How to Draw a Cupcake

Step 1: The paper cup

Start below the middle, on the left. Draw a wide U and stop on the right, level with the start.

Tip Narrower at the bottom than the top, like a real paper case.

Step 2: Big frosting

Start left of the cup's top corner. Draw 6 drips to the other corner. Add a big C each end.

Tip Curl each C up and in, then join the 2 tops with a gentle sag.

Step 3: Happy face

In the frosting draw 2 big round eyes with black dots. Draw a U smile below, from eye to eye.

Tip Add a small oval cheek beside each end of the smile, above the drips.

Step 4: Middle swirl

From each end of the sag, draw a smaller C up and in. Join their tops with a smaller sag.

Tip A smaller copy of the big frosting: the next twist of the swirl.

Step 5: Round top

Start at the left end of the small top sag. Draw a plump round hill over to its right end.

Tip Round and plump, like the last curl of soft-serve.

Step 6: Cherry on top

Draw a round cherry on the hill. Draw a curved stem up from it, ending in a fat leaf.

Tip Draw a curved line down the middle of the leaf.

Step 7: Paper cup folds

From the bottom of each of the 4 middle drips draw a gentle line down to the cup's bottom.

Tip Each fold line leans in like the cup's sides.

Step 8: Sprinkles

Draw 6 little ovals on the frosting, tilted different ways: 4 on the swirl and 2 on the top.

Tip Keep them off the face and away from the edges.

Step 9: A plate

Draw a flat oval plate behind the cup's bottom. Under it draw a shallow U from end to end.

Tip The back of the plate hides behind the cup.

Step 10: Yellow sprinkles, peach cheeks

Colour the 6 sprinkles yellow and the 2 cheeks peach. Leave the eyes white.

Step 11: Pink frosting, sky cup

Colour the frosting pink, around the eyes, cheeks and sprinkles. Colour the paper cup sky blue.

Step 12: Red cherry, green leaf

Colour the cherry red, leaving a little white shine, and the leaf green. Leave the plate white.