Are you getting excited for the 4th of July? Looking for festive cupcake ideas? Try these easy updates to a cake mix for decadent, bakery cupcakes!

 

At 2 years old, there is still little more thrilling for our toddler Lincoln than getting to help Mom in the kitchen. We don’t get to do it as often as he asks, but making time to bake with him is one of my favorites. I can still remember measuring out ingredients with my grandmother at just a couple of years old and climbing up on her tall blue kitchen stool; I find motivation in making those same memories for Lincoln, even if it’s a little crazy.

 

 

It usually means a few extra messes, and the regular two minute explanation of why Mom is going to be the one to crack the eggs, despite his eager requests to “Hewlp pwease!” But, there is no mess (yet) that isn’t worth cleaning up for that look of pride on his face when he declares, “Wincoln and Mommy made muffins! Soooo dewicious. Super duper dewicious, Mommy.”

 

 

If you’re baking with toddlers, I recommend putting them up on a stool so they’re at counter height, right in on the action. I also try to have the ingredients set out ahead of time (mostly so I’m not leaving Lincoln unsupervised at the counter with the batter while I run back to the pantry ;)), and turn on some music. I remind myself that baking with him is half of the experience and save it for times we aren’t in a rush.

 

Together we’ve whipped up the perfect 4th of July cupcakes for your celebrations and Lincoln has asked to make “yummy muffins” every day since (he’ll likely be quite disappointed the next time we make whole wheat muffins ;).

I love using box mixes because they’re so easy (remember this post on 4 ways to update a boxed brownie mix?), especially when I’m baking with kids. For these 4th of July cupcakes, I used the suggested recipe on the back of the box and just swapped the water for whole milk for a rich, bakery-like cupcake. I used

 

Whether you’re headed to a bbq, entertaining at your house, or just keeping it low key, these 4th of July cupcakes are the festive touch your celebrations need. I promise, they’re as tasty as they are easy and bonus points if you let your kids join in on the fun.