Cotton Candy Cupcakes

These cotton candy cupcakes with swirled cotton candy buttercream on top of a vanilla cupcake are super fun to make and adorable to look at. Top with some cotton candy for a treat that not even an adult can pass up.

 

When it comes to childhood treats that a bring a smile to your face, does cotton candy top the list?

Ok well I have to confess something. I actually didn’t like cotton candy growing up.

But then when I found this cotton candy flavoring extract, my brain went to work. And I thought wouldn’t cotton candy cupcakes be like oh my god so cute you almost don’t want to eat them.

And I was right. These cotton candy cupcakes were almost too cute to take a bite of.  Almost.

Baking Tools and Supplies Needed To Make These Cotton Candy Cupcakes:

*listed below are affiliate links. If you want to read my full disclosure policy you can read that here.

• Cupcake pans (I’ve been loving these non-stick ones lately)
• Greaseproof cupcake liners
• Kitchen-aid mixer (I stand by using one, to make the icing that much easier!)
• Dry measuring cups and measuring spoons
• My new favorite whisk (it’s a 2-in-1 whisk and bowl scraper!)
• Metal bowls (plastic tends to retain odors and can warp, metal is best)
• Gel Food coloring
• Cotton Candy Extract
• Paper Straws
• Cotton Candy

How To Make These Cotton Candy Cupcakes

For this recipe I used what is seriously the best buttercream frosting recipe ever. But I added in a bit of cotton candy flavoring. Like 2 teaspoons. You may want to add a bit less or more depending on your tastebuds. I wanted the cotton candy to stand out, since it was just in the buttercream. Ok well and some cotton candy on top as well.

So what makes this the best buttercream frosting recipe ever? It’s all about using quality ingredients, and mixing your buttercream for a long time so it’s all light and fluffy and eat it with a spoon.

And if you want to move beyond vanilla and flex your buttercream creativity then be sure to grab my “13 ways to flavor your buttercream” cheatsheet. It has 13 ideas on how to inspire your next batch of buttercream!

For the cupcakes, I used my perfect vanilla cupcakes. Seriously it’s perfect. I’ve made this cupcake even for weddings. And that couple is still married. I’m pretty sure it started with the cupcakes. Ok, probably not, but I like to think I had a hand in it.

But you could also use my super easy Vanilla Cupcake Recipe. This recipe doesn’t require any creaming, and uses melted butter so it’s quick to make.

Tips To Make These Cotton Candy Cupcakes

• Be Sure To Measure Your Flour The Correctly Way– by scooping with a spoon and levelling.
• Use properly softened unsalted butter for the cupcakes and the buttercream. Here are 3 easy ways to soften your butter quickly if you are like me you forgot to take it out ahead of time!
• Prepare your pans with your cupcake liners before you start busting out those mixing bowls. These are the cupcake liners I used.
• For these cupcakes, you could stick with one color buttercream or swirl your buttercream with multiple colors. Learn how to swirl your buttercream here. I even included a video to help you swirl!
• Use gel food coloring so as not to add more liquid to the buttercream. I used Wilton Color Right system, but Americolor gel food coloring is a great gel food coloring option as well!
• You can use toothpicks for the cotton candy on top of the cupcakes or these fun pastel paper straws which is what I used

If you are new to baking cupcakes, then these two posts might be helpful: 15 tips for baking perfect cupcakes and 6 reasons why your cupcakes are sinking in the middle. It will help you from start to finish with your cupcakes, so you rock cupcakes like a pro.

And if frosting cupcakes is new for you too, check out this post and video on how to frost them like a pro. And 6 Cupcake Decorating Supplies You Need To Start Decorating Like A Pro

For More Fancy Cupcake Recipe Ideas Check Out These Recipes:

• Rainbow Cupcakes
• Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
• Homemade Hostess Cupcakes
• Salted Caramel Apple Cupcakes
• S’mores Cupcakes

Don’t forget to grab my buttercream cheatsheet as well!

Until next time, happy baking!

Cotton Candy Cupcakes

An easy vanilla cupcake recipe that is topped with a cotton candy buttercream and fluffy cotton candy to make for the perfect treat that kids and adults will love!

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: cupcakes

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 22 minutes minutes

Total Time: 52 minutes minutes

Servings: 30 cupcakes

Author: Heather Perine

Ingredients

For The Cupcakes

• ▢ 3 cups (360 grams) cake flour
• ▢ 1 tbsp. baking powder
• ▢ ½ tsp. salt
• ▢ 16 tbsp. (226 grams) unsalted butter at room temperature
• ▢ 2 cups (396 grams) granulated white sugar
• ▢ 5 large eggs at room temperature
• ▢ 1¼ cups (336 grams) buttermilk at room temperature
• ▢ 2 tbsp. vanilla extract

For the cotton candy buttercream

• ▢ 2 1/2 cups (5 sticks, 565 grams) unsalted butter softened to room temperature
• ▢ 5 cups (568 grams) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar
• ▢ 4 Tablespoons heavy cream
• ▢ 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ▢ 4 teaspoons cotton candy flavoring
• ▢ food coloring
• ▢ optional: cotton candy for garnish

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°/180^oC F. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. Set aside. This recipe makes about 30 so you will need a third pan with 6 liners or simply reuse one of your first cupcake pans once the first pan is done.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cake flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk together and set aside.
• Add the butter to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until light and creamy in color. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat for one more minute.
• Add the sugar to the butter mixture, ¼ cup at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition. Mix in the eggs one at a time until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Combine the buttermilk and the vanilla extract in a liquid measuring cup. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients alternately with the wet ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing just until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.
• Divide the batter between the prepared paper liners, filling each about 2/3 of the way full (you will likely have batter left over after filling 24 wells.I managed to make a full 3 dozen cupcakes) Bake 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pans 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. Replace paper liners and bake remaining batter if desired. Frost cooled cupcakes as desired.
• To make the cotton candy buttercream frosting: Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add in your powdered sugar 1/2 cup at at time with mixer on low. Cream until combined. With mixer off, add your heavy cream, vanilla extract, cotton candy flavoring and then mix on low until combined. Then mix on medium to medium high speed for 8 minutes until light and fluffy. If coloring frosting, add your gel food coloring now. I made a two-tone frosting. If you want two-tone frosting, seperate out half the buttercream and color one half baby blue, the other half light pink. Use right away on cooled cupcakes. If not using right away, then store in a closed container in the refrigerator. You will need to mix the frosting again when ready to use to bring it back to that light and fluffy texture!

Notes

• Be Sure To Measure Your Flour The Correctly Way– by scooping with a spoon and levelling.
• Use properly softened unsalted butter for the cupcakes and the buttercream. Here are 3 easy ways to soften your butter quickly if you are like me you forgot to take it out ahead of time!
• Prepare your pans with your cupcake liners before you start busting out those mixing bowls. These are the cupcake liners I used.
• For these cupcakes, you could stick with one color buttercream or swirl your buttercream with multiple colors. Learn how to swirl your buttercream here. I even included a video to help you swirl!
• Use gel food coloring so as not to add more liquid to the buttercream. I used Wilton Color Right system, but Americolor gel food coloring is a great gel food coloring option as well!
• You can use toothpicks for the cotton candy on top of the cupcakes or these fun pastel paper straws which is what I used
• I included a double batch of the buttercream frosting in order to swirl on top the cupcakes a LOT of frosting. If you don’t like that much you can cut the recipe in half. 

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