Happy Father’s Day! Today, I’m excited to share a special way to celebrate: with homemade golf-themed cupcakes. This recipe starts with a simple boxed mix for convenience. The top is green with a little flag, a small golf ball, and a little putting green … so the dad in your life can spend the day golfing, even if he isn’t on the fairway. These cupcakes, with their playful golf-inspired design, are perfect for the father (or mother!) in your life who loves the game.
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I take time out from my regularly scheduled posts to bring you this public service announcement:
WATCH OUT FOR GOLF BALLS. (I think in golfing language, you yell “FORE!”)
Said no father ever on Father’s Day.*
The Husband harbors a not-so-secret desire to leave the rest of us in the house and play an 18-hole game, along with three other dads who also utterly fail to disguise their yearning to forgo (FOREgo?) their fatherly duties to spend FAMILY TIME.
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Why I Love This How To Make Adorable Golf-Themed Cupcakes (Recipe)
Father’s Day really isn’t about the Father. Father’s Day is about the Mother. In my family, that’s me. (The Husband would interject here and say that every day is about the Mother. But we all know that he is wrong.)
Father’s Day is about the memories that “we” capture on our camera, of our smiling children posing in front of some rock or statute or scenic background. It’s about the massive collection of digital photographs that I will bequeath to my children, in my will, upon my death. They take up a lot of hard drive space, so they better appreciate them.
I’ll admit that fathers tend to get the short end of the stick on Father’s Day.** Every year, we have the same problem. I have this mile-long list of small items that I JUST NEED TO HAVE RIGHT NOW. Seriously. Amazon even keeps it nice and organized, called a Wish List. The Husband dutifully buys me something from this list on every gift-giving occasion, and these things disappear from my list. Sometimes I forget that I put it on the list. And I’m delighted when I open the box because The Husband knows me so well!!!
But, The Husband does not have a list. Well, he has a LIST (the “Things I Just Accept Because I Love My Wife” LIST) but not the gift-giving kind of list. Most of the items on his non-existent list are too much money to spend on any occasion, except maybe Christmas when we’ve agreed to spoil our family. And smaller items are just lame. I mean, I see all those “25 Inexpensive Gifts to Give Fathers on Father’s Day!” pins on Pinterest. They all suck. Inexpensive = lame.
I also try to make him things. They all suck too. 45 billion DIY sewing stuff for women and kids! 5 DIY sewing stuff for men! And I’ve made them all before, so I can’t give it to him again!
When I was a little kid, I gave my father ties for Father’s Day. As I recall, they were pretty lame too, but every kid gives his or her dad a tie at some point in time, which the father will usually wear to work the next day (and occasional days thereafter) to remind everyone that Father’s Day sucks for gift giving, but he loves his kids just the same. I secretly giggle to myself when I see dads wear these ties. Haha. You got a lame gift. Yeah, I’m a mean person.
Unfortunately, The Husband does not wear ties to work. He gets to wear golf shirts and golf pants. They call this “business causal” now-a-days. We have given the obligatory “I Love My Dad” t-shirts, though. You buy them online, and they usually have some kind of crayon-like drawing on the front. I see him wear this shirt occasionally on Friday dress-down days.
A few years ago, I tried to do something special for him by giving him a golf bag for Father’s Day. He was happy, because he got to think about golf for the day. As I dragged him around Inner Harbor, Baltimore so I could memorialize how wonderful Father’s Day was. (I have photographs of smiling teenagers to prove this event happened.)
This year, I give an 18-hole round of golf cupcakes and a blog post to tell him how much I appreciate him. It’s not the same as an actual round of golf, but I still need photographs of smiling kids.
* This statement is actually not factual. Two of my daughters work at a golf course, and they said the course is packed on Father’s Day. Their wives must be nicer than me.
** Don’t feel too bad for The Husband. He gets to go on an annual golfing trip sans wife and children.
Kitchen Equipment Needed
- muffin tin
- cupcake liners
- large bowl
- wire rack
- mixing spoon or electric mixer
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- toothpicks
- scissors
- small bowl for tinting frosting
- knife or spatula for frosting cupcakes
- plate or tray for dipping cupcakes in sugar
FAQs
- How long can I store these cupcakes?
Store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 1 week. - Can I freeze these cupcakes?
Yes, you can freeze the cupcakes without the frosting for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before decorating. - What are some pairing suggestions for these cupcakes?
Pair these cupcakes with a light coffee or tea for adults, or with milk for children. They also go well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. - Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, substitute the chocolate cake mix with a gluten-free cake mix. Ensure all other ingredients, including the cupcake gems and colored sugar, are gluten-free. - Is there a dairy-free option for the frosting?
For a dairy-free version, use a dairy-free cream cheese alternative and ensure the chocolate cake mix and other decorations are also dairy-free. - Can I use natural food coloring?
Absolutely, natural food colorings work just as well. You might need to adjust the quantity to achieve the desired shade of green. - How do I ensure my cupcakes are moist?
Do not overmix the batter, and make sure to bake the cupcakes just until a toothpick comes out clean to avoid drying them out. - Can I make the cupcakes ahead of time?
Yes, you can bake the cupcakes a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container and decorate them the day you plan to serve. - What can I use if I can’t find cupcake gems?
If cupcake gems are unavailable, small white chocolate chips or white fondant rolled into balls can serve as an alternative for golf balls. - Are there any suggestions for making the green sugar at home?
To make green-colored sugar at home, mix granulated sugar with a few drops of green food coloring in a ziplock bag until evenly colored. - Can I decorate these cupcakes without a piping bag?
Yes, you can use a ziplock bag with a small corner cut off to pipe the frosting. Alternatively, spread the frosting with a knife for a simpler look. - How can I write numbers on the flags if I don’t have a fine-tip pen?
Use a tiny brush dipped in food coloring or a small, clean paintbrush with edible ink to write numbers on the flags.
Photo Steps
Hehe. The Husband will vehemently disagree with me, but this is my kind of golf.
Adorable Golf-Themed Cupcakes
Celebrate Father's Day with these delightful golf-themed cupcakes, perfect for the golf enthusiast in your life.
Ingredients
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 can cream cheese frosting
- green food coloring
- white cupcake gems
- green-colored sugar
- bright colored post-it notes
- toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water. Mix until smooth.
- Fill each cupcake liner two-thirds full with the batter.
- Bake for about 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Tint the cream cheese frosting with green food coloring to achieve a grass-like color. Stir well to ensure the color is evenly distributed.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes with the green-tinted frosting.
- Dip the frosted top of each cupcake into green-colored sugar to mimic the texture of grass.
- For the flags, fold a bright-colored post-it note in half, then in quarters. Cut out the top half, keeping the sticky part intact. Shape into a flag, ensuring the sticky part is on one side.
- Write a number on each flag and attach it to a toothpick using the sticky part or stick glue if necessary.
- Insert a toothpick flag into each cupcake. Add a white cupcake gem beside the flag to represent a golf ball.
- Serve and enjoy your golf-themed cupcakes, perfect for celebrating Father’s Day with the golf enthusiast in your life.
Notes
- For a more intense green color in the frosting, add the green food coloring gradually until the desired shade is achieved.
- The white cupcake gems can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores or craft stores.
- If you can't find green-colored sugar, you can make your own by mixing white sugar with green food coloring.
Nutrition Information
Yield
18Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 93Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 32mgSodium 41mgCarbohydrates 4gFiber 0gSugar 3gProtein 1g
Nutrition automatically generated.
The Final: How To Make Adorable Golf-Themed Cupcakes (Recipe)
I thought they came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.
