Description
These Cotton Candy Cupcakes are a whimsical and colorful treat perfect for birthdays, parties, or any day that needs a touch of fun. The cupcakes are light and fluffy with a hint of cotton candy flavor, topped with a swirl of pink and blue cotton candy frosting.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cotton candy flavoring
- ½ cup milk
- pink and blue gel food coloring
For the frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tablespoons milk or cream
- ½ teaspoon cotton candy flavoring
- pinch of salt
- pink and blue gel food coloring
- cotton candy for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add wet ingredients: Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and cotton candy flavoring.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Alternate adding the dry ingredients and milk to the batter, mixing just until combined.
- Tint batter: Divide the batter into two bowls and tint one pink and one blue.
- Fill cupcake liners: Spoon a bit of each color into the cupcake liners to create a swirl effect.
- Bake: Bake for 16–18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
- Make frosting: Beat the butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, milk, cotton candy flavoring, and salt until light and fluffy.
- Color frosting: Divide and color the frosting pink and blue.
- Frost cupcakes: Use a piping bag with a large star tip, filling each side with a different color to create a swirled effect. Top with cotton candy before serving.
Notes
- Add cotton candy garnish only at serving time to prevent melting.
- Cotton candy flavoring can be found in specialty baking stores or online.
