Mario Kart Cupcake Pull Apart

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Mario Kart Cupcake Pull Apart: Do you remember the exhilaration of playing Mario Kart, zooming through colorful courses, and competing against friends for the ultimate win? Now, imagine that same excitement but in edible form. That’s right, we’re talking about Mario Kart Cupcake Pull Apart – a delicious and interactive twist on the classic video game.

In this post, we’ll dive into the world of these delightful treats, exploring the creativity and skill that goes into making them, while also providing step-by-step instructions for you to try at home. Get ready to level up your baking game and impress your friends with this kids’ cake that is a fun and tasty dessert. Let’s hit the track!

With cars racing around a semi-homemade chocolate cupcake track, lined with large blades of grass and a pond that proudly holds the winner’s trophy, this cupcake pull-apart will be the hit of the party. Boys and Girls will love this fun Nintendo party dessert! These incredible birthday cupcakes look impressive and are easy to make.

This fun Nintendo Party Dessert is complete with all Mario Kart’s favorite characters. Donkey Kong, Mario, Mushroom, Princess Peach, Luigi, and Bowser. Perfect for your summertime birthday party. Soft, semi-homemade chocolate cupcakes, topped with everyone’s favorite frosting.

Do you love the frosting the bakery uses on birthday cakes? Then you’re in for a treat! Now you can make it yourself. It’s super easy and only uses everyday store-bought ingredients. Be a pro in your own kitchen and create the best birthday cake ever!

Planning a Super Nintendo Party? These fun birthday party cupcakes have a homemade chocolate cupcake track, large blades of grass, and a winner’s trophy. The party kids are going to love the attention to detail and the delicious cupcakes!

How to Make a Mario Kart Cupcake Pull Apart

Cupcakes aren’t just a sweet treat—they can also double as the ultimate party centerpiece! One of the most creative ways to wow your guests is by turning simple cake mix cupcakes into a Mario Kart cupcake pull-apart cake. With a little imagination (and some candy decorating magic), you can transform a batch of cupcakes into a colorful race track scene that looks straight out of the game.

The best part? This pull-apart cake is as fun to eat as it is to look at—guests can simply grab a cupcake and join in the sweet celebration. It’s the perfect combination of dessert and party décor, guaranteed to be a hit at any Mario Kart–themed birthday or game night.

MARIO KART PARTY CENTERPIECE CUPCAKES SUPPLIES NEEDED

If you’re planning a Mario Kart–themed party, this cupcake pull-apart cake is the perfect way to bring the game to life in dessert form. Using simple cake mix cupcakes as the base, you can create a colorful racetrack complete with speedy cars, a shimmering pond, candy details, and even a trophy for the winner’s circle. The best part? It’s easier than it looks, and your guests will be impressed by both the design and the convenience of the grab-and-go cupcake.

Mario Kart cars (small toys or toppers)
Candy flower sprinkles (for the classic Mario flowers)
Candy fish sprinkles (for the pond)
Chocolate rocks (around the road)
Mini ice cream cone (to create the trophy base)
Small plastic trophy (to place on top of the cone or center stage)
13×19 inch cardboard cake board (or larger if needed)
Checkered flags (to decorate the edges or mark the finish line)
Piping tip #234 (grass tip)
Piping tip #789 (cake icer tip)
gel food coloring ( green leaf and sky blue)
Frosting (blue, green, and white)
Cupcakes made from two cake mixes (a total of 41 cupcakes)

SUPER MARIO PULL APART CUPCAKES INGREDIENT LIST-full recipe below in recipe card

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES INGREDIENT LIST

2 (15.25-ounce) chocolate cake mixes
2 cups water
1 cup oil
6 large eggs

BAKERY WHITE FROSTING INGREDIENT LIST

3 cups vegetable shortening
4½ teaspoons clear vanilla extract
1½ teaspoons almond extract
1 (2-pound) bag PLUS 5 cups powdered sugar
12 tablespoons milk or water

MARIO BIRTHDAY PARTY CUPCAKES INSTRUCTIONS

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350℉.
Pour the two cake mixes into a large mixing bowl, add the water, oil, and eggs.
Mix until all the ingredients are combined and there are no lumps.
Line cupcake tins with paper liners (42), add 1½ ounces or 3 tablespoons of batter to each cupcake well.
Bake 19 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool on a wire cooling rack until they are completely cold before decorating.

