🧁 The Best Cotton Candy Cupcakes 🧁
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (optional, for enhanced taste)
1/2 cup whole milk
A few drops of pink and blue food coloring (gel preferred)
For the Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
A few drops of pink and blue food coloring (gel preferred)
For Decoration:
Store-bought cotton candy
Sprinkles (optional, for added flair)
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
Make the Cupcake Batter:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and cotton candy flavoring (if using).
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Add Color:
Divide the batter evenly into two bowls. Add a few drops of pink food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to the other, stirring gently to achieve pastel hues. Spoon alternating spoonfuls of pink and blue batter into each cupcake liner, filling them about 2/3 full.
Bake the Cupcakes:
Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Prepare the Frosting:
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud. Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream (or milk), one tablespoon at a time, until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.
Divide the frosting into two bowls and tint one with pink food coloring and the other with blue. Transfer each color to separate piping bags fitted with star tips.
Decorate the Cupcakes:
Pipe alternating swirls of pink and blue frosting onto each cupcake. Top each cupcake with a small puff of store-bought cotton candy and sprinkles, if desired.
Serve and Enjoy:
Serve immediately for the freshest experience, as the cotton candy will begin to dissolve over time. These cupcakes are sure to bring smiles to everyone who tries them!