Description
Delight in the whimsical charm of The Best Cotton Candy Cupcakes, featuring pastel-hued layers of moist white cake infused with cotton candy flavoring and topped with fluffy, swirled buttercream frosting. Enhanced with colorful sanding sugar and served alongside playful cotton candy sticks, these cupcakes are perfect for parties or any fun celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cake:
- 1 box white cake mix
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 Tbsp cotton candy flavoring
- Pink and blue food coloring
For the Frosting & Topping:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 to 1½ teaspoons cotton candy flavoring
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream or milk
- 3–4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- Blue and pink sanding sugar
- Blue and pink cotton candy
- Popsicle sticks
Instructions
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two muffin tins with 18 paper liners and set aside.
- Make the Cake Batter: In a large bowl, combine the white cake mix, egg whites, vegetable oil, water, and 1 tablespoon cotton candy flavoring. Using an electric mixer, beat until smooth, about 2 minutes. Divide the batter evenly between two bowls and tint one with a drop of pink food coloring and the other with a drop of blue for pastel shades.
- Fill the Muffin Cups: Layer the pink and blue batters into the muffin liners, filling each about three-quarters full. Avoid swirling to keep colors distinct.
- Bake the Cupcakes: Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with moist crumbs. Remove from oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely.
- Prepare the Frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the softened butter, vanilla extract, and 1 to 1½ teaspoons cotton candy flavoring until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, about one cup at a time, alternating with little streams of heavy cream, until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Color the Frosting: Divide the frosting into two bowls and tint one with blue and the other with pink food coloring to achieve your desired pastel shades.
- Pipe the Frosting: Fit a pastry bag with your desired tip. Spoon blue frosting down one side and pink frosting down the other side of the bag. Pipe onto the cooled cupcakes; the colors will blend slightly at the tip, creating a pretty purple hue.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle blue and pink sanding sugar over the frosted cupcakes. To make cotton candy sticks, lightly moisten one end of a popsicle stick and gently attach a small piece of cotton candy. Serve immediately, as cotton candy hardens quickly when exposed to air.
Notes
- Do not swirl batters when layering to keep the colors vibrant and separate.
- For best presentation, make cotton candy sticks just before serving.
- If desired, substitute milk for heavy cream in the frosting for a lighter texture.
- Use pastel gel food coloring for more vivid but soft coloring.
- Store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cotton candy cupcakes, pastel cupcakes, buttercream frosting, party cupcakes, colorful cupcakes, whimsical desserts
