Print

Cotton Candy Cupcakes Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

These Cotton Candy Cupcakes are light, fluffy, and full of nostalgic cotton candy flavor. Topped with a swirl of pink and blue buttercream and a playful tuft of cotton candy, they’re perfect for birthdays, baby showers, or any fun celebration.

Ingredients

Scale

Cupcakes:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring (or candy flavoring of choice)

  • 1/2 cup whole milk

  • Pink and blue food coloring

Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

  • 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk

  • 1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring

  • Pink and blue food coloring

  • Cotton candy for garnish (optional, added before serving)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.

  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

  3. Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

  4. Add eggs and flavoring: Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and cotton candy flavoring.

  5. Alternate milk and dry ingredients: Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

  6. Color the batter: Divide the batter in half. Tint one half pink and the other half blue. Spoon a bit of each color into cupcake liners to create a swirled effect.

  7. Bake: Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

  8. Make the frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar, then mix in flavoring and cream until fluffy.

  9. Color and pipe frosting: Divide frosting in half. Tint one half pink and the other blue. Fill a piping bag with both colors side by side for a swirl effect.

  10. Frost cupcakes: Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Add cotton candy on top just before serving.

Notes

  • Cotton candy topping should be added right before serving to avoid melting.

  • For extra color, sprinkle edible glitter or pastel sprinkles on top.

  • Cotton candy flavoring can be found online or at baking supply stores.

Find it online: https://ukfinda.com/cotton-candy-cupcakes-recipe/