WHITE FROSTING INSTRUCTIONS

To a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, add the shortening, vanilla, almond extract, sugar, and milk or water.
Beat frosting until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes).
Separate the frosting into three batches (about 1 tablespoon for the trophy, 2 ½ cups for the water, and the remaining for the grass); most of the frosting will be green, the next batch blue, and a very small amount (about 1 tablespoon) of white to place on top of the mini ice cream cone for the trophy.

HOW TO CONSTRUCT THE MARO KART CUPCAKE PULL APART

Position 33 cupcakes on a 13×19-inch piece of cardboard for cakes.
Add a dollop of green-tinted frosting to the top 3 cupcakes and one on each side ( a total of 5 cupcakes).
Take the wrapper off 5 cupcakes; place 3 full-size cupcakes on top of the center cupcakes.
Cut the remaining two cupcakes in half; place one half on each side of the top 3.
Cover the elevated cupcakes and their sides with green frosting, ensuring that you fill in the gaps between the cupcakes. TIP: To make this process quicker and easier, I used the #789
Use an offset spatula to smooth the frosting up the side and around the cupcakes.
Cover the center (pond area) with a layer of blue frosting; use an offset spatula to create texture.
Crumble three cupcakes and the leftovers from the cupcakes that were cut in half to make the race track.
Don’t worry about the crumbs, you’ll be covering them up with grass.
Using a Wilton tip #234, add grass with the remaining green frosting, making sure to have some of the grass tip over onto the track.
Place a mini ice cream cone in the center of the pond, add a dollop of white frosting, and place the trophy on top of the coated cone.
Decorate with the flowers and fish-shaped sprinkles, chocolate rocks, cars, and flags. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO DETAILS

HOW TO SERVE THE MARIO KART CUPCAKE PULL-APART

Serving this fun party dessert is easy. All but the elevated cupcakes still have wrappers, so all that is needed is for the kids to gently pull a cupcake away from the main structure.

Can This Cupcake Pull-Apart Be Made In Advance?

YES! That’s the great thing about this themed pull-apart cake. You can start making everything up to a month in advance.

Make and bake the cupcakes. Place them in a freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze until ready to use.
Make the frosting. Since the frosting is made with vegetable shortening, it can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container up to 2 weeks, and will stay fresh longer if frozen.
Set everything out on the kitchen counter the night before to thaw. The next day, build your masterpiece! The Bakery White Frosting makes this perfect cake for the summer months. Why? The creamy frosting can withstand normal summer temperatures and won’t melt like most buttercream frostings.

HOW TO FREEZE CUPCAKES

Cupcakes are one of the easiest desserts to make ahead of time, which is especially helpful when you’re preparing for a party or big celebration. Freezing cupcakes keeps them fresh, moist, and ready to decorate whenever you need them. With just a few simple steps, you can bake in advance and still serve cupcakes that taste like they just came out of the oven.

Cool Completely – Make sure cupcakes are fully cooled before freezing to prevent condensation and soggy tops.
Wrap Individually – Wrap each cupcake tightly in plastic wrap to lock in freshness.
Add a Second Layer – Place the wrapped cupcakes into a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight container.
Wrap Plastic Cupcake Container – Wrap plastic wrap around the container in both directions (top to bottom and side to side). Add another layer using foil. Label and freeze.
Freeze Flat – Store the container flat in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw Before Decorating – To use, unwrap and let cupcakes thaw at room temperature (still covered loosely) for 1–2 hours before frosting or serving.

