These colorful, fun and festive cupcakes with Jelly Belly jelly beans inside and out are as delicious as they are pretty.

Jelly Bean Cupcakes

These scrumptious cupcakes are semi-homemade with a boxed cake mix and a quick and easy homemade buttercream frosting.

But the stars of the show are…Jelly Belly jelly beans.

They’re not only on top of the cupcakes but also inside of the cupcakes.

Jelly Bean Cupcakes

About the Jelly Bellys

It’s best to use Jelly Belly jelly beans rather than the larger size jelly beans because:

1. The Jelly Bellys are lighter (in weight) than regular or larger size jelly beans.

so they don’t sink to the bottom of the cupcake when added to the batter like the larger jelly beans do

2. Jelly Bellys are the same color in the middle of the jelly bean as they are on the outside of the jelly bean

– this adds more color on the inside of the cupcakes even after the candy melts down a bit when baked in the batter

– the larger size jelly beans are often white or clear in the middle which leaves little to no color inside the cupcake after it’s baked

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

About the Cake

These cupcakes are made from a box of white cake mix.

The white color of the cake is a beautiful contrast to the bright and fun colors of the jelly beans.

Jelly Belly cupcakes

About the “Easter Grass”

The edible grass on these cupcakes is made out of shredded or flaked coconut and green food coloring.

Feel free to change up the color of the grass from green to pink, blue or whatever color you like.

Jelly Bean cupcakes

Amount of Jelly Bellys Needed

Although the box of cake mix say it makes 24 cupcakes, when filling the cupcake liners 3/4’s full of batter, the yield was 17 cupcakes.

Per Cupcake:

1. The inside of each cupcake has a total of 8 Jelly Bellys (one layer of 5, and another layer of 3)

2. The decoration on top of each cupcake has 3 to 5 Jelly Bellys

3. For 3 jelly bellys on top, that’s 11 Jelly Bellys per cupcake (plus the amount of jelly beans on top)

Jelly Bean Cupcakes

Total Amount for 17 Cupcakes:

  • For 3 Jelly Bellys on top, that’s 11 jelly beans per cupcake.
    •  times 17 cupcakes equals a total of 187 Jelly Belly jelly beans
  • For 4 Jelly Bellys on top, that’s 12 jelly beans per cupcake.
    •  times 17 cupcakes equals a total of 204 Jelly Belly jelly beans
  • And for 5 Jelly Bellys on top of each cupcake, that’s 13 jelly beans per cupcake.
    •  times 17 cupcakes equals a total of 221 Jelly Belly jelly beans 

How to Determine the Amount of Jelly Bellys in a Package

To figure out how many Jelly Bellys are in a package, multiply the amount per serving times the number of servings in the package.

The bag of Jelly Bellys that I used was 6.75 ounces.

When doing the math based on the servings, the package should have 162 jelly beans in it (but there were actually a few more…bonus!)

Jelly bean cupcakes

Amount of Cupcake Liners Needed

An option is to use 2 liners per cupcake (one that the cupcake is baked in and a second one that is added just before serving):

  • using the second cupcake liner adds a festive color to the cupcakes
  • if using 2 liners for each cupcake, then 34 are needed
  • both of the liners can match or be similar in color and print (in this post, the second cupcake liner used is different from the liner that the cupcake was baked in)

Jelly Bean cupcakes

Customize the Color Theme and Jelly Bellys

When it comes to the theme of these jelly bean cupcakes, the possibilities are endless for customization.

Whether the theme is pink, light blue, unicorn, rainbow or holiday, you just need the applicable colors of Jelly Bellys, food coloring and themed paper cupcake liners.

Let’s check out the ingredients.

Jelly Bean cupcake ingredients

Cupcakes – boxed white cake mix, canola oil, egg whites, and water (or the ingredients according to package instructions), Jelly Belly jelly beans (all colors except black and white), and paper cupcake liners

Buttercream frosting ingredients

Buttercream Frosting – powdered sugar, softened butter, milk and vanilla extract

Jelly Bean cupcake toppings

Topping and Decorations – sweetened shredded coconut (or coconut flakes), green food coloring, Jelly Belly jelly beans, or regular size jelly beans if preferred

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

A printable recipe with the measurements and instructions is located at the bottom of this post.

For the Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (or according to package instructions).

