Description
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
Cupcakes:
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1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 tsp baking powder
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1/4 tsp salt
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1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
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1 cup granulated sugar
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2 large eggs
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring (or candy flavoring of choice)
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1/2 cup whole milk
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Pink and blue food coloring
Buttercream Frosting:
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1 cup unsalted butter, softened
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3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
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2-3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
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1/2 tsp cotton candy flavoring
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Pink and blue food coloring
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Cotton candy for garnish (optional, added before serving)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
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Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
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Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
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Add eggs and flavoring: Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla and cotton candy flavoring.
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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.
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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.
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Bake: Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
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Make the frosting: Beat butter until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar, then mix in flavoring and cream until fluffy.
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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.
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Frost cupcakes: Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Add cotton candy on top just before serving.
Notes
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Cotton candy topping should be added right before serving to avoid melting.
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For extra color, sprinkle edible glitter or pastel sprinkles on top.
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Cotton candy flavoring can be found online or at baking supply stores.