Shane and his friends started a tradition many years ago called “meat fest”. Essentially, it’s a day to celebrate meat and eat as many varieties and strange concoctions involving meat as possible. The tradition has carried on and we recently celebrated this year’s meat fest with everyone. I am by no means a vegetarian, but often I find myself wishing there was a non-meat option at meat fest. Problem is, non-meat options are sort of frowned upon. I solved my dilemma this year by making these little hamburger cupcakes! I figured even if they didn’t actually involve meat at least they resembled it…..close enough, right? ๐
I can’t remember where I first saw these, but I used this photo as my inspiration. I couldn’t find a recipe anywhere so I scoured many resources for recipes I thought would work. The cupcakes consist of vanilla cupcakes to represent the hamburger bun, chocolate cupcakes to represent the hamburger, frosting for the ketchup and mustard and shredded coconut (dyed green) for the lettuce. I also added sesame seeds to the tops of the vanilla cupcakes (secured with a bit of orange juice brushed on) to give the buns more realism. Here are links to the recipes I used:
Annie’s recipe for vanilla cupcakes
An old Dorie favorite for the chocolate cupcakes
Bridget’s easy vanilla buttercream (originally from Cook’s Illustrated) for the frosting
Being the fool I am, I waited until the last minute to make each of the components for the burgers so these were a definite labor of love. While making these I decided I need to get a second bowl for my KA mixer to make life easier. If I were to make these again I would definitely make the cupcakes a day or two in advance and just frost and assemble on the day I needed them. The frosting was actually one of the more tricky aspects of the cupcakes and I really wasn’t able to achieve the colors I was going for. My ketchup is more pink than red but no matter how much red gel coloring I added, I couldn’t seem to achieve red.
These were a lot of fun and despite all the work, I’m glad I made them! They were very tasty, though a little tricky to eat because of their height. And even though they didn’t involve any meat, just about all of them were gobbled up at meat fest, so that has to be a good sign!
The dyed coconut actually looks like greens of some sort!
Very very cool! ๐
Awwww… cute hamburger cupcakes! ๐
those are the cutest cupcakes!
those are the cutest cupcakes!! I love them.
These are so cute. They look like sliders!
These are absolutely perfectly amazing. They DO look like little cupcakes. The green coconut touch was great! I love these. Your torte (below) looks very nice too, but these babies, stole my attention. Great work, gal!
Cute! They look very much like the real thing!
WOW! now this is MY kind of burger! very very adorable!
Those are absolutely darling!!
That is just too cute!!! Love it!!
WOAH! THE BEST!
This is such a great idea ๐
I love baking, and even more when it comes out with a tweek…
The idea of using coconut is amazing – especially for the letuce.
Since we rarely have it here in Israel, I thought of what I would use instead so I would share it with you…
I’ll use marzipan for the cheese and some colored vanilla puding for the ketchup. I’ll try to update you after the weekend how it came out ๐
Sarit Pery
Man! How cute are those?!
ohh!! really creative! I like these. I ll have to try making these ๐
These are really cute – would be great for a party. I like your choice of recipes too.
TOO CUTE! I don’t eat meat but I know I can eat these cupcakes:)
you need to add a little blue to get a darker red.
Now how cute are these. I have made the mini burgers with nilla wafers and mint patties, this is a whole new level. So darling.
Oh my gosh, those are too cute for words!
I have to say-these are adorable! Great job!
These are so adorable. I love them. My kids would so enjoy these.
How cute are those! You definitely rose to the meat day challenge with these.
Now this is a hamburger my kids would love! Very cool! Love your new design too.
You’re so creative! It’s always hard to find a good vanilla cupcake recipe, what did you think of these?
Tracey, you are too creative. What a great addition to the meat fest. Um, can I come next year?! ๐
Meat fest is hilarious, I love it. Those cupcakes are adorable too. Oh, and I’m right there with you on the 2nd KA bowl; there are times when it would be so very handy.
OMG these are wonderful! I love them. I have to steal these. These would be great for a picnic or BBQ.
Cutest cupcakes I’ve ever seen! ๐
These are precious! What a cute idea. Kids would love these at a party, too :)!
maybe next year these can contain actually hamburgers, and keep the cupcake bun and frosting condiments…. MEATFEST RULES!
haha so cute! and they look delicious…
These are so cute and creative!
I love your blog!Really cute food ideas! Come by and visit me sometime!
Awww, these cupcakes are the perfect solution to meat fest!! They’re just precious–and I bet so much tastier than any ole slab of meat (the meat-lovers might hurt me for saying that). What a great job you did!