Cupcakes are taking the world by storm; in bakeries, kitchens, at weddings and even on reality TV… they’re everywhere! But what’s not to love about a good cupcake, they’re just so cute and the perfect size to carry around while at a party. From animal faces to cut-out hearts, here are cute cupcakes I know you’re going to love whether you’re throwing a birthday party or bridal shower…

Ice Cream Cone CupcakesTrick your party guests into thinking you only have ice cream for dessert with this fun recipe. As they dive in, they’ll discover what a creative baker you are when they taste the frosting and cake batter! Check out Betty Crocker for the recipe and how to assemble your ice cream cone cupcake.

Sweet Heart CupcakesYou don’t need Valentine’s Day to be the reason you bake this adorable heart cupcake recipe, it’s just so cute, you can make it for any holiday or party. I bet a bride-to-be or even a mommy-to-be would fall head over heels in love with you if she saw these at her shower. I love how the top layer of the cupcake sits over the frosting with the heart cut-out, such a clever idea! Stop by Glorious Treats for the recipe.

Cherry Pie CupcakeWho needs a pie when you can eat a delicious cupcake that looks like one! It might look a little intimidating to put this cute cherry pie cupcake together, but really all you need is a pipe bag for your frosting, or even a ziplock bag as suggested in the recipe instructions. Can you guess what the little red “cherries” are? Check out Spoonful for the complete recipe details.

Root Beer Float CupcakeBring back memories of your childhood when you bake this tasty root beer float cupcake. The recipe sounds just like a root beer float with ingredients like vanilla ice cream, root beer soda, and root beer extract..did you know there was such a thing as root beer extract? I didn’t! I can’t wait to try this recipe, it would be perfect for a summer bar-b-que. Head on over to BHG for the recipe.

Monkeying Around CupcakesWhether you have a little one at home who is obsessed with monkeys or you have a mom-to-be who is having a monkey themed baby shower, these little guys will be a big hit. The recipe includes your standard ingredients to make the cupcake, but why not use a banana cupcake mix for your batter to take your monkeying around theme even further! The mouth and ears are made with Nilla Wafer cookies, who knew a cookie could be so helpful when putting together a cupcake! Check out Big Flavors for the complete details.

 by Diana Trotter, editor at All Women Stalk

What are some cute and creative cupcake recipes you’ve made for birthday parties, baby showers and the like? Tell us in the comments section to win a gift card!