Spaghetti Western Cupcakes

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…

El Paso by Marty Robbins on Grooveshark

Happy Father’s day, Pappy!

Spaghetti Western Cupcakes

Yield: 15 cupcakes

                                                                                                             [click for printable version]

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

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with the bandanna liners.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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).  
  3. 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

  1. Stir together jelly and food coloring in a small bowl.  Unwrap candies and coat in the jelly mixture.  
  2. 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”.
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Leslie
Leslie
11 years ago

Totally ADORABLE!!!!!! Perfect for Fathers Day

Ana Sofia
Ana Sofia
11 years ago

That's such a great idea, love it! 🙂

Created by Hannah Grunzke
Created by Hannah Grunzke
11 years ago

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!

SreeBindu
SreeBindu
11 years ago

mouth watering 🙂 perfect like dad.
xo

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

Ferraro Rocher, that's awesome! Happy Father's day!

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

A great idea! I love them and your pug is really sweet.

Cheers,

Rosa

Paula
Paula
11 years ago

Your Dad is going to love these! Very cute photos.

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

These are absolutely adorable!! Love this idea!

beetree
beetree
11 years ago

So cute! And, my dad used to play guitar and sing El Paso- I always miss him when I hear it. 🙂

thyme (Sarah)
thyme (Sarah)
11 years ago

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.

Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
11 years ago

Oh these are just too cute! I really thought for a second there was a meatball on top 🙂

vanillasugarblog
vanillasugarblog
11 years ago

LOL! fabulous!!

Lynna
Lynna
11 years ago

LOL. i love the pictures!! These cupcakes look amazinggg!!

Vicki Bensinger
Vicki Bensinger
11 years ago

These are just too cute. I'm sure your dad will love them. Happy Fathers Day to your dad.

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

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.

Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
11 years ago

What a great idea! I'll have to make this for my nephew. He'll be thrilled!

mily
mily
11 years ago

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?

c-zarm house
c-zarm house
11 years ago

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/

Sue
Sue
11 years ago

I'm not sure what a spaghetti western is, but your cupcakes (and your pup) are adorable! What a sweet tribute to your dad:)

Tesei
Tesei
11 years ago

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!!

Daria
Daria
11 years ago

I wouldn't even think that cupcakes can look like spaghetti! Your idea is just amazing, I'd love to try it! 🙂

Tori B.
Tori B.
11 years ago

I love this idea. I know your father must love it too!

Laurel
Laurel
11 years ago

What size of pan should be used if you make it as sheet cake instead of cupcakes?

Heather
Heather
11 years ago

So creative. You think of everything!

Amy
Amy
11 years ago

I love this idea! I saw them in "Hello Cupcake" a few years and have been meaning to make them..one day!

Unknown
Unknown
11 years ago

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!

Shawn @ I Wash...You Dry
Shawn @ I Wash...You Dry
11 years ago

Shut the front door! This is too stinkin cute! I love that picture of the puppy with the bandana! Cuuuuuute!

Barbara
Barbara
11 years ago

Really smashing cupcakes for the man/men/boys in your life!

Dana
Dana
11 years ago

The pictures on these are TOO cute!

Lea Ann (Cooking on the Ranch)
Lea Ann (Cooking on the Ranch)
11 years ago

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. 🙂

Ashley
Ashley
11 years ago

My nephew will go nuts for these!! He turns 14 next month – done deal!!

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

I'm so glad its not real pasta and meatballs on there! 😉

Jennifer (Delicieux)
Jennifer (Delicieux)
11 years ago

Oh my, those cupcakes are adorable!!! Especially that first photo of the cowboy lassoing the cupcake!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

He must have been thrilled!

Lora
Lora
11 years ago

I am sure he loved them. The bandana wrappers rock.

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted
Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted
11 years ago

I for one have never seen these kind of cupcakes. So adorable!

Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
Lindsey @ Hot Polka Dot
11 years ago

I have honestly never seen these cupcakes before! Adorable!

Jenny (VintageSugarcube)
Jenny (VintageSugarcube)
11 years ago

You are such an ahhhhmazing artist. I flipped when I saw these. 🙂

Javelin Warrior
Javelin Warrior
11 years ago

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…

Lili
Lili
11 years ago

Completely adorable! And I've never seen anything like it. Oh I just loved this whole post Heather. xo ~Lili

D. Siska
D. Siska
11 years ago

I'd like to lasso some cupcakes like that. Wonder how the meatballs are made?

AmyRuth
AmyRuth
11 years ago

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

Eve
Eve
11 years ago

Your photos are fantastic, can you tell what is the camera and lens?

Anonymous
Anonymous
11 years ago

This is so cool! I would love to try this! Very creative 🙂