HOW TO STORE BAKERY WHITE FROSTING

Shortening-based frosting is a party baker’s best friend—it’s stable, smooth, and holds up beautifully in warm weather. Unlike buttercream made with real butter, this type of frosting doesn’t melt as quickly, making it ideal for decorating cakes and cupcakes ahead of time. To keep it fresh and ready to use, proper storage is key.

Airtight Container – Place frosting in a clean, airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
Room Temperature or Refrigerator – It can be stored at room temperature for 2–3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Bring to Room Temperature – If refrigerated, let frosting come back to room temperature before using. Re-whip briefly to restore a fluffy texture.
Freezer Option – For longer storage, freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then re-whip before piping or spreading.

Other Race Track Additions Items

CHOCOLATE ROCKS: If you’ve never seen chocolate rocks, they’re awesome! They look just like rocks, but chocolate. Add some here and there around the Mario Kart Race Track. I have seen them at Hobby Lobby.
OREO COOKIES: Remove the white filling from the cookie and press the cookie into the curve area of the race track to look like bumpers, or for thicker tires, use chocolate-filled Oreo cookies.

Gel Food Coloring VS Liquid Food Coloring

When it comes to tinting frosting, batter, or dough, the type of food coloring you use can make a big difference.

Gel Food Coloring

Concentrated pigment – A small drop goes a long way, giving you bold, vibrant colors without thinning your frosting or batter.
Great for frosting & doughs – Because it doesn’t add extra liquid, gel is perfect for buttercream, royal icing, fondant, and cookie dough.
Wide range of shades – Available in specialty colors that are harder to achieve with liquids.

Liquid Food Coloring

Easier to find – Sold in most grocery stores, usually in small squeeze bottles.
Less concentrated – You’ll need more drops to achieve deep colors, which can thin out frosting or batter if overused.
Best for lighter projects – Works well in cakes, pancakes, and drinks where a softer color is desired.

Bottom Line: If you’re decorating desserts that require precise, bold coloring (like vibrant cupcake frosting or detailed designs), gel food coloring is the way to go. Liquid food coloring is fine for casual baking projects where color intensity isn’t as important.

•Arrange baked cupcakes as best you can into an oval shape.

•Tint most of the frosting green. I used Wilton Leaf Green.

•Cut two cupcakes in half.

•Place 3 full-size cupcakes on top and the two half-cupcakes on each side.

•Using a Wilton tip #789 in a back-and-forth motion, cover the cupcakes with a thin layer of green frosting (except the center where the pond will be). Use an offset spatula to smooth frosting.

•Tint the remaining frosting blue. I used Wilton Sky Blue. Cover the center (pond area) with a thin layer of blue frosting. Use an offset spatula to create texture.

•Crumble 3 cupcakes plus the halves left from the elevated track to make the race track. Don’t worry about the crumbs, you’ll be covering them up with grass.

•Using a Wilton tip #234, add grass with the remaining green frosting, making sure to have some of the grass tip over onto the track. NOTE: I had to order this tip; while tip #233 is considered the “grass” tip, this one is the larger size to that shape and will enable you to make grass at a much faster pace.

•Decorate around the track with candy flowers and chocolate rocks.

•Place a mini ice cream cone in the center of the pond, add a dollop of white frosting, and place the trophy. CAKE TOPPER TROPHY: The trophy was a cupcake topper I found at a local bakery supply store. Decorate the water with candy fish sprinkles.

•For the final touch, add the cars and the checkered flags.

MARIO KART CAR CAKE TOPPERS

Note on Cars: The Mario Kart cars used in this cupcake centerpiece are quite small (about 1 inch wide x 2 inches long). They can be a hit-or-miss item to find, so be sure to check availability before planning. If you can’t track them down, a great alternative is Mario Kart Hot Wheels, which are widely available and work perfectly for this project.

CHOCOLATE ROCKS

For an extra fun detail, use chocolate rocks as filler and decoration around the base of your cupcake pull-apart. Not only do they help hide any gaps between the board and the cupcakes, but they also give the display a finished, polished look—almost like pebbles lining the racetrack. Guests will love discovering that these realistic-looking “rocks” are actually chocolate candies they can snack on! These amazing edible rocks can be found at Hobby Lobby.

