Firecracker Cupcakes

I made a special dessert for the 4th of July: Firecracker Cupcakes!

About a month ago I made homemade Funfetti cupcakes, which were a big hit. To make them even more festive (did you think that was possible?) I sprinkled red Pop Rocks on top. Each bite explodes in your mouth like, you guessed it, a firecracker.

I used the same recipes again (this one for cupcakes and this one for frosting). To have a good firecracker effect, add the Pop Rocks right before you serve the cupcakes. Moisture is what makes them pop, so you don’t want them sitting too long on wet frosting (for the same reason, putting them in the batter won’t give you cupcakes that pop in your mouth).

Happy 4th of July!

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14 Comments on Firecracker Cupcakes

Chef Dennis
July 2, 2010 at 7:36 pm (14 years ago)

the look great…..Love the idea of the pop rocks!
have a happy 4th!
Reply
- Stephanie
  July 2, 2010 at 8:33 pm (14 years ago)
  
  Thanks Dennis! You too!
Just Food Snobs
July 2, 2010 at 8:38 pm (14 years ago)

What a great idea with pop rocks! Kid’s will really love these cupcakes!
Reply
Danica
July 3, 2010 at 10:12 am (14 years ago)

Holy crap! You are a freaking genius!

What flavor of pop rocks did you use?
Reply
- Stephanie
  July 3, 2010 at 11:29 am (14 years ago)
  
  Strawberry to fit the red, white, blue theme. I also have green watermelon that I’ll try tomorrow.
Cookin' Canuck
July 3, 2010 at 10:15 am (14 years ago)

I haven’t had Pop Rocks for years. What a great idea to use them on cupcakes!
Reply
CC Recipe
July 3, 2010 at 10:21 am (14 years ago)

Cute idea of using pop rocks!
Reply
Betty
July 3, 2010 at 9:24 pm (14 years ago)

What a fun idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Reply
Amanda
July 4, 2010 at 3:25 pm (14 years ago)

Really cute idea!
Reply
Emily
July 6, 2010 at 9:25 am (14 years ago)

The pop rocks inside the cupcakes don’t fizz in your mouth because when mixed with the batter, the moistness causes the chemical fizzing reaction, (Pop rocks have little carbon dioxide bubbles that are released with moisture) so there is nothing left when the cupcakes get to your mouth.
A little baking science!
Reply
natalie
July 6, 2010 at 11:37 am (14 years ago)

is there anyway that you could put the pop rocks in the cup cake after you’ve cooked them?
Reply
- Stephanie
  July 7, 2010 at 7:37 am (14 years ago)
  
  I haven’t tried this, but here is a recipe using nut butter, butter, powdered sugar, chocolate and pop rocks. The mixture is inserted into the middle of the cupcakes as a filling and the nut butter coats the pop rocks and keeps them from popping before you eat them.
  
  http://www.bootsintheoven.com/boots_in_the_oven/2009/03/against-all-odds-some-odds-a-few-odds-ok-it-was-really-pretty-easy-i-made-it-to-the-ripe-old-age-of-thirty-where-i-am.html