• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Half-Scratched

delicious shouldn't be difficult

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with me
  • Recipes
  • appetizers
  • main dishes
  • desserts
  • DIY
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Nerds cupcakes

November 26, 2013 by Emily Hill 16 Comments

Why a recipe for definitely non-festive Nerds cupcakes at the end of November? Because sometimes your dear friend Steph has a baby shower during the holiday season and her favorite candy is Nerds and you love that Steph so much you’ll do anything to make her baby shower a success…even baking cupcakes with one of your least favorite candies.

…
Nerds cupcakes

…

Though Nerds are at the bottom of my candy list (Twix is at the top followed closely by Kit Kat), these Nerds cupcakes turned out ridiculously cute and tasty—so tasty, in fact, I may have eaten more than one.

…
Nerds cupcakes

…

Basically I took your typical funfetti cupcake and kicked it up a fruity notch or two (or three). I did try a new vanilla frosting recipe (you cook part of the frosting first–crazy!) but wasn’t as big a fan as I’d hoped. I’ve substituted my favorite vanilla buttercream frosting in its place, but feel free to use your preferred vanilla frosting.

The vanilla bean buttercream I used to frost these vanilla bean cupcakes is a good one too!

Printable recipe for Nerds cupcakes below.
…

Nerds Cupcakes
 
Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
20 mins
Total time
40 mins
 
A twist on your typical funfetti cupcake, these vanilla cupcakes feature Nerds "sprinkles" and a vanilla buttercream frosting.
Author: Emily ~ isthisREALLYmylife.com
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Cupcake
Serves: 12
Ingredients
Cupcakes
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup shortening
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 5 eggs at room temperature
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ½ cup Nerds candy plus more for sprinkling
Frosting
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
Instructions
Cupcakes
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and shortening until light and fluffy. Slowly add sugar one cup at a time, mixing well between each addition. Add eggs one at a time, also mixing well between each one.
  3. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to butter and shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Add vanilla extract.
  4. Beat batter on high speed for about 5 seconds to fully incorporate all ingredients. Stop mixer and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl. Gently fold in Nerds candy.
  5. Fill cupcake liners ½ to ⅔ full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove and allow to cool slightly in pans before removing to a wire rack. Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting
  1. In a large bowl, beat butter until light and fluffy. Add sugar and mix on low speed until well blended. Increase speed to medium and beat for another 3 minutes.
  2. Add vanilla and cream and continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for consistency.
  3. Top cupcakes with frosting and sprinkle with extra Nerds candy.
Notes
White cake recipe adapted from The Best White Cake Recipe by Add a Pinch.
3.2.1255

…

Other cupcakes you might enjoy baking (and eating):
…

Pumpkin cupcakes with salted caramel cream cheese frosting
Pumpkin cupcakes with salted caramel cream cheese frosting

…

Peach cobbler cupcakes
Peach cobbler cupcakes

…

Black and white cupcakes with vanilla bean frosting
Black and white cupcakes

…

Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla bean frosting
Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla bean frosting

…
ps post script

Feel free to “like” is this REALLY my life? on Facebook. It won’t always earn you an extra entry in a giveaway but it will give you warm fuzzies.

Don’t forget to sign up for free is this REALLY my life? updates via RSS or email so you don’t miss a single awesome post.
…

Filed Under: desserts, food & recipes Tagged With: cake, candy cupcakes, cupcakes, dessert, Nerds, Nerds candy, Nerds cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, vanilla frosting

Previous Post: « Kale and Chicken Egg Rolls
Next Post: Hot jewelry trend: black sapphires »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jamie

    November 26, 2013 at 8:43 am

    I may be forced to try the pumpkin with the salted carmel. And it will be your fault.
    ~j

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 26, 2013 at 12:26 pm

      It’s only my fault if you eat half a batch. Up until that point, it’s all on you, my friend.

      P.S. I miss you.

      Reply
  2. Jen

    November 26, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    Darling cupcakes, of course!

    Your favorite candies sound eerily similar to mine. And I could pass by a box of nerds any day and not be tempted. Your cupcakes on the other hand, they look delicious!!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 26, 2013 at 12:23 pm

      They really are yummy. And now I know what to pack for our road trip. ;)

      Reply
  3. steph

    November 29, 2013 at 5:01 pm

    There’s another “dear friend Steph” whose “favorite candy is nerds” in your world. Right here! Ok, maybe not my absolute favorite, but enough that for my birthday this year my husband put nerds on MY cake! Ha! No baby for me though. Don’t worry.

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 30, 2013 at 11:47 am

      Now that I know, I’ll have to make them for you for your very next birthday. :)

      Reply
  4. Kevin

    November 30, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    Seriously MAD photo skills!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 30, 2013 at 9:17 pm

      Why, thank you!

      Reply
  5. Jenny Layton

    December 3, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    These are so cute! Thanks for the fun idea!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      December 3, 2013 at 11:12 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  6. Von

    December 6, 2013 at 10:19 am

    I am still am craving your peach cobbler cupcakes, for realz.

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      December 6, 2013 at 2:30 pm

      Oh my gosh, those are so good! We’ll have to make them again soon.

      Reply
  7. Cathy@LemonTreeDwelling

    December 6, 2013 at 5:20 pm

    All these cupcakes are making me hungry!! I used to love Nerds Blizzards from DQ….I’m sure they would be delicious in cupcakes, too!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      December 6, 2013 at 5:39 pm

      I’m not sure i could do a Nerds Blizzard but I do love DQ. :)

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Butterfly Cupcakes with Sugary, Glittery Wings - Is This Really My Life | Is This Really My Life says:
    August 22, 2015 at 6:01 am

    […] Nerds cupcakes […]

    Reply
  2. Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting - Is This Really My Life | Is This Really My Life says:
    April 19, 2016 at 12:39 am

    […] Nerds cupcakes […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Rate this recipe:  

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Because delicious shouldn't be difficult, my recipes feature simple ingredients + easy prep without sacrificing flavor. (more)

Subscribe

Delicious recipes + ideas for making life tastier & easier!

Categories

Footer

Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe

Sign up for delicious recipes + ideas for making life tastier and easier!

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact Info
  • Let’s Collaborate!
  • Privacy Policy

My favorites

Frosted Zucchini Brownies - Frosted zucchini brownies feature a decadent chocolate flavor and rich, creamy frosting. And guess what? You can't taste zucchini in this brownie recipe! #halfscratched #brownies #brownie #recipe #baking #chocolate #zucchini #dessert #sweets

Frosted Zucchini Brownies

Hawaiian Ham & Cheese Sliders - Need a tasty way to use leftover ham or a recipe that'll feed a crowd? Look no further than Hawaiian ham and cheese sliders! #sliders #leftoverham #easyrecipe #hamandcheesesliders #maindish #baking #partyrecipe #holidayrecipe #halfscratched

Ham and Cheese Sliders with Poppy Seed Drizzle

Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites -- Cookie dough pretzel bites offer the irresistible combination of cookie dough, pretzels, and chocolate in a perfectly portioned dessert! #cookiedough #pretzel #pretzelbites #pretzelcandy #baking #dessert #easyrecipe #easydessert #nobakedessert

Cookie Dough Pretzel Bites

One pan no peek chicken and rice

One-Pan No Peek Chicken & Rice

Copyright © 2021 · Design by Ashley Emmett using The Genesis Framework