Toy Story Cupcake

Introduction

These Toy Story Cupcakes capture the fun and nostalgia of Andy’s room with their playful alien-green frosting and googly candy eyes. You can easily achieve this iconic look with a few simple decorating tricks. They’re perfect for birthday parties or a family movie night, guaranteed to bring a smile.

Prep & Cook Time

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes (plus cooling & decorating)

Servings: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

• Boxed cake mix
• PLUS ingredients called for on box
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3-4 cups icing sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• pinch salt
• 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
• Green food dye, plus black food dye or just do what I did and mix blue, red and yellow to get something resembling black
• Candy eyes, 3 per cupcake

Instructions

1. Prepare the cake batter according to the directions on your boxed cake mix package.
2. Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the box. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners and fill each about two-thirds full with batter.
3. Bake according to the box’s time instructions (typically 18-22 minutes), or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
4. While cupcakes cool, make the buttercream. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth.
5. Gradually add 3 cups of icing sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed until combined after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
6. Increase mixer speed to medium-high and beat for 2-3 minutes until fluffy. Add milk or heavy cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a spreadable consistency. If frosting is too thin, add more icing sugar.
7. Reserve about ¼ cup of the plain white buttercream in a small bowl. Tint the large remaining portion of frosting with green food dye to your desired “alien” shade.
8. Tint the reserved white frosting black using either black food dye or by mixing together small amounts of blue, red, and yellow food dyes until you achieve a dark, near-black color.
9. Frost the cooled cupcakes with the green buttercream using a knife or offset spatula to create a smooth or swirled surface.
10. Fit a small piping bag with a small round tip (or use a ziplock bag with the corner snipped) and fill it with the black buttercream. Pipe a small “mouth” line near the bottom half of each cupcake.
11. Gently press three candy eyes above the mouth on each cupcake to complete your Toy Story alien.

Variations

• Create “claw marks” by using a fork to drag lines through the green frosting before adding eyes.
• Use a grass piping tip with the green frosting for a fuzzy alien texture.
• For a simpler look, use green sprinkles or sanding sugar over white frosting instead of dyed buttercream.
• Serve the cupcakes on a platter decorated with a “Buzz Lightyear” or “Woody” toy for an instant theme.

Tips for Success

• Ensure your cupcakes are completely cool before frosting, or the buttercream will melt and slide off.
• To achieve a true black color more easily, start with chocolate buttercream (add cocoa powder) before adding food dye.
• If your buttercream becomes too soft while mixing, chill it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before piping.
• Use tweezers for precise placement of the small candy eyes.

Storage & Reheating

FAQ

Can I make the cupcakes from scratch instead of using a box mix?

Absolutely. Use your favorite vanilla or white cake recipe. Just ensure you have enough batter for approximately 24 cupcakes.

My black frosting looks dark grey/brown. What can I do?

This is common. For a deeper black, use a gel-based food coloring, add a bit of cocoa powder to darken the base, and let the colored frosting sit, covered, for an hour for the color to deepen.

Can I make the frosting ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the buttercream up to 3 days in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature, then re-whip it before using to restore its fluffy texture.

Where do I find candy eyes?

They are commonly found in the baking aisle of grocery stores, at craft stores, or online. Look for “candy eyes” or “sprinkle eyes.”

My frosting is too runny/thick. How do I fix it?

If too runny, add more sifted icing sugar, a ¼ cup at a time. If too thick, add more milk or cream, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.

Can I use store-bought frosting?

Yes, you can tint store-bought vanilla frosting green and black, though the color may not be as vibrant and the texture may be softer than homemade buttercream.