Baking scene hipsters know cupcakes have become so ubiquitous (and achingly ironic) as to be nearly passe.

But then, they probably haven’t seen Karen Tack and Allen Richardson’s March of the Penguins rendition, which crafts cupcake penguins from mini doughnuts, chocolate cookies and marshmallows.

Or watched a little boy’s fascination with Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen’s construction site created from a bed of cupcakes topped with “dirt” frosting and chocolate tractors and trucks.

These and many other whimsical, inspiring and utterly gorgeous creations are set out in two new cookbooks aimed at helping you turn humble cupcakes into fanciful works of art.

First is Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen’s “Little Cakes,” which offers simple, elegant and often silly recipes and designs for cupcakes and other small baked goods, including bugs, ice cream cones and pails of sand.

Second is Karen Tack and Allen Richardson’s soon-to-be published “Hello, Cupcake!”, which walks the reader through cupcake designs for sunflowers, dog faces, even one that resembles bagels and lox.

Most of the designs will require a steady hand and plenty of patience, but the authors are excellent at offering step-by-step instructions and plenty of how-to advice.

Books

n Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen’s “Little Cakes,” Clarkson Potter, 2008; and

n Karen Tack and Allen Richardson’s “Hello, Cupcake!”, Houghton Mifflin, 2008.