Hot Dog Cupcakes: How to Make Candy Hot Dogs

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure and Privacy Policy.

Hot Dog Cupcakes are the perfect dessert for celebrating a birthday, Father’s Day or patriotic holiday like 4th of July. They are a great addition to any summer gathering including picnics, BBQs, potlucks, pool parties and more! So easy to make and for any skill level, these fun cupcakes feature a candy hot dog cupcake topper. Read on for step-by-step instructions for making hot dogs out of candy.

A few months ago I hosted a fun hot dog party in honor of newest book from Mo Willems, The Pigeon Needs a Bath and the 10 year birthday/anniversary of The Pigeon book series. If you are familiar with the books, you know that The Pigeon absolutely loves hot dogs.  I thought hot dog cupcakes would be the perfect way to celebrate. Needless to say, they were a big hit!

*This post is brought to you in partnership with Wilton as part of the Sweet Treat Team program. All thoughts are my own.*

I presented my cupcakes on the Wilton Cupcakes ‘N More® 13 Count Small Dessert Stand, the perfect size stand for my party. For the 10th birthday, I lucked out that the number 1 and number 0 in the Numeral Candle Pick set were both yellow and fit my color scheme. I used the Primary Cupcakes Liners in red and yellow and sprinkles from the Jimmies 6 Mix Sprinkle Assortment to coordinate with the colors of ketchup and mustard.

Hot Dog Cupcake Ingredients

I came up with the idea of using caramels and tootsie rolls after seeing a picture on pinterest which used caramels for the hot dogs and circus peanuts for the hot dog. I liked the flavor combination of the caramel and chocolate much better. If you would like to make these even smaller, you can opt for Hot Tamales as the hot dog and use only half of a caramel for the bun.

To make these fun party cupcakes as shown, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 24 prepared cupcakes using your favorite recipe or box mix
• frosting of your choice
• Brach’s Milk Maid Caramels
• Tootsie Rolls (chocolate variety)
• red and yellow jimmie sprinkles
• red and yellow cupcake liners

How to Make Candy Hot Dogs

To make the candy hot dogs for your hot dog themed cupcakes, you will need one caramel and half a tootsie roll for each hot dog. Each takes about a minute to create using the following steps:

Unwrap caramel and heat up for a few seconds in the microwave to soften. Flatten caramel with the palm of your hand.

Fold the sides in and smooth out top edges to resemble the bun.

For the hot dog, twist a regular sized toostie roll to break in half. (You can make two hot dogs out of one tootsie roll.)

Roll half into a log shape to resemble a hot dog.

Add small lines to each end with a toothpick to resemble end of hot dog, if desired. Place candy hot dog in bun. That’s it!

These hot dog cupcakes  are surprisingly easy to make, no matter what your skill level. They would be perfect for your next summer party or simply for someone (like Pigeon) who simply loves hot dogs! If you enjoy making your own cupcake toppers, check out my dinosaur cupcakes and race car cupcakes, both of which feature an easy edible topper you can make using an inexpensive chocolate mold!

When to Serve Hot Dot Cupcakes:

There are many events where hot dog cupcakes would fit the theme well. Here are just a few ideas for when to serve hot dog cupcakes:

• Birthday parties: Various birthday party themes work well with hot dog cupcakes including sports (especially baseball), circus, fair, movie, camping, pool party, or a Pigeon party as we did if you have a Mo Willems fan.  They also work great for any person who just loves hot dogs.
• Sporting Events: Hot dog cupcakes are a fun and tasty addition to the snack table at any sporting event, from football to baseball.
• Father’s Day: If the dad in your life is a lover of hot dogs, then a hot dog cupcake might be just the way to help him feel appreciated on Father’s Day! 
• Potlucks, Picnics and BBQs: Hot dog cupcakes are a fun and easy dessert to transport and serve.  They are sure to stand out at any informal event, from a family reunion to a block party.
• Holidays: Hot dogs are definitely an American favorite, so serve these cupcakes with candy hot dogs at your next Memorial Day, 4th of July or Labor Day gathering!

5 from 2 votes

Print

Hot Dog Cupcakes

These Hot Dog Cupcakes are so fun and easy to make! Get step-by-step instructions for making cupcakes featuring candy hot dog cupcake toppers. Perfect for birthday parties, 4th of July, Father's Day, potlucks, summer gatherings and more!

Course Dessert

Keyword 4th of July, baseball party, bbq dessert, birthday cupcakes, birthday parties, car cupcakes, circus party, cupcake ideas, father's day, hot dog, kids party, potluck dessert, potluck recipes

Prep Time 30 minutes

Servings 24

Ingredients

• 24 prepared cupcakes using your favorite box cake mix or your favorite homemade recipe
• 1 tub 16 oz white frosting or two cups buttercream frosting
• 24 Brach's Milk Maid Caramels or other variety, unwrapped
• 12 Tootsie Rolls standard chocolate variety
• red and yellow sprinkles

Instructions

1. Unwrap caramel and heat up for a few seconds in the microwave to soften.
2. Flatten caramel with the palm of your hand.
3. Fold the sides in and smooth out top edges to resemble the bun.
4. For the hot dog, twist a regular sized Toostie Roll to break in half. (You can make two hot dogs out of one Tootsie Roll.)
5. Roll half into a log shape to resemble a hot dog.
6. Add small lines to each end with a toothpick to resemble end of hot dog, if desired.
7. Place candy hot dog in bun. Repeat process for all 24 candy hot dogs.
8. Frost room temperature cupcakes using a decorating bag and 1M tip or with a spatula, whichever is preferred.
9. Top each cupcake with a candy hot dog and red and yellow sprinkles to mimic ketchup and mustard, if desired.

For more fun baking and cake decorating ideas, be sure to check out the Wilton blog. And pick up Wilton baking essentials for your next project on Wilton.com and local retailers including craft stores like Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics or mass retailers like Walmart and Target!