Easy Bears on the Beach Vanilla Cupcakes

Make these incredibly cute and easy summer holiday themed cupcakes! They're perfect for baking with little one's or as a fun themed treat

These vanilla cupcakes are super easy to make! You simply add all your sponge ingredients into one bowl and mix them together and the cupcakes only take 12 minutes to bake! Decorate your cupcakes with this quick, but effective buttercream beach themed topping then just add your sunbathing gummy bears and some cute beach parasols for some fun, yummy and summery cupcakes!

This recipe makes six large cupcakes or you could make more smaller cupcakes. They are best stored in an airtight container in a cool and dry place and eaten within four days or you can freeze the cupcakes (without the gummy bears and umbrella decorations) for up to one month.

These cupcakes are dairy free, egg free, completely plant based and they have a gluten free option!

Makes six large cupcakes

Sponge ingredients;

120g plain flour

70g caster or granulated sugar

7g baking powder

1/2 tsp vanilla powder

35g oil

125g soya milk

4g apple cider vinegar

Buttercream ingredients;

60g vegan block butter

140g icing sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla powder or 1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp plant milk - if needed

Tiny dot of light blue food colouring

Decorations;

3-4 biscuits (i used golden Oreos)

1 packet vegan Gummy bear sweets

6 cocktail umbrellas

Fondant or white chocolate mini shells - optional

You will also need; a mixing bowl, a six hole cupcake tin, 6 cupcake cases, spoon or ice cream scoop, whisk, electric hand mixer or large spoon, small palette knife or butter knife, thick sandwich bag and rolling pin

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How to make your cupcakes;

1. Pre heat your oven to 160c and add the cupcakes cases to your muffin tin

2. Make the sponge batter. Add all the dry ingredients to your mixing bowl and roughly stir through

3. Add the oil, plant milk and vinegar and mix again until there are no lumps of flour. Do not overmix as this will make the cupcake loose their fluffy texture

4. Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to evenly add the mixture to the cupcake cases

5. Bake for around 12-15 minutes until the cupcakes are lightly golden and a cocktail stick comes out cleanly

6. Leave the cupcakes to cool and make the buttercream icing

7. Use an electric hand whisk or large wooden spoon to mix the vegan butter until it is light and fluffy

8. Add the icing sugar and vanilla and whisk again. If needed add a tsp of milk at a time to bring the icing together. It should feel thick, smooth and fluffy

9. Add the blue food colouring and mix one final time

10. Add the biscuits to a sandwich bag then use a rolling pin to smash them into fine crumbs. Set aside until needed

11. Once the cupcakes are cool, use a small palette knife or butter knife to spread a layer of buttercream all over the top of the cake. It does not need to be smooth, as it's supposed to look like the sea!

12. Sprinkle a tsp of the crushed biscuit crumbs onto half of the cupcake top to look like sand

13. Add one or two vegan gummy bear sweets and a mini umbrella to finish off the decoration

14. Repeat spreading buttercream on each cupcake and adding the finishing decorations until all six cupcakes are decorated

15. Now they're ready to eat!

Tips & Tricks!

• I used Freedom Confectionery gummy bear sweets to decorate my cupcakes (gifted). https://freedomconfectionery.com/?coupon=clemievegancake Use the code clemievegancake for 10% off your order!

• I find that soya milk works best in this recipe. You can use other plant milks, but the sponge texture will vary

• To make these cupcakes gluten free, use a gluten free plain flour blend and add 1g of xanthan powder for every 100g flour. It doesn't sound like much but it really helps with the sponge texture. I like to use Dove's Farm Freee flour

• I used Rainbow Dust Progel blue food colouring; https://amzn.to/4oBZNTJ

• My cocktail umbrellas were just from the partyware section in Sainsburys

• My muffin trays are very old and used! But this is a similar one; https://amzn.to/3YAf7UE 

• These are similar cupcakes cases; https://amzn.to/3Si0wgF

• This is the vanilla powder I use; https://amzn.to/4rSK9Dc

• These are my mixing bowls - https://amzn.to/489iB6s

• You can use a large wooden spoon to make the buttercream but it needs a lot of mixing! I prefer to use my trusty cheap and cheerful Kenwood hand mixer; https://amzn.to/3P4x5gG