Arizona cupcakes
Cupcakes are small sponge cakes. In their original American version, they are usually decorated with brightly coloured icing. Here's a version inspired by the famous saguaro cactus, so common in Arizona.
Last modified on: October 24th 2026
For 25 cupcakes, you will need:
- 1
100 g butter - 2
30 g caster sugar - 3
10 g vanilla sugar - 4
100 g flour - 5
2 eggs - 6
1 pinch salt - 7
5 g baking powder - 8
100 g marzipan (almond paste) - 9
1 tablespoon icing sugar - 10
150 g fondant icing - Total weight: 605 grams
Times for this recipe
Preparation
1 hour 15 min.
Cooking
35 min.
All in all
1 hour 50 min.
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Step by step recipe
Step 1 - ⌛ 3 min.
Cut 100 g butter into small pieces and tip into the bowl of the mixer, along with 30 g caster sugar and 10 g vanilla sugar.
Step 2 - ⌛ 5 min.
Knead for a few minutes on slow speed until thoroughly mixed.
Step 3 - ⌛ 3 min.
Step 4 - ⌛ 5 min.
Knead again on medium speed just until evenly mixed.
Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F).
Preheat oven to 180°C (360°F).
Step 5 - ⌛ 10 min.
Divide the mixture between small moulds, preferably in paper cake cases. Do not over fill as the cakes will expand during cooking.
You can divide out the mixture with a spoon, but it's much quicker and easier to use a forcing bag.
You can divide out the mixture with a spoon, but it's much quicker and easier to use a forcing bag.
Step 6 - ⌛ 35 min.
Put in the oven and bake for around 35 minutes (watch for colouring).
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Step 7 - ⌛ 15 min.
Meanwhile, make the cacti using green marzipan.
Step 8 - ⌛ 10 min.
Melt 150 g fondant icing in a bain-marie.
Note: if you don't have fondant icing, make up a quick glacé icing using 100g icing sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon water, or just a little more.
Note: if you don't have fondant icing, make up a quick glacé icing using 100g icing sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon water, or just a little more.
Step 9 - ⌛ 2 min.
Spread icing over the cupcakes...
Step 10 - ⌛ 1 min.
... and place a cactus on top immediately.
Step 11 - ⌛ 20 min.
Decorate all the cupcakes like this.
Remarks
You can start with the basic cupcake mix and let your imagination run wild!
A quick variation: replace the marzipan decorations with pistachio paste, which gives a more realistic saguaro cactus colour.
For that real Arizona touch, the sun should make an appearance on the cupcakes, maybe as a small circle of yellow marzipan at the top to left or right of the cactus? Oh, well - for next time.
A quick variation: replace the marzipan decorations with pistachio paste, which gives a more realistic saguaro cactus colour.
For that real Arizona touch, the sun should make an appearance on the cupcakes, maybe as a small circle of yellow marzipan at the top to left or right of the cactus? Oh, well - for next time.
Keeping: Several days in a closed metal box.
Source: Home-made, but warmly dedicated to Krissy, Kelley and Heather, three charming friends from Phoenix, of whom I cherish fond memories.
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Nutritional information
| Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats | Calories | Energy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 g | 5 g RDI=8 % | 54 g RDI=20 % | 20 g RDI=27 % | 417 kcal RDI=21 % | 1,747 kJ RDI=21 % |
| Per cupcakes | 1 g RDI=2 % | 13 g RDI=5 % | 5 g RDI=7 % | 101 kcal RDI=5 % | 422 kJ RDI=5 % |
| Whole recipe | 31 g RDI=48 % | 327 g RDI=123 % | 121 g RDI=165 % | 2,518 kcal RDI=126 % | 10,543 kJ RDI=126 % |
How much will it cost?
For 25 cupcakes
3.30 €
Per cupcakes
0.15 €
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Fondant icing
Like these other recipes:
Flour
Like these other recipes:
Marzipan (almond paste)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example:
Butter
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