These Reese's Cup Monkey Cupcakes holding candy bananas are just too cute. They are nestled in printable "I'm Bananas About You" cupcake wrappers and would make perfect Valentine's Day treats.
I could say I'm pretty bananas about monkeys. Not only are most of them adorably cute, but they are playful, inquisitive, and fun.
Do you love monkeys?
How about bananas?
Well, no matter how you feel about either, I'm sure you have family and friends that you are bananas about, and these cupcakes will be the perfect treat to give them on Valentine's Day.
I've personally always been enamored with monkeys, and bananas, for that matter. I'm lucky that I get to eat bananas on a daily basis, but only get to encounter monkeys on a rare occasion.
One of my favorite memories of our travels is hanging out with the black-capped squirrel monkeys in the open enclosure at the London Zoo. Watching them chase each other through the trees right over my head was exciting, but nothing compared to having the monkeys interact with us
They would stop running, just long enough to check us out. They'd get up in the tree limbs, and inch over to us, just to see if we had anything fun for them to steal. Apparently they like bright shiny objects and are known to grab them and run off with them. We held our camera tight and enjoyed our time with them.
On that same trip, we went to a rescue facility in Wales, and got to hand feed grapes to a group of Pygmy Marmosets. They were the sweetest, tiniest, monkeys. As they'd reach for the fruit, they'd wrap their miniature fingers around mine.
I get goosebumps just thinking about how that made me feel.
I think you may get a similar reaction when you give someone you love one of these cupcakes.
Monkey Cupcakes
To make these cute Monkey Cupcakes, you are going to decorate Reese's Cups to look like monkeys, then use them to top some homemade or store bought chocolate cupcakes.
Being I made these treats just to take pictures to share with you, I just bought my cupcakes at the grocery store.
If I were making them to give away, however, I'd use the recipe for the Ultimate Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Frosting. Believe me when I say they are the best chocolate cupcakes you'll ever taste.
You'll Need:
frosted chocolate cupcakes
Reese's Cups
Peanut Butter Candy Melt Wafers
Whoppers Malted Milk Balls
Fruit Runts banana candies
candy eyes (I used one ½ inch and one ⅜ inch eye per monkey)
10 chocolate frosted cupcakes*
black food coloring marker
Supplies:
2 ¾ inch round cookie cutter
food use only paint brush
Instructions to make 10 cupcakes:
Unwrap 10 Reese's Cups.
Melt 10 Peanut Butter Candy Melts. Heat in microwave for 15 second increments, stirring after each, until melted.
Use the round cookie cutter to cut twenty of the Peanut Butter Candy Melts, so they have the same curve as the Reese's Cup. Cut a small crescent moon shape out of each.
Draw two nostrils and one mouth onto 10 Peanut Butter Candy Melts. Dab some of the melted peanut butter candy coating on the back on these candy wafers and attach to the Reese's Cup. Placing the wafer near one edge of the peanut butter cup.
Attach two candy eyes and two peanut butter wafer ears to each Reese's Cup using more melted peanut butter candy coating. Allow them to dry for 10 minutes.
Set one Reese's Cup Monkey on each frosted cupcake. Press one Whopper on either side of the monkey to form the hands Press one Fruit Runts Banana in between the hands
I made this cute cupcake wrapper printable for my cupcakes. If you'd like to use them, just click on the link below then print out page #2 on cardstock. Then cut out around the design, and wrap around your cupcakes. Tape the two ends together to hold the wrappers in place.
PRINT - I'm Bananas About You Cupcake Wrappers
The printable cupcake wrappers really add the finishing touch to these sweet Valentine's Day treats.
I can't wait to share them with some people I'm bananas about, including my husband.
Who are you bananas about?
You can find supplies needed to create this recipe on Amazon. I earn a small commission when you use the sales links in this post to make a purchase at no extra cost to you.
Wilton Peanut Butter Candy ...Shop on Amazon
Ateco Plain Edge Round Cutt...Shop on Amazon 
White And Black ½-Inch Ca...Shop on Amazon
⅜" White And Black Icing ...Shop on Amazon 
WHOPPERS Malted Milk Balls ...Shop on Amazon 
- 10 Reese's Cups
- 40 Wilton Peanut Butter Candy Melt Wafers
- 20 Whoppers Malted Milk Balls
- 10 Fruit Runts banana candies
- 20 candy eyes I used one ½ inch and one ⅜ inch eye per monkey
- 10 chocolate frosted cupcakes
- black food coloring marker
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Draw two nostrils and one mouth on 10 of the peanut butter candy melts.
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Cut a small curved section off 20 of the peanut butter candy melts.
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Melt remaining 10 wafers in the microwave for 10-15 second burst on high power, stirring after each until melted.
