These Bee Cakes are the buzz of any party table! Whether you’re throwing a Winnie the Pooh party, a spring garden birthday, or just want to bake something adorable with the kids, these little treats are as fun to look at as they are to eat.
Imagine soft, fluffy cupcakes (or mini cakes) decorated like little bees—striped with frosting, candy wings, and sweet little faces. They’re easy to decorate with a few clever ingredients, and you can use any cake flavor your family loves (vanilla, lemon, or honey are perfect choices!).
🛒 What You’ll Need
For the Cake:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
For Decorating:
- Yellow frosting (buttercream or store-bought)
- Chocolate frosting or black decorating gel
- Candy eyes
- Sliced almonds or white chocolate buttons (for wings)
- Optional: Black licorice strings or melted chocolate (for antennae)
- Use a round piping tip for smooth frosting stripes.
- Chill the cakes slightly before decorating so the frosting doesn’t melt.
- Get creative with faces—happy bees, sleepy bees, surprised bees… go wild!
- Use yellow-tinted cake batter (add a drop of food coloring) for even more bee theme.
- Let the kids decorate—this is a perfect hands-on activity for parties or rainy days.
🛠 Tools You’ll Need
- Muffin or cupcake pan
- Cupcake liners
- Mixing bowls & hand mixer
- Piping bags or zip-top bags
- Spatula
- Toothpicks (for fine details, if needed)
🔄 Substitutions & Variations
- Make it chocolate: Use chocolate cake as a base and keep the yellow outside
- Use store-bought cupcakes for a decorating shortcut
- Gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend 1:1
- Dairy-free: Use plant-based butter and non-dairy milk
⏰ Make Ahead Tips
- Bake cupcakes a day ahead, cool completely, and store in an airtight container
- Frosting can be made ahead and refrigerated—bring to room temp before decorating
- Decorated cakes can be stored in fridge for up to 2 days
👩🍳 How to Make Bee Cakes
1. Make the Cake Batter
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, cream butter, sugar, and honey until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla, then mix in dry ingredients and milk alternately until smooth.
2. Bake the Cupcakes
Line a muffin pan and fill each cup ¾ full with batter. Bake for 16–18 minutes, until golden and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
3. Decorate the Bees
Frost cupcakes with yellow frosting in a smooth dome. Use black frosting or gel to make stripes. Add candy eyes, sliced almonds for wings, and licorice or chocolate antennae.
4. Chill & Serve
Let the decorated bee cakes chill for 15 minutes to set the frosting before serving.
🧊 Leftovers & Storage
- Fridge: Store decorated bee cakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- Freeze undecorated cupcakes for up to 2 months—thaw, then frost fresh!
- Transport tip: Use a cupcake carrier or deep container with lid for safe moving
🐝 Let’s Get Buzzing!
These Bee Cakes are not only delicious, but they’ll light up any dessert table with cuteness and creativity. Whether you’re baking for a party or just a sweet day with your little ones, this is one recipe that’s guaranteed to bring smiles and sticky fingers.
Tried them? I’d love to see your bee creations! Share how they turned out or what theme you used—drop a comment below! 💬🍯🧁🐝
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