Bring a little bakery magic home with this Twice Upon A Cupcake copycat-an adorable double-layer cupcake that hides a sweet surprise inside. It's festive, fun, and shockingly easy to recreate with simple ingredients and a bit of clever assembly.
Jump to:
The Twice Upon a Cupcake debuted in Magic Kingdom and has been all over Instagram. With it's fun hidden mickey and festive Christmas tree look I can see why!
Since last year I shared my easy Christmas Tree Cupcake I thought I'd give this fun cupcake a try!
Why This Recipe Works
- Fun Presentation: The hidden Mickey inside adds a whimsical twist perfect for holidays and parties.
- Simple Ingredients: Box cake mixes and a few batches of homemade frosting make this approachable for any skill level.
- Customizable Flavors: You can mix and match cake and frosting flavors to fit any season.
- Kid-Approved: Both the process and the final look are especially fun for little helpers.
What This Recipe Needs
- Funfettie, White, and Red Velvet Cake Mix: Creates the base cupcake, the hidden Mickey, and the tree, with a soft, fluffy crumb.
- Green Food Coloring Gel: Colors the frosting for a beautiful green color!
- Buttercream Frosting: Smooth, sweet, and easy to spread, to decorate the tree.
- Sprinkles and Black Decorating Gel: Add the festive touch of Christmas Tree Lights to your cupcake.
- Cupcake Liners, Star Piping Tip: Essential for creating both the tree and the full-size cupcake layers.
Substitutions
- Cake Mix Flavor: Swap in chocolate, spice, or yellow cake mix for a new twist. Or make my funfetti birthday cupcakes from scratch!
- Frosting: Choose cream cheese frosting for a richer flavor or use homemade if preferred.
- Sprinkles: If you don't have seasonal sprinkles, use sanding sugar or edible glitter.
Love red velvet? Check out my red velvet crinkles cookies and red velvet brownies!
How to Make Twice Upon a Cupcake:
- Step 1: Start by making your red velvet cake mix. I baked mine in a greased, large rimmed baking sheet because it makes it so much faster- but use whatever cake pans or baking dishes you have- adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Step 2: While that's baking, make your vanilla/white cake batter- set aside.
- Step 3: Make your funfetti cake batter and use it to make two dozen cupcakes baked according to the package directions, then set aside and let cool.
- Step 4: Once your red velvet cake has baked and is cool enough to handle, crumble the entire cake into a large bowl. Then stir in a little water and a little white cupcake batter.
- Step 5: Place a small amount of white cupcake batter in the bottom of each cupcake liner in a cupcake pan. Then roll a small ball of the red velvet mixture and place it in each cupcake liner.
- Step 6: Take another small amount of red velvet cake, roll it into a log, and carefully connect the two ends to form a circle. This takes a little practice because the red velvet cake needs to be worked enough so it doesn't break. Smooth out any tears and then place the circle on top of each ball in the cupcake tins to form a halo.
- Step 1: Cover each Mickey with more white cupcake batter. You don't need to fill the cupcake liners up; make sure to cover the top of each circle, then bake.
- Step 2: Cut each Funfetti cupcake into a cone shape. The easiest way I found to do this is to cut at an angle. Just be careful!
- Step 3: Make your white and green frostings.
- Step 4: Using white buttercream and a piping bag with the tip cut off, pipe a layer of white buttercream onto every baked white cupcake with the hidden Mickey.
Save this for later!
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Don't worry, I promise not to spam you!
- Step 5: Then press a cut funfetti cone onto each frosted cupcake. Using the Wilton 22 Piping Tip in a piping bag with green buttercream, pipe on the tree.
- Step 6: Then, using your black decorating gel or black buttercream, pipe a spiral string around the tree. Gently press on the light bulbs and enjoy!
Variations
- Red & Green Holiday Cupcakes: Make the base cupcake green and the top tree one red for extra Christmas charm.
- Winter Wonderland: Dust the finished cupcakes with powdered sugar and top with snowflake sprinkles.
Expert Tips
- Don't overfill the cupcake liners-¾ full is perfect for a clean dome.
- Use gel color for bright green batter without watering it down.
- Slice one cupcake after baking to check your "inside reveal" before frosting the whole batch.
Differences Between the Copycat Cupcake and The Original:
- The copycat is slightly smaller. The original uses a taller, more uniform cylindrical cupcake mold. Not only did I want to use what I had at home (instead of searching the internet for a perfect copy cupcake pan), but I wanted everyone who makes them not to have to buy a new cupcake pan, too.
- The original has larger, softer/, light bulb decorations. I used small light bulb sprinkles because that is what I could find at my local grocery store.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Twice Upon A Cupcake?
It's a Chrismtas tree cupcake with a hidden Mickey baked inside, creating a fun surprise when sliced.
Can I Make These Ahead of Time?
Yes! Bake the cupcakes and frost a day ahead. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
What Frosting Works Best?
Any buttercream or canned frosting spreads easily and holds decorations well.
How to Store Twice Upon a Cupcakes?
