Description
Delight in the whimsical charm of The Best Cotton Candy Cupcakes, featuring a vibrant swirl of pink and blue layers infused with cotton candy flavor. These fluffy white cupcakes are topped with a creamy cotton candy flavored buttercream and finished with sparkling sanding sugar and fluffy cotton candy decorations, perfect for parties and celebrations.
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
Decorations
- 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 bowl, combine the white cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, water, and 1 tablespoon cotton candy flavoring. Mix until smooth, about 2 minutes. Then divide the batter evenly into two bowls. Add blue food coloring to one and pink food coloring to the other, stirring each until well blended.
- Fill Muffin Cups: Alternately spoon the blue and pink batters into the muffin liners, layering them without swirling to maintain distinct colors. Fill each cup about three-quarters full.
- Bake: Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove and let cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, cotton candy flavoring, and vanilla extract until smooth. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar alternated with heavy cream (or milk), mixing until light and fluffy. Divide the frosting into two bowls and tint one with blue food coloring and the other with pink.
- Pipe Frosting: Fit a pastry bag with a large star tip and spoon blue frosting on one side of the bag and pink frosting on the other. Pipe the frosting onto each cooled cupcake in a gorgeous swirl pattern, blending both colors beautifully.
- Decorate: Sprinkle the frosted cupcakes with blue and pink sanding sugar for sparkle. Attach small pieces of cotton candy to popsicle sticks and place them atop each cupcake as a whimsical garnish.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter for smooth frosting.
- Do not swirl blue and pink batters together to keep vibrant layers.
- For best flavor, use cotton candy flavoring as specified.
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Adjust food coloring amounts to achieve your desired intensity.
- Keep cotton candy decorations away from moisture until serving.