Do Not Use Store-Bought Frosting!

You will get away with using a cake mix for this fun pull-apart, but not store-bought frosting. Homemade frosting not only tastes better but is also substantially stronger and will hold its shape. Unlike store-bought, which is too runny and tastes horrible. The recipe is simple: cake mix and my Bakery White Frosting. It’s all about the decorations for this birthday cake. Starting with the construction. PLUS, this frosting will hold up to temperature and time. What does that mean? It’s perfect in the summer when hot temperatures are usually not kind to frosting. It will hold its shape.

More Cupcake Pull-Apart Ideas

Cupcake pull-apart cakes are one of the most versatile desserts you can make—simple cupcakes come together to form show-stopping centerpieces that fit any holiday or celebration. From whimsical designs to seasonal favorites, there’s no limit to the creativity you can bring to the table. Imagine a bright and playful circus train cupcake pull-apart, a spooky yet sweet momma spider Halloween pull-apart, a patriotic cherry almond red, white, and blue flag pull-apart, or even a festive Italian cream Christmas ski slope pull-apart. Each design tells its own story while keeping dessert easy to serve and fun to eat.

FREE MARIO KART CUPCAKE TOPPERS OR SCENERY PICKS

These print and cut cute Nintendo images can be used to enhance your Mario Kart Track and also as cupcake picks. Simply print and cut out the images. Tape or glue each one to a skewer cut to size or a toothpick. Insert into the cupcakes.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE PRINTABLE→FREE MARIO KART PRINTABLE SET

TIP: FOR BEST RESULTS, PRINT ON CARDSTOCK PAPER

MORE PARTY CUPCAKE RECIPES

Cupcakes aren’t just a sweet treat—they can also be the life of the party when decorated with fun, creative themes. From colorful snow cone cupcakes that resemble a summer fair favorite, to whimsical bubble gum machine cupcakes that evoke childhood memories, the possibilities are endless. With a little imagination (and plenty of frosting!), you can turn simple cupcakes into mini works of art that fit any party theme. And the best part? There are countless designs to try, making it easy to surprise your guests with something new every time.

LATEST POSTS

MARIO KART CUPCAKE PULL-APART FAQ’s

CAN I USE STORE-BOUGHT ICING ON THIS CUPCAKE PULL-APART?

Homemade frosting not only tastes better but is also substantially stronger and will hold its shape. Unlike store-bought, which is too runny and tastes horrible. The recipe is simple: cake mix and my Bakery White Frosting.

WHAT’S THE BEST FOOD COLORING FOR TENTING FROSTING?

Both gel food coloring and liquid will work. If your goal is to achieve a vibrant color, I suggest using gel food coloring.

I’M ALLERGIC TO CHOCOLATE. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?

Start with a vanilla cupcake and use black fondant or black jimmies sprinkles for the race track.

I WANT TO MAKE VANILLA CUPCAKES. HOW DO I MAKE THE RACE TRACK?

There are three ways to make the race track without chocolate cupcake crumbs.
•black fondant
•black jimmies sprinkles
•crushed Oreo cookies

IS THIS MASTERPIECE SAFE TO MAKE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS?

Yes! The Mario Kart Cupcake Pull Apart holds up great during the heat of the summer months. The creamy frosting is made with vegetable shortening and can withstand normal summer temperatures, unlike most buttercream frostings, which tend to melt.

This Mario Kart cupcake pull-apart isn’t just a dessert—it’s an experience that brings the excitement of the racetrack straight to your party table. With colorful details, playful decorations, and plenty of cupcakes to go around, it’s sure to delight kids and adults alike. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, game night, or just want a creative centerpiece, this treat combines fun and flavor in the most unforgettable way. Get ready to start your engines and race into a celebration everyone will remember!❤️Sheryl