

I’m sure most of you have seen about a dozen different versions of spaghetti cupcakes before seeing them here on my blog, but I just couldn’t resist baking my own version for father’s day. You see, my dad loves spaghetti westerns – westerns of any kind, really – and when I saw those bandanna print cupcakes liners it was a done deal. I know he’ll love them, but he deserves much more than I could ever repay in cupcakes.
It may sound trite to say he’s the best dad ever, but the sentiment fits. He’s always been there for me, moving my furniture, fixing broken things, encouraging and counseling me when I need to talk. And even though I’m not his biological daughter, he’s never treated me otherwise.

This isn’t his first cowboy party! Years ago we threw him a huge spaghetti western birthday bash complete with spaghetti buffet. I was in charge of the invitations and music…

Happy Father’s day, Pappy!
Spaghetti Western Cupcakes
Yield: 15 cupcakes
Special equipment:
Bandanna cupcake liners (can be found at Hey YoYo)
Piping bag
#3 round piping tip from Wilton
Sour cream cupcakes:
1/2 cup butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup sour cream
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with the bandanna liners.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix. Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside. Add flour and sour cream alternately, a little at a time beginning and ending with flour. Batter will be thick.
- Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup level measures of batter. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.
Spaghetti frosting:
3/4 pound (3 sticks) butter, softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Milk or heavy cream, if necessary
2-3 drops yellow liquid food coloring
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix together the butter and confectioners’ sugar. Begin mixing on low speed until the mixture is crumbly. Increase to high and beat for 3 minutes.
- Add the vanilla extract and beat again for another minute until light and fluffy. If you find that the buttercream is too stiff, you may add milk or heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until the mixture is of piping consistency. Add yellow food coloring and mix until color is consistent. Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a plain #3 top (I used Wilton brand).
- Squeeze the piping bag while holding it about 5 inches above the cupcake surface. Allow the strand of frosting to fall on the cupcake surface in lines and squiggles. Completely cover the cupcake surface in frosting, creating a mound of frosting “noodles” in the middle. This is where the “meatball” will rest.
Candy Meatballs
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jelly, melted and slightly cooled
1-2 drops liquid red food coloring
15 Ferrero Rocher fine hazelnut chocolates
White chocolate shavings
- Stir together jelly and food coloring in a small bowl. Unwrap candies and coat in the jelly mixture.
- Place a coated candy on top of each cupcake and spoon remaining jelly over the cupcakes to mimic spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with white chocolate “Parmesan”.
Totally ADORABLE!!!!!! Perfect for Fathers Day
That's such a great idea, love it! 🙂
I've never seen anything like this actually… It's really cute in a silly kind of way-I love it! Happy Father's Day to yours!
mouth watering 🙂 perfect like dad.
xo
Ferraro Rocher, that's awesome! Happy Father's day!
A great idea! I love them and your pug is really sweet.
Cheers,
Rosa
Your Dad is going to love these! Very cute photos.
These are absolutely adorable!! Love this idea!
So cute! And, my dad used to play guitar and sing El Paso- I always miss him when I hear it. 🙂
I love your sentiment to your Dad. I definitely pick and choose who I call my "family" since certain biological 'dads' didn't fit the bill. I love that you call him "Pappy"! And…no, I've never seen this idea before. I've seen the little bird's nest made from pasta but not the spaghetti toppers! Adorable…as usual. You are so talented.
Oh these are just too cute! I really thought for a second there was a meatball on top 🙂
LOL! fabulous!!
LOL. i love the pictures!! These cupcakes look amazinggg!!
These are just too cute. I'm sure your dad will love them. Happy Fathers Day to your dad.
Aww, this is such a sweet thing for you to do for your dad 🙂 I'm sure he will be very pleased when he gets a load of those cupcakes.
What a great idea! I'll have to make this for my nephew. He'll be thrilled!
Very unique cupcake idea!
I saw that you double up the cupcake cases and I've seen other bakers do this as well, is there any reason for it?
This is so cute!
I really love your blog and hope that you'll also drop by my blog and leave a comment!
http://mysisterzfantacy.blogspot.hk/
I'm not sure what a spaghetti western is, but your cupcakes (and your pup) are adorable! What a sweet tribute to your dad:)
Your dad does sound like a really cool one! I'm sure he must be really happy with all the Western treats he's been getting, sherif dog and all!!
I wouldn't even think that cupcakes can look like spaghetti! Your idea is just amazing, I'd love to try it! 🙂
I love this idea. I know your father must love it too!
What size of pan should be used if you make it as sheet cake instead of cupcakes?
So creative. You think of everything!
I love this idea! I saw them in "Hello Cupcake" a few years and have been meaning to make them..one day!
These are so cool! They look so real too! The best idea I have seen for Fathers day yet! These would make such a cool treat for any occasion thou! SO different!
Shut the front door! This is too stinkin cute! I love that picture of the puppy with the bandana! Cuuuuuute!
Really smashing cupcakes for the man/men/boys in your life!
The pictures on these are TOO cute!
I was sent this direction by Barbara over at Movable Feasts. I have a Western themed blog and she just knew I'd have a fit over these cupcakes. Incredibly clever. Even though I don't do a lot of desserts, I'm going to subscribe to your blog and live vicariously through you. 🙂
My nephew will go nuts for these!! He turns 14 next month – done deal!!
I'm so glad its not real pasta and meatballs on there! 😉
Oh my, those cupcakes are adorable!!! Especially that first photo of the cowboy lassoing the cupcake!!
He must have been thrilled!
I am sure he loved them. The bandana wrappers rock.
I for one have never seen these kind of cupcakes. So adorable!
I have honestly never seen these cupcakes before! Adorable!
You are such an ahhhhmazing artist. I flipped when I saw these. 🙂
What a beautiful cupcake – and I'd be afraid to eat it! It's like a piece of art – and I seriously keep thinking that it will taste like marinara sauce 😉 I'm featuring this post in today's Food Fetish Friday (with a link-back and attribution). I hope you have no objections and always excited to see what you'll create next…
Completely adorable! And I've never seen anything like it. Oh I just loved this whole post Heather. xo ~Lili
I'd like to lasso some cupcakes like that. Wonder how the meatballs are made?
All three of my children were born in Waco Texas where we lived for 13 years. My husband is from TX and yes, still even though I've been in Missouri for now 13 years I have a very special friend with 3 young children who lives in San Antonio and is a true south Texas girl. Her boys loved your cupcake (I emailed a link) and I'm pretty sure it will be among their favorites. Who doesn't love a real "Cowboy" cupcake?
AmyRuth
Your photos are fantastic, can you tell what is the camera and lens?
This is so cool! I would love to try this! Very creative 🙂