Description
These Cotton Candy Cupcakes combine whimsical colors and flavors inspired by classic carnival treats. Featuring moist layers of pink and blue cotton candy-flavored cake and fluffy, tinted cotton candy frosting, these cupcakes are perfect for parties or a fun dessert option. Topped with sparkling sanding sugar and whimsical cotton candy on a stick, they bring playful joy to any celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Batter
- 1 box white cake mix
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp cotton candy flavoring
- Pink food coloring
- Blue food coloring
Frosting
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 – 1 1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (or milk)
- 3-4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- Pink food coloring
- Blue food coloring
Decoration
- Blue and pink sanding sugar
- Blue and pink cotton candy
- Popsicle sticks
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two muffin tins with 18 paper liners to prepare for baking.
- Prepare Cake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the white cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, water, and 1 tablespoon of cotton candy flavoring. Mix thoroughly until smooth, about 2 minutes. Then, divide the batter evenly into two separate bowls. Add blue food coloring to one bowl and pink food coloring to the other, stirring each until fully incorporated.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full by layering the blue and pink cake batters alternately. Take care not to swirl the colors together, preserving the distinct blue and pink layers.
- Bake: Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool completely in the tins before frosting.
- Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the softened butter, 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons cotton candy flavoring, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar alternately with the heavy cream or milk, beating continuously until the frosting becomes light and fluffy. Divide the frosting equally into two bowls, tint one batch blue and the other pink using food coloring.
- Pipe Frosting: Fit a pastry bag with a large star tip. Spoon the blue frosting down one side of the bag and the pink frosting down the other side. Pipe the frosting onto each cooled cupcake in a whimsical swirl pattern combining both colors.
- Decorate: Sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with blue and pink sanding sugar for sparkle. Attach small tufts of blue and pink cotton candy onto popsicle sticks and place one on top of each cupcake as a playful garnish.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can substitute heavy cream with milk for a lighter frosting texture.
- The cotton candy flavoring adds a unique carnival taste but can be adjusted for intensity based on preference.
- Use fresh cotton candy for best appearance and flavor on decoration.
- To make easier piping, chill the frosting slightly if it becomes too soft.