Store cupcake sin the refrigerator in an airtight container (if you can fine one that will fit them!) for 4-5 days.
How to Use Up Funfetti Scraps?
I recommend adding a little frosting and dipping in some candy melts to make my super easy chocolate cake pops, or even better, my Christmas Cake Pops!
More Related Recipes
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out these other fun Christmas Recipes: Hot Cocoa Beignets, Christmas Wreath Cookies, Christmas Cheesecake, Easy Holiday Cake, Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe, and this easy Gingerbread Man Recipe.
If you like this recipe, make sure to give it a 5-star review and leave a comment down below!
Also, don't forget to sign up for my newsletter, and make sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
Video
Twice Upon a Cupcake Copycat
Make this fun Twice Upon A Cupcake copycat-festive cupcakes with a hidden Mickey inside, perfect for holidays and parties.
Print
Pin
Servings: 24 cupcakes
Equipment
- Wilton 22 Piping Tip
- Cupcake Liners
Ingredients
- 1 Box of Funfetti Cake Mix plus oil, egg whites and water
- 1 Box Red Velvet Cake Mix plus oil, eggs and water
- 1 Box White Cake Mix plus oil, egg whites and water
- ¼ cup water
- Black Decorating Gel or Black Buttercream*
- Light Bulb Sprinkles
White Buttercream Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbs vanilla
- 5 tbs heavy cream
- Pinch salt
Green Buttercream Ingredients
- 2 cups unsalted butter
- 10 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbs vanilla
- 10 tbs heavy cream
- Pinch Salt
- ½ teaspoon Green Food Gel
Instructions
Red Velvet Cake
- Follow the instructions on the box for making the red velvet cake batter and bake according to the box instructions. If you want your cake to bake a little quick, bake in a greased large rimmed baking sheet @350 for 10-12 minutes until fully baked.1 Box Red Velvet Cake Mix
- Remove from oven and allow to cool enough to handle.
Funfetti cupcake toppers:
- Follow the instructions on the box for making the funfetti cake batter and bake 24 cupcakes according to the box instructions. I like to use cupcake liners in my cupcake pan but that's up to you.1 Box of Funfetti Cake Mix
- Once baked, allow to cool, then cut into cone shapes.* I like to carefully cut at an angle to form a cone. It might take a little practice to get really good at making a cone shape- but it won't be a big deal once everything is frosted!
Vanilla Cupcakes with the Hidden Mickey:
- Follow the instructions on the box for making the white cake batter.1 Box White Cake Mix
- Crumble your red velvet cake in a large bowl and add ½ cup of the white cake batter and ¼ cup water to it. Stir until fully combined.¼ cup water
- In a lined cupcake tin place a small about of white cupcake batter. Enough to cover the bottom. Then, take a small amount of the red velvet cake mixture and roll it into a ball. Place the ball in the center of the cupcake tin on top of the white cupcake batter.
- Take some more of the red velvet cake mixture and roll into a thin log, then connect the two ends forming a circle. Place the circle on top of the red velvet ball.
- Spoon more white cupcake batter over the top of the cupcake- it just need to cover the top- don't worry about filling up the sides.
- Bake cupcakes at 350°F for 14 minutes or until the they are fully baked. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
- While cupcakes are cooling make frosting. For the white frosting whip your butter until fluffy. Then alternate mixing in the powdered sugar and heavy cram until everythign is incorporated. Then add the vanilla and salt.1 cup unsalted butter, 5 cups powdered sugar, 1 tbs vanilla, 5 tbs heavy cream, Pinch salt
- For the green frosting, whip your butter until fluffy. Then alternate adding the powdered sugar and heavy cream, incorporating each until everything is incorporated. Then add the vanilla, salt and green food gel. Add more food coloring if needed.2 cups unsalted butter, 10 cups powdered sugar, 2 tbs vanilla, 10 tbs heavy cream, Pinch Salt, ½ teaspoon Green Food Gel
How to Decorate the Twice Upon a Cupcake:
- Using white buttercream and a piping bag with the tip cut off, pipe a layer of white buttercream onto every baked white cupcake with the hidden mickeys.
- Then press a funfetti cone onto each frosted cupcake.
- Using the Wilton 22 Piping Tip in a piping bag with green buttercream, pipe on the tree.Light Bulb Sprinkles
- Then using your black decorating gel, pipe on a string that spirals around the tree.Black Decorating Gel or Black Buttercream*
- Gently press on the light bulbs and enjoy!
Notes
Tips and Tricks
- I used black gel because that is what I had on hand. You can find it at your grocery store in the baking aisle or the cake decorating aisle. However, it doesn't dry, so it will always be messy. If you want to make black buttercream and pipe that on instead (using a small piping tip), you can add black food gel to homemade chocolate frosting or use store-bought black buttercream (found in the cake decorating aisle)
Nutrition
Calories: 761kcal | Carbohydrates: 120g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 421mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 99g | Vitamin A: 847IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 2mg
Lisa says
I love these cupcakes! So cute and tasty!