These “retro” snacks are fun to make and bring a smile to everyone’s face.
We call them cook-out cupcakes.
I have been making some “retro” snacks for my grandchildren this summer and thought of this one. I have not made it for at least 6 or 7 years, but they use to love for me to make these cute little cook-out cupcakes when they were younger.
They called them “crabby patties” from the Sponge Bob cartoon. There was even a little boy in our neighborhood that would see me outside and ask me to make them for him.
I did make these cook-out cupcakes a few weeks ago and took them to a cook-out at my daughter’s house. The kids all loved them, but the biggest surprise was that the grown-ups were excited about them too.
These are so easy to make and you can do them very simple or get fancy with the decorating. I did a very simple version for my cook-out cupcakes.
To prepare the “BUNS”…Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the inside cups of muffin pans with no stick cooking spray. (about 32)Mix a (15.25oz) box of yellow cake mix as directed on box. Spoon about 3-4 tablespoons of batter into each cup and bake about 8-10 min or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Remove to a cooling rack.
To prepare the “Burgers”… Mix a (15.25oz) box of chocolate cake mix as directed on box. Spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon of the mix into muffin pans, sprayed with no stick cooking spray. (about 64) Bake 6-8 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. Remove to a cooling rack.
To prepare the condiments… Prepare your favorite icing recipe. Here is the recipe I use.
2lb confectioner sugar
1/3 cup Crisco shortening
1/4 to 1/2 cup cold water
- To make the frosting, place the confectioner sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the shortening and 1/4 cup water. Slowly beat together on the lowest speed of mixer. Add additional water a tablespoon or 2 at a time and increase speed on the mixer. Beat until smooth.
- Divide icing into separate small bowls. Using a toothpick or end of a plastic butter knife, add the coloring paste to each bowl. If icing is too thick, add drops of water and stir to desired consistency; if too thin, add small amounts of confectioner sugar.
- Divide into 3 bowls, add coloring paste to each (yellow for mustard, green for lettuce, and red for ketchup)
Cut the yellow cupcakes in half horizontally and spread some green icing on bottom half, place chocolate cupcake on top, spread some red and yellow icing on top of this and then top with remaining cupcake top. It looks great when the red and yellow are dripping over the side.
Place each cook-out cupcake on a paper cupcake liner, add a little green icing on the top and add a party toothpick to each.
"RETRO" SNACKS…COOK-OUT CUPCAKES
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- water
- 2 lb confectioner sugar
- 1/3 cup Crisco shortening
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup cold water
Instructions
- To prepare the “BUNS”…Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the inside cups of muffin pans with no stick cooking spray. (about 32)Mix a (15.25oz) box of yellow cake mix as directed on box. Spoon about 3-4 tablespoons of batter into each cup and bake about 8-10 min or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Remove to a cooling rack.
- To prepare the “Burgers”… Mix a (15.25oz) box of chocolate cake mix as directed on box. Spoon about 1 heaping tablespoon of the mix into muffin pans, sprayed with no stick cooking spray. (about 64) Bake 6-8 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. Remove to a cooling rack.
- To make the frosting,place the confectioner sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the shortening and 1/4 cup water. Slowly beat together on the lowest speed of mixer. Add additional water a tablespoon or 2 at a time and increase speed on the mixer. Beat until smooth.
- Divide icing into separate small bowls. Using a toothpick or end of a plastic butter knife,add the coloring paste to each bowl. If icing is too thick,add drops of water and stir to desired consistency;if too thin,add small amounts of confectioner sugar.
- Divide into 3 bowls, add coloring paste to each (yellow for mustard, green for lettuce, and red for ketchup)
- Cut the yellow cupcakes in half horizontally and spread some green icing on bottom half, place chocolate cupcake on top, spread some red and yellow icing on top of this and then top with remaining cupcake top. It looks great when the red and yellow are dripping over the side.
- Place each cupcake on a paper cupcake liner, add a little green icing on the top and add a party toothpick to each.
Notes
Continue to create the number of cupcakes you want to make. I freeze the leftover chocolate cupcakes and can make more another time, just by mixing up the yellow cake mix.
The kids loved helping me make these to share with their friends.
HERE are some ideas of other foods that kids like to eat at cook-outs.
I want my grandchildren to remember fun recipes like this when they are older and think about something Grandma Honey made for them. I have a lot more “retro” snacks planned for them.
I just sent this like to Amara, my granddaughter. We have to make these! Wish I had read this before the 4th. They would have been perfect but summer isn’t over!
I use to make so many things like this but forgot about them over the years. My goal this summer is to pull out some of those old ideas and make them again so the grandkids will remember them. You are right..lots of summer left to try them.
These look amazing!! So much time and love were put into these. Great Job!!!
Thank you, the kids always like them a lot.
Just adorable! I’ve made them before – used a brownie for the hamburger – they were a huge hit at our family carnival. I actually used boxed mixes too, and one of the dads, who owns a very successful chain of restaurants – complimented them profusely! He said I could sell them at his locations. LOL – for me, making a dozen was enough to put me on the couch for a week!
I like the brownie idea really well. Isn’t that hysterical how adults like these as much as kids do.
These look amazing