Cupcake optical

Name: Cupcake optical
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: Sugar 0.6 cup; Type 00 flour 1 cup; Butter (at room temperature) ½ cup; Fine salt 1 pinch; Vanilla bean 1; Eggs 2; Baking powder 0.6 tsp; Sugar paste 1.67 cups; Powdered sugar to taste; Food coloring blue, yellow, red to taste; Food pencils bright to taste; Edible glue to taste

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221

Calories per serving

Vegetarian

Energy Kcal 221
Carbohydrates g 32.3
of which sugars g 24.7
Protein g 2.3
Fats g 9.2
of which saturated fat g 5.18
Fiber g 0.3
Cholesterol mg 59
Sodium mg 112

Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Makes: 12 pieces

PRESENTATION

Cupcake optical decorations bring a playful and colorful vibe to dessert tables, and they totally take inspiration from those bold designs of the 1970s. Seriously, think of the funky vintage posters with dizzying patterns—except now, you get to eat them! It's a mix of art and baking that makes people smile before they even take a bite. These cupcakes really stand out, thanks to the cupcake optical style, where sugar paste discs in all sorts of vivid shades are stacked and layered in geometric shapes. So cool.

The tender base of a classic cupcake gets dressed up with this eye-popping look. Turns a simple treat into something that's, honestly, super unique. Whether you call them cupcake glasses or cupcake eyewear, the fun is in both the making and the eating. Every bite is just as sweet as the bright, almost hypnotic designs on top. And the taste? Really really good.

Now, these cupcake optical creations aren't just for parties or special occasions. They're perfect when you want to add some throwback flair to your dessert game. People who remember those old-school optical art patterns will get a kick out of the whole presentation, while younger guests might see them as a cool, new treat. Which is great.

This technique has picked up lately, showing how even Anglo-American desserts can get a creative twist in different places. Each cupcake is like a tiny piece of edible art, with sugar paste discs fitting together in ways that feel both random and perfectly planned. The icing underneath stays moist and rich, balancing out all the sugary decorations on top.

Whether you're serving up novelty cupcake glasses for a themed event or just want something to brighten up a regular afternoon, these cupcakes are sure to impress. Pretty much. The combo of crispy sugar details and soft cake underneath is a treat that's as fun to look at as it is to eat. Really. Pretty soon, you’ll start seeing cupcake-themed glasses and bakery treats everywhere—because when dessert meets retro art, things get deliciously interesting.

INGREDIENTS

221

Calories per serving

Ingredients for 12 cupcakes: Sugar 0.6 cup (120 g); Type 00 flour 1 cup (120 g); Butter ½ cup (120 g) - (at room temperature); Fine salt 1 pinch; Vanilla bean 1; Eggs 2; Baking powder 0.6 tsp (3 g)

for decoration: Sugar paste 1.67 cups (200 g); Powdered sugar to taste; Food coloring to taste - blue, yellow, red; Food pencils to taste - bright; Edible glue to taste

Preparation

How to prepare Cupcake optical

To prepare the optical cupcakes, place the granulated sugar into a bowl along with the softened butter at room temperature, cut into chunks 1. Slit the vanilla bean lengthwise; scrape out the seeds with a small knife and add them to the bowl 2 along with a pinch of salt. Begin to work the ingredients into a cream 3.

Then add the eggs one at a time, continuing to mix with the beaters 4. In a separate bowl, sift the flour and baking powder, then combine the dry ingredients with the butter, eggs, and sugar mixture 5 and mix all the ingredients well with a spatula to obtain a smooth and homogeneous batter 6.

Place the batter into a piping bag without a nozzle, which you can cut to make an opening; line a muffin tin with 12 paper liners and, using the piping bag, fill them halfway with the batter (7-8). Bake in a preheated static oven at 350°F for 20 minutes (or 320°F for 10-15 minutes in a convection oven) until the cupcakes are slightly golden on the surface. Once ready 9, turn off the oven and let them cool completely.

In the meantime, you can prepare the decorations with the sugar paste: divide it into small portions using a dough scraper 10, make a small well and pour in the food coloring as desired based on the shade you want 11; knead well with your hands to achieve a uniform color 12.

Lightly dust the silicone mat with some powdered sugar and roll out the yellow sugar paste 13 into a thin disc and cut out discs with a diameter of 2 ⅓ inches 14, then roll out the pink one and repeat the operation for the pink one using both the 2 ⅓-inch cutter and smaller sizes (1 ¼ inches) 15; do the same with the blue sugar paste and cut out discs with a diameter of 2 inches.

Lastly, for the white one, cut discs with a diameter of 1 ¼ inches 16 and place all the discs on a tray lined with parchment paper. When the cupcakes are baked and completely cool, decorate with the sugar paste discs, attaching them with edible glue 17; lay down the first colored sugar paste disc 18.

Then distribute the edible glue 19 and continue laying the discs of different sizes and colors 20; you can finish by decorating with colored glitter pens 21. Your optical cupcakes are ready to be the stars of your buffets!

Storage

Store the optical cupcakes under a glass dome for a maximum of 1-2 days. You can freeze them once cooked without the sugar paste decoration.

Tip

Unleash your creativity and the legendary Seventies! Personalize the cupcakes by mixing different color tones: have fun creating shades and contrasts that will make your little desserts unique and special!

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Cupcake optical

PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

How to prepare Cupcake optical

Storage

Tip

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