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Use the melted candy as glue to attach two peanut butter candy melt ears, the nose, and two candy eyes to each peanut butter cup.
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Allow them to dry for 10 minutes.
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Set one monkey on each frosted cupcake.
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Add two Whopper hands holding a banana candy.
More Sweet Valentine's Day
Cupcakes & Treats
Warm Fuzzy Cake Balls and Cupcakes
Pink Ombre Creamy Coconut Hearts
Cherry Heart Pops with Chewy Chocolate Centers
If you are looking for other treats or gifts to make for Valentine's Day,
you might like these other recipes too.
- Irresistible Sweets with Dixie Crystals® - July 13, 2024
- How to make peanut butter? - February 15, 2024
- OREO Penguins - December 20, 2023
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff says
I'm bananas about my hubby too! Your experiences with real monkeys sound amazing! The adorable faces are sure to make everyone bananas over your monkeys 🙂
beth says
I bet your husband would love one of these cupcakes! I really have been fortunate to have such amazing experiences with monkeys and hope to have more in the future.
Michelle Clausen says
They are so cute, love making stuff out of pre made candies- its like an assembly line! and who doesn't like adorable monkeys, so clever Beth!!
beth says
Thanks Michelle, These were so easy to make and would definitely work well with an assembly line. I could see making lots of these to bring to school or work. Mine went to a bake sale and they were the hit of the event.
Tavette Tavetta says
You're giving a lot of US goose bumps thinking about the pygmy marmosets taking the food with their teensy, tiny fingers. Ahhhhhh
Your monkey/banana cupcakes are absolutely adorable and thank you so much for including the cupcake liner. It's all about presentation. Using 2 different sizes of eyes adds to their whimsy (spelling?). The London monkeys would be proud!
FYI - When you're in Fla. - do NOT wear jewelry or anything shiny or metallic on your swimsuit. Sharks, like monkeys, like shiny objects.
Tavette - S. Fla.
beth says
Thanks, Tavette.
Feeding those marmosets was really an amazing experience. One that I'll never forget.
I agree that the printable wrapper really made these cupcakes even cuter.
Good to know about the jewelry and sharks. I don't swim in the ocean very often as much as I love to swim.
John says
These monkeys look so cute... and delicious 🙂 I doubt they will survive to Valentine's Day 🙂
beth says
Thanks, John, and you are right, these monkeys wont make it past today. I sent them into work with my husband for a bake sale. They are raising money for a Make A Wish kid and I was happy to donate these along with other goodies I've made this week.
The Partiologist says
Who knew monkeys and bananas could get any cuter and I love the little paper cupcake wrapper you made, it's the perfect presentation!
beth says
Thanks! I thought the printable wrappers really finished the cupcakes nicely.
Sue says
Beth, Your monkeys are so cute! What a great idea! I actually have some banana cookies and monkey head cookies just waiting to be iced. They're for two of my grandsons that have always been crazy about bananas! They could eat ten a day if they were allowed. 🙂
Sounds like you had a rare experience with the monkeys...lucky you!
beth says
Thanks, Sue. I can't wait to see your cookies. Your designs are always so amazing. I'm with your grandsons, I could eat bananas all day too:) I loved hanging with the monkeys and hope to get to do it again some day.
J says
Your monkey cupcakes are simply adorable!
I loved reading your story about the close interaction you had with monkeys in the UK.
I always enjoy seeing your "collections" when it's time to choose seasonal treats. I made your ravioli hearts several years ago - before grandkids. This is the place to come for cute/classy eats for everybody - but kids are the most fun to surprise with one of your designs!
beth says
Thanks, J. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed reading my story and even happier to hear that you've made one of my treats. I appreciate you stopping back to check out what's new around here.
MissyB_in_NJ says
Beth, these are ADORABLE and fun!!! Love your ideas!!
beth says
Thanks, Missy:)
Sugartown Sweets says
I'm bananas for my hubby..AND your monkey cupcakes! How awesome to actually get to hand feed them. I wish we'd had time to visit the London Zoo..actually I didn't even realize they had one.
I remember a few years ago on the "Safari" tour at Silver Springs, our driver said we had to drive by the monkeys pretty quickly. He said if we didn't they would all try to jump in the jeep with us. I was thinking..ok, why not? That would be so cool!
Your money cupcakes are adorable!
beth says
It was a really amazing experience getting to feed the monkeys. I loved it. I could have hung out with them for hours. It was fun talking to the docent at the London Zoo about the monkeys in the enclosure. When she told us how often cameras and phones were swiped by the monkeys, I was astonished. I was sure to hold onto mine tightly. I've been to Silver Springs, but don't recall seeing monkeys. I do remember the manatees, though.