Okay, let’s just get this out there: some days feel like we’re just pushing a lawnmower through life, right? Up one hill, down another, grass flying everywhere, hoping no one notices the patches we missed. That’s kind of why I absolutely love these Lawnmower Cupcakes they’re playful, adorable, and totally forgiving if things don’t look “perfect” (which honestly, is the best kind of project for busy family life!).

These cupcakes are a huge hit at parties from backyard BBQs to Father’s day celebrations. And the best part? They’re quick, easy, and don’t require a ton of fancy tools. Just some piping bags and colorful frosting.

Here’s What You’ll Need

1 box chocolate cake mix (plus the ingredients the box calls for usually eggs, oil, and water)
or use your favorite homemade chocolate cupcake recipe if you’ve got the time and energy!
Red buttercream frosting, fitted in a piping bag with a Wilton 18 star tip
Green buttercream frosting, divided into two piping bags: One with a large cut tip (for the “mowed” grass path) and one with a Wilton 233 tip (for the fluffy, “unmowed” grass)
1–2 oz chocolate melts or almond bark, melted and in a piping bag with a tiny snipped tip
Hershey nugget candies one for each cupcake (this is the base of your lawnmower)
Brown mini M&M’s one for each cupcake (for the mower’s top button)
Brown regular M&M’s four per cupcake (to make the wheels)

How to Make Lawnmower Cupcakes

Step 1: Make Your Lawnmower Handles

First things first: those cute little handles that really make the cupcakes look like mini mowers.

Draw or stencil a simple lawnmower handle on a piece of paper. Think a basic upside-down “L” shape it doesn’t have to be fancy!
Place that paper on a sheet pan, then cover it with a sheet of wax paper.
Melt your chocolate melts (or almond bark) in the microwave.
Tip: Start with 30-second bursts, stirring between each, until it’s nice and smooth.
Pour the melted chocolate into a piping bag. Snip a tiny hole at the end.
Pipe over your stencil on the wax paper to create the handles. Make one handle for each cupcake.
Slide the pan into the fridge to let the chocolate set up and get nice and firm.

Pro Tip: Make a few extra handles in case of breaks because, well, life happens.

Step 2: Bake Your Cupcakes

While your chocolate handles are chilling, let’s get those cupcakes in the oven!

Prepare your chocolate cake mix according to the box directions.
Bake into cupcakes (usually about 18–22 minutes at 350°F) and cool completely.

Pro Tip: If you try to decorate warm cupcakes, your frosting will slip-slide away like a toddler on a water slide. Trust me. Cool is key!

Step 3: Frost the “Mowed” Grass Path

Now comes the fun decorating part!

Take the piping bag with the large cut tip filled with green frosting.
Pipe a smooth, flat path straight down the center of each cupcake.
This is your neatly trimmed grass!

You don’t need it to be perfect think of it like mowing an actual lawn: a nice, tidy swipe down the middle.

Step 4: Add the Lawnmower

Time to “build” your lawnmower!

Place a Hershey nugget at the end of the green frosting path, near the edge of the cupcake.
This side will be the front of your lawnmower.
Grab your red buttercream with the Wilton 18 star tip.
Pipe little red star shapes all over the nugget, covering it completely.

It’s totally okay if you have little gaps just like mowing, sometimes you have to go back and fill in spots!

Stick a mini brown M&M right on top, dead center.
(This looks like the starter button so cute!)
Then, pop four regular brown M&M’s on each side of the nugget to be the wheels.

Pro Tip: A little extra frosting under the M&M’s helps them stay put if you’re taking these to a party.

Step 5: Create the “Unmowed” Grass

This part is SO satisfying seriously, if you’ve ever dreamt of having a picture-perfect lawn, now’s your moment!

Take the second piping bag of green frosting the one with the Wilton 233 grass tip.
Pipe fluffy, messy grass on either side of your mowed path.

It should look a little wild and overgrown like it’s begging for a trim!

Step 6: Attach the Handles

The final touch that brings it all together!

Carefully peel your chocolate handles off the wax paper.
Stick them into the cupcake just behind the lawnmower.

Pro Tip: If your handles seem a little wobbly, you can “glue” them into place with a tiny dab of frosting!

Sharing and Celebrating!

And that’s it you’ve made Lawnmower Cupcakes!

These little cuties are guaranteed to spark smiles and laughs. They’re great for summer BBQs, Father’s Day, end-of-school parties basically anywhere that needs a little extra fun (and let’s be honest, that’s everywhere these days).

Bonus Tips for Extra Fun

Because around here, we always appreciate a good hack!

Colorful Lawnmowers: Try using different frosting colors for the mower bodies blue, yellow, or green!
Grass Variations: Use two shades of green for a super realistic, just-rained-on yard look.
Make It a Family Project: Get the kids involved piping the grass or sticking on the M&Ms. (Yes, it’ll be a little chaotic. No, it won’t be perfect. YES, it’ll be perfect.)

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