How to Make BBQ Grill Cupcakes for Father's Day

Father's Day is fast approaching and it's time to start planning. Of course, my favourite part of any holiday celebration is the food...especially the dessert. Making cool cupcakes and cakes for Father's Day is always so much fun. We can be super creative with our designs. Be sure to check out all of our amazing Father's Day ideas for kids.

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This year I wanted to make grill cupcakes for Father's Day. My husband really wants a charcoal grill and we are going to surprise him with one this Father's Day. When I was a kid we had the classic "ball-b-que". You know the round charcoal grill that is totally iconic in style. We took inspiration from our 1970s era grill to make these super awesome Father's Day grill cupcakes. FYI these grill cupcakes would be an amazing summer barbecue dessert too! Don't you think?!

Grill Cupcakes for Father's Day

store-bought cake mix
cupcake liners
1 can of ready-made vanilla icing or make your own
For the buttercream icing:
2 cups icing sugar
½ cup room temperature unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
piping bag
piping tips
red fondant, blue fondant
black gel food colouring
red, yellow and orange candy balls
toothpicks

The first step is to bake the cupcakes. When I'm making cupcakes, I usually use a box mix. It's so simple to use and totally reliable. We are going to spend all our time decorating these beauties.

As the cupcakes cool, it's time to make the fondant elements on top of the cupcakes. Begin by making the hot dogs and hamburgers for the grill. For the hot dogs, roll a snake of red fondant. Snip the snake into hot dog length and round out the ends. To make the hamburgers, use the toothpick to add a small amount of black gel food colouring to a ball of red fondant. Work the black into the red - until it looks marbled - like hamburger meat. Roll little balls and press the balls flat. To add the grill lines to the meat, dip the toothpick into the black gel and paint lines onto the meat. You've got fondant hamburgers and hotdogs for your grill.

fondant hotdogs and fondant hamburgers with grill marks

Speaking of the grill, it's time to make the fondant grill. Use the toothpick to add a small amount of black gel colouring to a ball of blue fondant. Use your bands to work the black into the blue. The fondant will get pretty close to fully black.

Cut the large ball of fondant into smaller balls and roll the fondant into a length of very thin, snake-like fondant. Layout a circle of fondant, that is a little smaller than the top of your cupcake. Press the ends of the fondant together, you could add a tiny drop of water to help adhere the two pieces together. Too much water and your fondant will start to dissolve.

With the circle of the grill, it's time for the grill bars. Again, roll a long, thin snake of fondant. Snip the fondant into strips that lay across the grill circle. Press the bars into the circle. Again, you could use a tiny amount of water to help the bars stick. Set the grills aside to dry. The fondant takes a while to dry. We laid the fondant piece on a piece of parchment paper, in a window and in the direct sun. It took a few hours for them to harden.

bbq grill cupcakes with black icing and red orange and yellow candy balls on top

Okay, once the cupcakes have baked and have fully cooled it's time to dress the cupcakes. For this, you need some buttercream icing. Feel free to use your favourite store-bought option or make your own. To make the icing, cream the butter and icing sugar together in a small bowl. Add the vanilla and milk to the icing mixture. Your icing should be smooth and fluffy. Add more icing sugar or more milk if needed. Next, use the toothpick to add the black gel to the icing. Mix until the icing is black. How much black gel you need will depend on your icing...we used a couple of toothpick dips.

Transfer the icing to a piping bag. We used a flower tip so that the icing would be bumpy and have lots of crevices for our candy balls. With the icing on the cupcake, drop the orange, red and yellow candies onto the icing. This is the fire in your grill. So cute!

close up of three bbq grill cupcakes father's day

Now, it's time to pull it all together. Place the grill on top of the fire. Secure the hot dogs and hamburgers to the grill will a little dab of black icing. And your grill cupcakes are complete.

If your Dad prefers veggies, then use some fondant to make grilled veggies...don't forget the grill lines. My husband loves grilling burgers, so that's why we went with these items. You are only limited by your imagination. Fondant is super easy to work with - it's just like play-dough.