{RECIPE} Ultimate Rainbow Cupcakes

by Jillian Leslie on

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CakeFYI is here to show you how to make bright, bold, beautiful rainbow cupcakes…

As spring is upon us, and bright colors are beginning to pop, it’s time to add some color to your desserts! You’ve probably seen the infamous layered rainbow cakes filling up your Pinterest feed, but what about rainbow cupcakes? These cupcakes, inspired by those layered rainbow cakes, will serve as the ultimate pop of color at your next event. Starting with a basic white cupcake batter, they’re incredibly easy to make. Use any color combinations you like to make your own unique dessert.

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Ultimate Rainbow Cupcakes

Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Cup Butter, softened
  • 1 1/4 Cup Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract
  • 1 1/4 Cups Flour
  • 1 3/4 Teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 3/4 Cup Milk
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Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.

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Beat in the eggs one at a time, and then add the vanilla extract and mix well.

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Add a third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until incorporated.

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Add half of the milk and mix well.

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Add another third of the flour, mix, and then add the remaining milk.

Add the remaining flour and continue beating until well mixed.

Separate the batter into 6 bowls or cups. You’ll want about 1/2 cup of batter in each. I like to use paper cups for easy clean up!

Color each cup of batter a separate color, from red to violet. I used Wilton gel food coloring, but you can use any food coloring of your choice.

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Add one tablespoon of violet batter to each cupcake well. Then add the blue, the green, and so on.

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You’ll finish with the red.
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Bake for 16-18 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool before icing.

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Basic Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

1/2 Cup Butter, softened
3-3 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar>
1 Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Milk

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Beat the butter and a 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar.

Add the vanilla and milk and continue beating.

Continue to add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.

Using the same method as above, separate the icing into bowls or cups. This time, I only used 4 colors, but you can certainly use all 6!

Color each cup of icing a separate color. I used violet, green, blue, and yellow.
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Prepare a piping bag with your favorite icing tip. To make the swirled color effect, simply alternate colors while filling the bag. Do one scoop of violet, one of green, and so on. Beat the butter and a 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar.

Add the vanilla and milk and continue beating.

Continue to add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.

Using the same method as above, separate the icing into bowls or cups. This time, I only used 4 colors, but you can certainly use all 6!

Color each cup of icing a separate color. I used violet, green, blue, and yellow.

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Using slight pressure, pipe thick swirls of icing on top of your cupcakes.

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Thanks Molly, they’re gorgeous! To learn more about Molly check her out at CakeFYI.

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