My youngest son celebrated his first birthday in January. In no way did it seem that a year had gone by since his birth. Time must have been on fast forward, right?!
Being so young and only doing a small celebration at our home, I didn’t want to create a big cake or spend hours in the kitchen decorating it. Instead, I decided on making him adorable First Birthday Cupcakes that were quick, easy and delicious!
First Birthday Cupcakes
You will need:
Cake or cupcake mix – Prepared as directed. If you choose to use a cake mix, it will provide you with about 24 cupcakes.
Frosting -I went with Betty Crocker Frosting in the can to save time, but feel free to check out my Almond Buttercream and Peanut Butter Frosting for homemade options!
Colour dye – I only use Wilton dye products and went with blue for my son.
Piping bag with #18 Wilton Tip – If you don’t have a piping bag or tip handy, you can just as easily use a Ziploc bag and cut the tip!
After cupcakes have been baked and cooled, tint frosting with your desired colour.
Put frosting into piping bag, apply tip and pipe!
To add that adorable touch, we used a first birthday candle and done!
Christy Martin says
The cupcakes look straight out of a magazine! So cute and probably good icing practice for me. I will have to check out Raincoast Books for the next family birthday.
Kristen says
Thank you for the sweet compliment Christy!
kathy downey says
Thanks these look interesting with check them out for the little guy
Kristen says
You are so very welcome Kathy!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
Those are some great books and I love that you are encouraging reading at an early age!!
Kristen says
We have always read to our children from the earliest age….books are so important!
Daisy says
These books look so sweet! I want to try your Almond Buttercream recipe!
Kristen says
It is super yummy and ridiculously easy to make! Would love to know what you thought of it!
Emily says
Those cupcakes are gorgeous!! Nancy Tillman’s books make me cry!!
Kristen says
Me too! They are so beautiful and tug at the heart strings!
Jen Temcio @dapperhouse says
OH! You really brought back some memories for me. Every year since age 1 my son has gotten books from me for his birthday. We went from board book classics like these to YA Fiction. . . time flies!
Kristen says
Time zooms by. I love that you have a special tradition like that!
Angela S says
I am glad your son had a nice birthday. Those cupcakes really are darling!
Kristen says
Thank you Angela, so much!
Pam says
My daughter used to love reading about Little Red Riding Hood. I bet she would have liked that version.
Kristen says
It is a very adorable version too! Perfect for little ones!
Ann Bacciaglia says
I remember when my kids each turned one. Such a special birthday.
Kristen says
Memories like that are meant to be treasured!
Tammi @ My Organized Chaos says
Awe, what a special birthday, love the colour of that frosting Kristen!!
Kristen says
Thanks Tammi. I went with blue for him. He loved playing in it!
Shauna says
Awe, what cute cupcakes… and what a great birthday to celebrate. I love how little ones have no clue what is happening at the 1st birthday, yet they just take it all in 🙂
Kristen says
You are so right! He was just excited to smoosh around a cupcake and eat a little frosting..hehe
Mama to 5 BLessings says
Happy birthday to your little one, my baby just turned 1 in April.
Kristen says
Awwww!!! Doesn’t the time just SPEED by!?
Amanda A says
cute cupcakes, I love the added touch of sprinkles!
Kristen says
Thanks Amanda!
Amanda A says
what cute cupcakes! I love the added touch of sprinkles!
Kristen says
Hehe ..my kids go crazy for sprinkles every time!
Becca @ Mama B says
Books and cupcakes, could it get any better!?
Kristen says
Agreed! Yummy and imaginative!
CrazyMom a/k/a Melanie says
Awww what a fun post..loved the cupcakes, they look amazing…thanks for sharing
Kristen says
Thanks! I am daydreaming about cupcakes right now…might have to make some!
heidi c. says
These look like such nice board books. I really like Raincoast Books.
Kristen says
Raincoast Books really have it all.
Laurie - Steals and Deals for Kids says
Those cupcakes look delicious and I love your book choices! Love the book “On the Night you were Born”!! Happy 1st birthday!!
Kristen says
That is one of my favourite books out of all of them. It was so sweet and special.
Liz Mays says
These books look wonderful, even just from the covers! The cupcakes look mighty fine too.
Kristen says
Thanks Liz. The books are perfect for a little one.
Laura (Lauras Little House Tips) says
Aw First birthdays are so very special. Books are perfect because you can spend quality time and make memories for a lifetime 🙂
Kristen says
Exactly Laura and those books will be enjoyed for years to come!
Sarah @ Must Have Mom says
How cute are those little cupcakes? Hope your little one and you had a great special day!
Kristen says
It was a good day. He really enjoyed his cupcake. It did end up getting all over him, more than in his mouth, but oh well!
Janice says
Ah! So sweet. Lovely cupcakes.
Kristen says
Thank you so much Janice!
kristin says
How cute, those are great cupcakes!!! Great list of books for little ones too.
Kristen says
Thanks Kristin. The cupcakes were so fun to make and even better to eat!
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement says
Happy belated birthday to your son! I don’t have kids but they say the first year goes by the quickest. Those cupcakes look SUPER delicious 🙂
Kristen says
The first year zooms by at rocket speed … thanks Kayla!
Sandra says
Happy Birthday! 1st one is the best. I always cry though. Cute cupcakes, I would love one right now.
Kristen says
The first birthday is always the biggest milestone and yes, tears happen too..*smile
Nancy @ Whispered Inspirations says
Those are super cute and festive and I love those books, my daughter loves some of them too.
Kristen says
Thanks Nancy. You really can’t ever go wrong with books!
brett says
i love books and i love cupcakes, so this is my kind of party!! i am actually planning the end of the year party for my first grader and you just have inspired me 🙂
Kristen says
Awesome to hear that! I can imagine it is going to be fabulous!!!
Dawn says
Happy belated birthday to your little one! Reading is so important in our home, too.
Kristen says
Thank you so much Dawn and I completely agree!
Amy Desrosiers says
These are super cute little one year old cupcakes! love the blue frosting!
Kristen says
Thank you so much Amy! They were super yummy too!
StacieinAtlanta says
Those are good books. Encouraging kids to read is one of the bet things you can do for them. It’s a skill that will serve them for the rest of their lives.
Kristen says
I couldn’t have said it better myself Stacie!!!!!
June S. says
(First Birthday Cupcakes with Raincoast Books) My grandson had his first Birthday back in March. Oh how time has been flying by. I like the good selection of books listed up above, would read them to him too.
Kristen says
Awesome to hear June!
MrDisco says
looks yummy!
kathy downey says
Little red riding hood is a favourite in out home
Victoria Ess says
I hope it was a great birthday! Those cupcakes are too cute!
Suzie M says
seriously cute
Cheryl Grandy says
I made cupcakes for my daughter’s first birthday, too (almost 25 years ago)! We invited several babies (with their parents, of course), and gave each baby an inexpensive board book as a thank you gift for coming. Cupcakes and books – perfect for celebrating first birthdays!
Kristen says
OH my goodness .. .what an absolutely fabulous idea you had Cheryl! I bet you got some adorable photos of the day too!
jamie hall says
love these cupcakes so cute:)
Jamie Lynn hall says
Great books been reading to my daughter since we brought her home from the hospital
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Love the cupcakes. Reading to children and with children is so very important. They learn a lot through reading – spelling being one of the things that improves when children read a lot.
loriag says
Those cupcakes are beautiful, they would be such a hit. Well done.
Amy Lovell says
The cupcakes look fantastic! ANd those books are awesome we have a few at our home!
Cheryl says
So cute and simple!! Thanks for the idea 🙂