Neapolitan Bonbon Cupcakes

Neapolitan Bonbon Cupcakes are made with chocolate cupcakes all dressed up in vanilla and strawberry buttercream. Top them with your favorite chocolate bonbons!

Neapolitan Cupcakes

These were intended to be a Valentine’s day treat, but after tasting them I decided they’re a good idea for any occasion! And it’s not like these are any great deviation from the norm here – pink, ruffles and chocolate are a common affair at SprinkleBakes – at any time of the year.  So I decided to go ahead and post them today.

Neapolitan Cupcakes

One Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

The chocolate cake recipe comes from my favorite quick “one bowl” batter, but I’ve pared down the quantity considerably.  This recipe makes exactly 9 standard cupcakes. You might squeeze in an extra cupcake (to make an even 10) if you effectively scrape every last bit of batter from the bowl with a rubber spatula. That means no sampling the batter or licking the bowl – which is why I will always end up with 9 cupcakes instead of 10.

Neapolitan Cupcakes

Neapolitan Flavors

One thing is for certain, these Neapolitan Bonbon Cupcakes are all about variety. You get a little of everything – rich chocolate cake, vanilla and strawberry buttercream, and a surprise flavor-filled bonbon on top! 

Neapolitan Cupcakes

I chose a small box of Belgian chocolates with an assortment of fillings: strawberry, hazelnut, almond, coconut, pistachio and Cointreau.  I also bought some gold-foil cordials because they are my absolute favorite!

Use your favorite brand of purchased bonbons to top these cupcakes.

Neapolitan Cupcakes

Buttercream Piping Technique

The frosting technique uses two decorator piping tips, both of which come in this Ateco set (you may remember that I recommended it in my gifts for bakers post). You can buy the tips individually too, so I listed them separately in the “supplies” section under the recipe.

Neapolitan Cupcakes

I certainly think these are perfect for Valentine’s day, but I can also see them being made for a girly birthday party or bridal shower.  They are super simple to make and the decoration could not be easier – just pop a chocolate on top!  I had a lot of fun with these.  Hope you do too!

xo

Neapolitan Bonbon Cupcakes

Heather Baird
Neapolitan Bonbon Cupcakes are perfect for Valentine's Day, bridal showers or spring celebrations. , Chocolate cake is topped with vanilla, and strawberry buttercreams. Top them with your favorite chocolate bonbons! I used Belgian chocolates, but any pretty filled chocolates will do.
Yields 9-10 cupcakes
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9 cupcakes

Equipment

  • McCormick Imitation Strawberry Extract
  • LorAnn Strawberry Flavoring, 1 dram
  • Wilton White Blossom Baking Cups, 12 Count
  • Ateco Pastry Tube Star Size 8
  • Wilton large drop flower tip #2D
  • Wilton Decorating Tip 8B

Ingredients
 
 

Chocolate cupcakes

  • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cups sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg
  • 6 tablespoons hot water
  • 6 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Buttercream and toppers

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar – the finest you can find usually 10 x
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Few drops of liquid red food coloring
  • 2 teaspoons McCormick strawberry extract or drops of LorAnn strawberry oil to taste
  • * Milk or heavy cream optional
  • 9 or 10 assorted filled bon-bon type chocolates

Instructions
 

Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350°F degrees.
  • Line muffin tin with cupcake papers; set aside.
  • Sift together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, water, heavy cream, oil and vanilla. Mix with a hand held mixer until smooth.
  • Divide batter among cupcake papers, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Let cool before frosting.

Buttercream and toppers

  • In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together the butter and confectioners’ sugar. Begin mixing on low speed until crumbly, and then increase to high and beat for 3 minutes. Add vanilla extract and beat again for another minute until light and fluffy. Transfer 1/3of the vanilla frosting to a piping bag fitted with Ateco 40S decorator tip or Wilton drop flower tip 2D.
  • Beat the remaining frosting on medium speed, adding the red food coloring in a little at a time until the desired pink color intensity is achieved. Add strawberry extract or strawberry flavoring oil. Transfer pink icing to a piping bag fitted with a large open star tip, Ateco brand #828 or Wilton tip 8B. Pipe small stars of buttercream around the outside edge of the cupcakes with the white vanilla frosting. Pipe a large swirl of pink frosting in the middle of the cupcake, making two passes with the piping bag. Top each cupcake with a chocolate bonbon.
  • *Note: If you find the buttercream is too stiff, you may add milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture is spreading consistency.
Keyword belgian chocolates, bonbons, chocolate cake, neapolitan cupcakes, strawberry buttercream, valentine’s day, vanilla buttercream
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

McCormick Imitation Strawberry Extract, 1-Ounce Unit (Pack of 6)

LorAnn Strawberry Flavoring, 1 dram

Wilton White Blossom Baking Cups, 12 Count

Ateco Pastry Tube – Star – Size 8

WILTON LG DROP FLOWER TIP#2D 402-2004

Wilton Decorating Tip 8B

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Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
11 years ago

I absolutely cannot wait to try these!! They're beautiful!

Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes
11 years ago

Oh my lord, lady, you are truly an artist! With sugar! Just gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
11 years ago

Very pretty! I love the idea.

Cheers,

Rosa

DessertForTwo
DessertForTwo
11 years ago

Well aren't these just gorgeous? Like you 😉

smunchimunch
smunchimunch
11 years ago

Oh, these are too adorable!

Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough
11 years ago

Ahh, so much SQUEE! Love this idea!

Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen
Annie @ Annie's City Kitchen
11 years ago

I love Neapolitan ice cream so these are a delightful cake version! I certainly need to practice my piping skills though…

Kelly
Kelly
11 years ago

I usually use one icing tip for a cupcake and call it a day, but I really like how you edged it with stars and then did a swirl in the middle. I'll have to try that!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

What a pretty sight to see on this Monday morning of back to school schedules! Thank you.

Lisa @ Flour Me With Love
Lisa @ Flour Me With Love
11 years ago

These look beautiful!

Sue
Sue
11 years ago

I love the neapolitan color combination and flavors too:) Your cupcakes are sweet little beauties, and two treats in one!

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
11 years ago

The one with the heart sent me over the edge and I don't even really like valentine's day lol. Beautiful… and I imagine ridiculously tasty too 🙂

Btrix
Btrix
11 years ago

Precious!!, your blog is magnificent!! I am of españa, follow you always for your recipes, your photos and have to do already!! Someone of your recipes
kisses
http://dulcesbtrix.blogspot.com.es/

Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
11 years ago

Heather they are drop dead stunning! I love the flavors, colors, and just how delicate and pretty they are! I would love to dig in!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Oh my gosh they are BEAUTIFUL. They look so fancy, but when you break it down the decorating looks simple enough for even me to do!

http://leadwiththehips.co.uk

Aikko
Aikko
11 years ago

It's never to early for a Valentine's day post 🙂 These look amazing, Heather!

Ashley @ Strawberry Sprinkles
Ashley @ Strawberry Sprinkles
11 years ago

What a fantastic idea! Love the double technique frosting too.

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

In a world swimming with cupcakes, you manage to make them look better than anyone else's! Love the details, friend!

Angela @ the fairy bread chronicles
Angela @ the fairy bread chronicles
11 years ago

These are just exquisite! The two piping techniques really make the cupcakes pop, you are so clever!

Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
11 years ago

Love the bonbon on top, great idea! And the 2 colors for frosting with the different tips, love that technique!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

These are absolutely beautiful!

Nicole
Nicole
11 years ago

Very cute and beautiful photos and display! You are an inspiration for me and my blog 🙂 I will be trying some of your recipes soon!

Deirdre
Deirdre
11 years ago

So cute! Look the ruffles- looks a period costume!

Always imaginative and beautiful.

Deirdre @ http://thekitschcook.blogspot.ie/

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Gorgeous! Simply gorgeous!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

This is an absolutely gorgeous set of cupcakes–makes me nostalgic for the long 15+ years of my early life when I called "neapolitan" ice cream "Napoleon"….dark days, those.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

OMG! There are no words! I LOVE these cupcakes!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Beautiful! Can't wait to bake them!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Oh my goodness. These are absolutely gorgeous! Seriously. I can't even really come up with a good enough comment to show how amazing and delighted I am about these pictures and the cupcakes themselves.

Elanne
Elanne
11 years ago

Those are beautifully decorated and topped! Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Leslie
Leslie
11 years ago

These are drop dead gorgeous !!! Almost too pretty to eat…almost

VBB
VBB
11 years ago

This comment has been removed by the author.

VBB
VBB
11 years ago

Your recipes are A M A Z I N G! And your blog is my inspiration. I've opened a blog too and I'm working on it. I would invite anyone to visit it.

http://www.ilmiodolcelampone.blogspot.com

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

Kim –
very nice – I love your cake plate!

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
11 years ago

These cupcakes are *almost* too pretty to eat. They really would be perfect any time of year, including Valentine's Day.

Buttercream Bakehouse
Buttercream Bakehouse
11 years ago

these are so cute. Love the way you iced them.

Joy
Joy
11 years ago

Another beautiful creation. I linked to your chocolate-caramel tart on my blog yesterday. It was super-yummy. Thanks!

Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
11 years ago

These are absolutely beautiful! And you are right…perfect for Valentine's Day…or any day! (like today!)

Cowen Park Kitchen
Cowen Park Kitchen
11 years ago

Here's the truth: I don't like cupcakes (way too long as a decorator), and I really don't like the Neopolitan flavor combination. But your photos and decorating really, really make me want to make and consume one of these. Well done.

Kelly Senyei (Just a Taste)
Kelly Senyei (Just a Taste)
11 years ago

These are absolutely stunning, Heather! What a delicious lineup of flavors!

Loretta E.
Loretta E.
11 years ago

Wow. I love all that gorgeous girly color!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

These look so pretty x

Stacy
Stacy
11 years ago

Just beautiful, Heather! Somehow you managed to pack quite a bit into such a tiny sweet treat. Bravo, girl! xoxo

marla
marla
11 years ago

Heather, these are so delicate and beautiful!

Cookbook Queen
Cookbook Queen
11 years ago

GORGEOUS!! Heather, I just love coming to your site…everything is so beautiful. They look like they taste amazing too!!

Monica
Monica
11 years ago

Love this…just so pretty on the eyes! I recently saw some cupcakes with the chocolate bonbons on top and I thought it was a lovely and delicious idea. Yours looks so pretty…love the pink and white frosting. : )

Paula
Paula
11 years ago

So lovely. Can't wait to try them! Thank you..

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

These just make me happy. Such a pretty and fun twist on a classic flavor combo.

little random happiness
little random happiness
11 years ago

swoon…..

Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers
Tina @ Sugar Bean Bakers
10 years ago

I just saw these on Pinterest and thought, wow, those are some of the most gorgeous cupcakes EVER.

And then I saw they were your's. No shock 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
10 years ago

Hello.
By heavy cream you mean heavy whipping cream?