Paper Liners:

Cupcake liners in pan

Fill the cupcake pan with paper liners. Set aside.

Cake Batter:

Cake mix in bowl

To a large bowl, according to the package instructions, add cake mix, egg whites, canola oil and water.

Cupcake batter in bowl

Beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or whisk by hand for 2 minutes (or follow package instructions).

Filling the Cake Liners:

Add cupcake batter to liners in pan

Cupcake batter in pan

Fill each cupcake liner 3/4’s full of cake batter (a small amount of batter should be left over).

Adding Jelly Beans:

Jelly Belly jelly beans on batter

In the cupcake liner, on top of the batter, lay 5 Jelly Belly jelly beans.

TIPS:

1. make sure to lay the Jelly Belly jelly beans flat

2. don’t use white or black colored jelly beans on the inside of the cupcakes (or the popcorn flavored Jelly Bellys since they’re such a light color).

3. don’t let the jelly beans touch each other, or touch the sides of the cupcake paper liners

– if they get too close to one another they may bunch up together; if they touch the paper liners the jelly beans may stick to the paper and pull out of the cupcake when the liner is removed

Jelly bean cupcake batter in pan

Add More Batter:

Jelly bean cupcake batter in pan

Jelly bean cupcake batter

For each cupcake, add about 1 teaspoon of cake batter on top of the jelly beans (don’t cover up all of the jelly beans, let a little show through).

TIP – The total amount of batter for each cupcake should fill the paper liner to 3/4’s full.

Add More Jelly Beans:

Jelly beans on top of batter

Jelly beans on top of batter

On top of the batter, add 3 more Jelly Belly jelly beans.

TIPS: (same as when adding the first layer of jelly beans)

1. make sure to lay the Jelly Belly jelly beans flat

2. don’t use white or black colored jelly beans on the inside of the cupcakes (or the popcorn flavored Jelly Bellys since they’re such a light color).

3. don’t let the jelly beans touch each other, or touch the sides of the cupcake paper liners

– if they get too close to one another they may bunch up together; if they touch the paper liners the jelly beans may stick to the paper and pull out of the cupcake when the liner is removed

Bake:

Jelly bean cupcakes in pan

Bake in a preheated oven according to package instructions until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean (between 18 and 21 minutes, or according to the package instructions).

Cool:

Jelly bean cupcakes on rack

Carefully transfer the cupcakes from the pan onto a rack.

Jelly bean cupcakes on rack

Let cool completely before frosting them.

Green Coconut Topping (Grass)

The green “coconut grass” topping needs to be put on top of the cupcake as soon as it’s frosted so that it will stick to the top.

Before making the frosting, make the “green grass”.

Shredded coconut in bowl

To a small bowl, add shredded or flaked coconut.

Add green food coloring to coconut

To the coconut…

Green food coloring in coconut

…add 7 drops of green food coloring.

Green shredded coconut in bowl

With a small spoon, mix together until the coconut is lightly coated in green. Set aside.

For the Buttercream Frosting

Add butter to mixing bowl

To a large mixing bowl, add softened butter

Add powdered sugar to bowl

…powdered sugar…

Add milk to bowl

…milk…

Add vanilla to bowl

…and vanilla extract.

Frosting ingredients in bowl

Next…

White frosting in bowl

Set a mixer to the slowest speed and beat the ingredients carefully so that the powdered sugar doesn’t fly out of the bowl.

Once the powdered sugar starts to mix in with the butter and milk (about two minutes), increase the speed on the mixer and beat the ingredients until smooth (about another 3 or 4 minutes).

Frosting the Cupcakes and Adding the Decorations:

White frosting on cupcake

TIP – Frost each cupcake one at a time, and right after frosting each one…

Add green coconut on cupcake

…add the green shredded coconut (so it will stick to the frosting)

Jelly bean cupcake on plate

…top with 3 to 5 Jelly Belly jelly beans (so they’ll also stick to the frosting).

Or add the preferred amount of jelly beans on top.

Larger size jelly beans can be used for decoration if preferred (using them inside of the cupcakes isn’t recommended).

Jelly bean cupcake on plate

Here’s an example of what the larger size jelly beans look like on top of the cupcake if you’d like to use them.

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

Depending on the theme of the cupcakes…

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

…various colors can be used for the inside…

Jelly Belly cupcakes

…and the outside of the cupcakes…

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

And the best part is…

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

…that these cupcakes are delicious.

