Name: Pillsbury Basketball Sugar Cookie Cupcakes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Ingredients: 1 package pillsbury basketball sugar cookies; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 1 cup granulated sugar; 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 tsp. baking powder; 3/4 tsp. baking soda; 1 tsp. espresso powder; 1/4 tsp. salt; 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 1 tsp. vanilla; 1 egg, room temperature; 6 Tbsp. boiling water; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 5 cups confectioner's sugar; 4-5 heavy cream, room temperature; 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1/4 tsp. salt; 2-3 orange food dye; 1-2 black food dye

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If you know me, you know I’m a huge Boston Celtics fan. With playoffs around the corner the stress is real, but these adorable and delicious cupcakes help. I made these cupcakes with the classic pillsbury sugar cookies on the bottom. I knew as soon as I saw the basketball edition cupcakes I needed to do something with them and I’m so happy with how these turned out! I used a chocolate cake batter then of course used buttercream to decorate and turn these into basketballs.

Cupcakes decorated with orange frosting and black lines to resemble basketballs, placed on a cooling rack. The background includes a partial view of a basketball.

How To Make Basketball Cupcakes

Start with the cookie base: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cupcake pan with paper liners. Place one Pillsbury basketball sugar cookie in the bottom of each liner and bake for 10 minutes until the cookie spreads fully.
Make the chocolate cupcake batter: In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, espresso powder, and salt.
Add the wet ingredients: Mix in the milk, oil, vanilla, and egg, followed by a slow stream of boiling water to create a smooth batter.
Bake: Fill each cupcake liner ¾ full and bake for 12-15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
Make the vanilla buttercream: Cream butter until smooth, then add confectioner’s sugar and heavy cream gradually. Add vanilla and salt. Divide and dye the frosting—most orange, a small portion black.
Decorate: Pipe a generous swirl of orange buttercream on each cupcake. Flip upside down onto a parchment-lined tray to create a dome shape, then freeze until firm. Add texture with a grass piping tip and finish with black buttercream basketball lines.

Two cupcakes decorated with orange frosting and black lines to resemble basketballs, placed in brown paper liners on a baking tray.

Cupcakes decorated with bright orange frosting and black lines to resemble basketballs are placed on a brown baking tray.

A tray of cupcakes with frosting decorated to look like basketballs, featuring bright orange icing with black lines, sits in a baking pan lined with parchment paper.

Cupcakes decorated with orange icing to resemble basketballs, featuring black lines for detailing, are placed on a baking sheet.

Recipe Tips

Don’t overmix the batter: This helps keep your cupcakes light and fluffy.
Use room temperature ingredients: This ensures a smooth batter and even baking.
Use a cookie scoop: For evenly sized cupcakes that bake uniformly :)
Make-ahead frosting: You can prepare the buttercream a day ahead and store it in the fridge. Let it come to room temp and re-whip before using.

Decorating Tips

Freeze the buttercream dome before piping lines—this keeps everything firm and prevents smudging! Super important :)
Use a grass tip to create a dotted basketball texture. This is optional but adds such nice detail and creates a basketball looking texture.
For a super clean look, use a small round piping tip for the black lines.

A person decorates a chocolate cupcake with orange frosting using a piping bag. The cupcake sits on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sunlight casts shadows across the scene.

A hand places a muffin in a brown paper liner onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. In the background, part of a basketball and a basketball hoop are visible. The scene is lit by natural sunlight.

Recipe Variations

Switch up the cookie base: Try Pillsbury’s baseball, football, or seasonal sugar cookies for other occasions.
Use chocolate buttercream: For a richer flavor contrast beneath the orange dome.
Add a surprise center: Fill cupcakes with ganache or orange curd before frosting for a fun twist!

How to Store Pillsbury Basketball Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

Store these cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Let them sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before serving to allow the buttercream to soften. You can also freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 2 months. Just thaw and decorate when ready.

A person decorates cupcakes with orange frosting using a piping nozzle on a baking tray. A basketball is visible in the background. The person has a small gingerbread man tattoo on their wrist.