Using a yellow cake mix, and store purchased frosting and sprinkles, you can transform a cupcake into a super cute “hamburger!” Perfect for desserts at cookouts!

Recently, I have been going through some of my old recipes and re-doing them. These Hamburger Cupcakes were the perfect one for the official kick-off of summer this weekend, and make an amazing cookout dessert that kids young and old will love!

I originally posted this recipe waaaaaaay back in June of 2012. Hard to believe it’s been 7 years. My food blog is a bit of a “dinosaur” in comparison to many, but you know what? I am okay with that. I have hundreds of recipes to offer my readers, and how can that be a bad thing?

original hamburger cupcake photo from 2012

The original photos of these hamburger cupcakes were actually taken by an old friend of mine, named Tonja. She made them for something for her kiddos and snapped a photo of them. I popped them on my blog and they have been here ever since.

Here’s How the Original Story Went:

I have been friends with Tonja, well, since I took her job in 1991. Sounds terrible doesn’t it? Well, it didn’t really play out quite like that.

I went to work for a bridal salon, taking a full-time job as a bridal consultant. It was funny, because all I kept hearing about was the girl that had my job before I did.

“Tonja, Tonja, Tonja!!” (insert Jan Brady whine here)

Funny thing was, every time she talked to the girls who worked there, or she stopped in, they were always talking about me.

We got to know each other a while later, and lost our jealousy… She and I were both pregnant with our first babies, and we both had boys! We were both stay at home moms, and we would talk on the phone all day.

Now you might think I am exaggerating, but it really was ALL DAY. Like, charge one cordless phone while you talked, and when they beeped,

time to switch off again. We used to meet at the mall with the boys in the strollers, for “something to do.”

(for the record I think 1995 was the last time I was bored)

Well, Tonja has always been a baker. I was the cooker, but she was always making cookies or something. One of the recipes that I share with you every Christmas, Grandma Davis’ Sugar Cookies, is her recipe, too. Last night she sent me a picture of these adorable cupcakes that she made for her daughter’s softball party.

I shared the picture with all of you on my facebook page, and everyone wanted to know how to do it!

It doesn’t get much easier than this?

What do I need to make these Hamburger Cupcakes?

box of yellow cake mix
water, oil, egg
chocolate fudge frosting
red, yellow and green frosting
white jimmies (sprinkles)

You don’t want to fill the cupcake tin up too full. I made that mistake on a few of them and they had more of that “cap” on top.

Slice the top off of the cupcake. Frost the bottom with chocolate fudge frosting to form the “burger.” Add green frosting to make the “lettuce.” Next up, yellow and red frosting for the “mustard and ketchup.”

Top with the top of the cupcake.

Top with the white jimmies for the “sesame seed bun effect.”

^ Love them? Pin them! ^

Tonja and I have known each other for over 20 years. Time has gone on, our lives have changed, and we rarely see one another anymore. This photo was taken around the same time this post originally went up.

She and I attended the Def Leppard and Poison concert at our ball field, TD Ameritrade Park. You may have heard of it? It’s where the College World Series is held every year?

Anyway, we had good seats in the 9th row. Then right after Poison was done playing, the security guard came and invited us to sit in the front row!! It was SO COOL!! We took this picture that night. Good times.

These are just so super cute!! My son called them “Crabby Patty Cupcakes.” If you have ever watched Sponge Bob, you will get what I mean!

Other Clever Cupcakes:

Who’s ready to wow everyone at the BBQ this weekend with these great Hamburger Cupcakes? They are just perfect for any cookout!

Yield: about 17

Hamburger Cupcakes

Name: Hamburger Cupcakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: about 17
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 box yellow cake mix; water, oil and eggs to prepare mix; Chocolate Fudge Frosting; Red, Yellow and Green Frosting; White Jimmies (sprinkles)

Using a yellow cake mix, and store purchased frosting and sprinkles, you can transform a cupcake into a super cute "hamburger!" Perfect for desserts at cookouts!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

1 box yellow cake mix
water, oil and eggs to prepare mix
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Red, Yellow and Green Frosting
White Jimmies (sprinkles)

Instructions

Prepare cake mix according to box instructions. Spray cupcake pans with liners. Fill the cupcake liners 1/3 of the way full. You want them to bake just to the edge of the liner, not "muffin top" over.

Bake according to package instructions. Remove the cakes from the pan and cut the tops off.

Pipe or gently spread chocolate frosting on the bottom layer of the cupcake to make the burger. Drizzle the red, yellow and green frosting towards the edges to resemble the condiments.

Put the tops on and then add the sprinkles.

Notes

Tip - Add the sprinkles to the cupcakes a couple of minutes before they are done baking and they will stick a little better.

You can use your own yellow cake recipe, and frosting recipes if desired.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 221Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 256mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 1gSugar: 23gProtein: 3g

Nutrition isn't guaranteed accurate.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to know! Snap a picture, share the photo on social media with the hashtag #AnAffairFromTheHeart – I’d love to see what you made! – Michaela

Comments

Sara Welch says

May 21, 2019 at 4:54 pm

What a great treat for summer! This would be great for a summer BBQ themed party!

Shashi at SavorySpin says

May 21, 2019 at 7:47 pm

These are so dang adorable! What a fun summer treat!

Deb says

May 21, 2019 at 9:27 pm

Oh my goodness, those cupcakes are AMAZING! Great job and so fun – love them and great story too – front seat row at Def Leppard? Awesome!

Raquel says

May 21, 2019 at 9:43 pm

I just saw a friend make these for her son’s boy scout troupe and thought, “how cute!” What a fun recipe!

Jamie says

May 21, 2019 at 9:49 pm

I love how cute and playful these are! Sure to trick some people I’m sure! 😀

Jere Cassidy says

May 21, 2019 at 10:03 pm

What a fun story. I use to make hamburger cakes for my girls, this brings back so good memories.

Lisa says

May 23, 2019 at 1:03 pm

These are the darn cutest things, I’ve ever seen! Perfect for a memorial day BBQ! I’ll have to find some GF cake mix but otherwise I’m so excited to make these! 🙂

Pam Greer says

May 23, 2019 at 1:28 pm

These are the cutest cupcakes ever!! I’m so glad you posted these, just in time for this holiday weekend!

Jen says

May 23, 2019 at 2:00 pm

Love this! Definitely making these for our Memorial day BBQ.

Jacque Hooper says

May 23, 2019 at 2:21 pm

This is how I prefer to eat cupcakes-with the frosting in the middle! Plus these are adorable!

Suzy says

May 24, 2019 at 9:21 pm

These are too cute!

Ivana says

May 24, 2019 at 9:32 pm

This is SO cute! And so easy! I can’t believe how difficult I always thought something like this would be.

Natalie says

May 25, 2019 at 1:01 am

These cupcakes are adorable! Perfect for kids’ birthday parties!

Jacqueline Debono says

May 25, 2019 at 2:29 am

These cupcakes are so great! I wish I had young kids to make them for!! But my four (yes I have 4 kids too!) have flown the nest! Hopefully they’ll give me some grandkids soon!

Michelle says

May 25, 2019 at 2:58 am

Oh, my word! These are just the cutest cupcakes! They’d be great for a birthday party too, will have to try and make them, my daughter’s birthday is coming up soon and she would love these!

Hamburger Cupcakes

Here’s How the Original Story Went:

What do I need to make these Hamburger Cupcakes?

^ Love them? Pin them! ^

Other Clever Cupcakes:

Hamburger Cupcakes

Ingredients

Instructions