Introduction

Cutie Pie Mini Cakes are adorable, bite-sized treats inspired by classic pie flavors. Using pound cake bites and colorful buttercream, these mini desserts are perfect for parties or a fun baking project with family. They offer delicious flavors in a charming, easy-to-make form.

The image shows a metal baking tray filled with 15 small mini pies arranged in three neat rows, each row containing five pies. The left row features mini pies with a light brown lattice crust and a small dollop of white cream on top, while the middle row holds mini pies with a red filling and a decorative light brown lattice crust. The right row contains mini pies with a smooth bright orange filling and a swirl of white cream in the center, edged with a textured light brown crust. The tray sits on a white marbled surface. In the background, there are several small orange and white pumpkins along with red apples and autumn leaves, creating a cozy fall setting. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 box Drake’s Pound Cake Mini Bites
Buttercream frosting (store bought or homemade)
Red, orange, and brown food coloring
Pumpkin pie spice (optional)
Red sugar pearls
Cherry extract for baking (optional)
Apple pie filling (homemade or canned)
Wilton decorating tips #3, #5, #10, #16, and #32
Disposable piping bags

Instructions

Step 1: Divide the buttercream frosting into four small bowls. Mix red food coloring into one bowl, orange into the second, brown into the third, and leave the fourth bowl white.
Step 2: For pumpkin pie mini cake bites, spread orange frosting on top of the pound cake bites with a knife.
Step 3: Using the #16 piping tip, pipe a scalloped edge around the mini cake with the brown frosting to resemble a pie crust.
Step 4: With the #32 piping tip, pipe a small star of white buttercream in the center of the mini cake bite.
Step 5: Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of pumpkin pie spice on top.
Step 6: For cherry pie mini cake bites, frost the top with red frosting. Add a tiny amount of cherry extract to the frosting if you want a cherry flavor.
Step 7: Sprinkle a few red sugar pearls on top for decoration.
Step 8: Using the #3 round piping tip, pipe lines in a grid pattern on top of the mini cake bites with brown frosting.
Step 9: Pipe a scalloped crust around the edge of the cake using the brown frosting and the #16 piping tip.
Step 10: For apple pie mini cake bites, finely chop the apple pie filling and spread it evenly on top of the cake bites.
Step 11: Pipe grid lines over the apple pie filling with the brown frosting using the #5 piping tip.
Step 12: Pipe a crust edge around the mini cakes using the #10 piping tip with brown frosting.
Step 13: Use a toothpick to make small lines around the crust edge to mimic crimping for a realistic look.
Step 14: Finish by piping a dollop of white buttercream in the center of each mini cake bite.

Tips & Variations

If you don’t have food coloring, try natural alternatives like beet juice for red or pumpkin puree for orange tones.
Mix a little powdered sugar into the buttercream to stiffen it if piping details don’t hold their shape well.
Swap the pound cake mini bites with homemade mini sponge cakes for a fresher taste.
Add a drop of vanilla or almond extract to the buttercream for extra flavor depth.

Storage

Store the decorated mini cakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Bring them to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture. If freezing, wrap individually and thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

How to Serve

The image shows three white plates with small, festive tart cupcakes on a white marbled surface. The top plate holds six cupcakes with a bottom crust layer, a medium brown filling, and a lattice crust on top with a small dollop of white cream in the center. The right plate has nine cupcakes with a crust bottom, bright red filling, and a lattice crust top. The bottom plate contains seven cupcakes with a crust base, a thick layer of orange frosting, a piped border of light brown frosting, and a white cream dollop in the center. Around the plates are autumn decorations including small pumpkins, red apples, colorful fall leaves, and a white cloth with red check patterns. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use homemade buttercream for this recipe?

Yes, homemade buttercream works great and allows you to customize sweetness and flavors exactly to your liking.

How do I prevent the frosting from melting or sliding off the mini cakes?

Make sure the pound cake bites are cool and dry before frosting. Also, chilling the cakes slightly before decorating helps the frosting hold better.