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Patrick’s Day Rainbow Cupcakes

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These Patrick’s Day Rainbow Cupcakes are bright, cheerful, and full of color – perfect for celebrating the luck of the Irish! Moist vanilla cupcakes are layered with rainbow-colored batter and topped with fluffy clouds of buttercream frosting and a candy rainbow. They’re a hit with both kids and adults and make the perfect party treat.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1 box vanilla or white cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as called for on the box)

  • Gel food coloring: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple

  • Cupcake liners

For the Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 3–4 cups powdered sugar

  • 2–3 tablespoons milk or cream

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Pinch of salt

For Decoration:

  • Rainbow candy strips (like Airheads Xtremes or Sour Belts)

  • Mini marshmallows (for clouds)

  • Gold sprinkles or chocolate gold coins (optional)

Instructions

Make the Rainbow Cupcakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

  2. Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions.

  3. Divide the batter evenly into 6 bowls. Add a different gel food coloring to each bowl and stir until the colors are vibrant.

  4. Layer a small spoonful of each colored batter into the cupcake liners, starting with purple and ending with red to create a rainbow effect.

  5. Bake for 15–18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.

Make the Frosting:
6. In a large bowl, beat softened butter until creamy.
7. Slowly mix in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, adding milk as needed to reach a smooth, fluffy texture.
8. Mix in vanilla and a pinch of salt. Beat for 2–3 minutes until light and airy.

Decorate:
9. Pipe or spread the frosting on top of the cooled cupcakes to look like fluffy clouds.
10. Curve a rainbow candy strip over each cupcake to form an arch, pressing each end into the frosting.
11. Add mini marshmallows at each end for cloud details. Sprinkle with gold sprinkles or add a gold coin for extra festive fun!

 

Notes

  • Use gel food coloring for vibrant layers that don’t thin out your batter.

  • Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 5 days.

  • Make them from scratch using a homemade vanilla cupcake base if preferred!

 

Find it online: https://ukfinda.com/patricks-day-rainbow-cupcakes/