on the "X" cupcake so I have a middle piece. It turned out OK, but kind of hard to keep it even the way I did it here.