Jelly Bean Cupcakes

The inside of the cupcakes…

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

Jelly Bean Cupcakes

…actually take on the flavor…

Jelly Belly cupcakes

…of the Jelly Bellys.

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

Jelly Bean Cupcakes

Thank you so much for stopping by CCC!

Jelly Belly Cupcakes

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Jelly Bean Cupcakes

Jelly Bean Cupcakes with Jelly Bellys

Semi-homemade cupcakes with buttercream frosting and Jelly Belly jelly beans inside and out.
5 from 2 votes

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1 box (15.25 ounces) white cake mix
  • 1 cup water (quantity according to package instructions)
  • 1/3 cup canola oil (quantity according to package instructions)
  • 3 egg whites (quantity according to package instructions)
  • 187 Jelly Belly jelly beans (using 8 on the inside and 3 on top of the cupcakes); all colors except black and white
  • 34 Cupcake liners if using 2 liners per cupcake (one for baking and a second one added just before serving)

For the Buttercream Frosting:

  • 6 tablespoons butter softened
  • 4-3/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Topping and Decoration:

  • 1/2 cup (heaping) shredded or flaked sweetened coconut
  • 7 drops Green food coloring
  • 51 Jelly Belly jelly beans if using 3 Jelly Bellys on top of the cupcake for decoration; (the larger size jelly beans can be used if preferred)

Equipment

  • Cupcake baking pan

Instructions

For the Cupcakes:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (or according to package instructions).
  • Fill the cupcake pan with paper cupcake liners. Set aside.
  • To a large mixing bowl, add cake mix, water, egg whites, and canola oil. Beat with a mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes or whisk by hand for 2 minutes (or follow package instructions). 
  • Fill each cupcake liner 3/4's full of cake batter (a small amount of batter should be leftover).
  • Top the batter with 5 Jelly Belly jelly beans that are laid out flat, not touching one another and not touching the paper liner.
  • For each cupcake, top the jelly beans with about 1 teaspoon of batter (don't cover up all of the jelly beans, let a little show through). The total amount of batter for each cupcake should fill the paper liner to 3/4's full.
  • Top with 3 more Jelly Belly jelly beans that are laid out flat, not touching one another and not touching the paper liner.
  • Bake in a preheated oven according to package instructions until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
  • Carefully transfer the cupcakes onto a rack and let cool completely before frosting them.

For the Green Coconut Topping:

  • The green "coconut grass" topping needs to be put on top of the cupcake as soon as it's frosted so that it will stick to the top.
    So before making the frosting, make the "green grass" first.
  • To a small bowl, add shredded coconut and 7 drops of green food coloring.  Mix together until the coconut is lightly coated. Set aside.

For the Buttercream Frosting:

  • To a large mixing bowl, add powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and milk. 
  • Set a mixer to the slowest speed and beat the ingredients carefully so that the powdered sugar doesn’t fly out of the bowl.
  • Once the powdered sugar starts to mix in with the butter and milk (about two minutes), increase the speed on the mixer and beat the ingredients until smooth (about another 3 or 4 minutes).

Frosting the Cupcakes and Adding the Decorations:

  • Frost each cupcake one at a time and right after frosting it, add the green shredded coconut on top (so it will stick to the frosting). Top with Jelly Belly jelly beans (the larger size jelly beans can be used to decorate the top of the cupcake if preferred).

Notes

TIPS:

  1. For inside of the cupcakes, Jelly Belly jelly beans work best (as opposed to the larger size jelly beans).
  2. When adding the Jelly Bellys inside of the cupcakes - don't use white or black colored jelly beans (or the popcorn flavored Jelly Bellys since they're such a light color); and don't let the jelly beans touch each other, or touch the sides of the cupcake paper liners.
  3. The total amount of batter for each cupcake should fill the paper liner to 3/4's full. 
  4. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting them.
  5. Frost each cupcake one at a time, and right after frosting each one, add the green coconut topping and jelly bean decorations (so they'll stick to the frosting).

This recipe was originally posted on March 28, 2012.

Themed Dessert Recipes

Here are more themed dessert recipes you may like “Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes” and “Chocolate Cupcakes with Tootsie Roll Goblins” and “Gingerbread Cookie Dough Reindeer Pops“.

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