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Cottom Candy Cupcakes are an easy and fun way to satisfy your cotton candy lovers.
These Cotton Candy Cupcakes are an ideal delicious dessert for the summer months or for when you want a crowd pleaser for an event. They are colorful, fun and a perfect addition to any sweet table.
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What We Love About This Cotton Candy Cupcakes Recipe
- Quick Recipe: Because you start with a box mix you get the perfect cupcakes quicker.
- Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
- Family Friendly: These are a fun recipe that everyone loves.
- Adaptable: Can make it low-carb, or dairy free, etc.
Ingredient Notes
- Cotton Candy Soda: One can, cream soda works well
- Cake Mix: One Box of White Cake Mix
- Light Blue Dye: Optional to make fun color
Frosting Ingredients:
- Cotton Candy Soda: or use a teaspoon of Cotton Candy Extract
- Butter
- Powdered Icing Sugar: A powdered sugar alternative can be used if you like
- Milk
- Blue Food Dye
- Cotton Candy
- Pop rocks: Cotton Candy flavored
Equipment Needed
- KitchenAid Classic Mixing Bowls
- OCTAVO 5 Speed Hand Mixer Electric
- Caperci Standard White Cupcake Liners 500 Count,
- Wilton Perfect Results Premium Non-Stick Bakeware Standard Muffin and Cupcake Pan, 12-Cup Baking Pan
How to Make Pink and Blue Cupcakes
These are the basic steps for making themed cupcakes. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: PREP
First, preheat the oven to 350F and then line a muffin tray with cupcake liners and set aside.
STEP 2: MIX
Second, in a large bowl, mix together the white cake mix and cotton candy soda for 2-3 minutes. Adjust the color with light blue food dye, if desired.
STEP 3: BAKE
Then, scoop the cupcake batter using a measuring cup into the cupcake liners. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting (1 – 2 hours).
STEP 4: COTTON CANDY
Meanwhile, place 1 cup of cotton candy soda in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until boiling . Reduce to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup (2 ounces of soda should remain). Allow to cool completely.
STEP 5: FROSTING
Next, in a large bowl, beat together the butter and powdered icing sugar for 2 minutes, then add the reduced cotton candy soda. Beat to mix well, then add the milk as needed to achieve a spreadable texture. Adjust the color with blue food dye, if desired.
STEP 6: DECORATE
Lastly, scoop the frosting into a piping bag and snip off 1” of the tip. Swirl the frosting onto the cupcakes and then around the edge to create a “basket” effect. Smooth the ridges of the frosting with an offset spatula. Finally, fill the basket with cotton candy and then garnish with pop rocks.
Prep and Storage Tips for Cotton Candy Cake
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME
Bake the cupcakes ahead of time and freeze in an airtight container or wrapped well with plastic wrap or foil.
HOW TO STORE THIS COTTON CANDY CUPCAKE RECIPE
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.
HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE
Freeze as described above for up to four months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and then follow the steps in the recipe card below to decorate the cupcakes with the cotton candy buttercream frosting.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Favorite Cupcakes Recipe
Truly, this recipe is the perfect treat for baby showers or kid’s birthday parties. However, try a gluten free cake and ingredients. Also, use low calorie, sugar free or low fat ingredients.
Of course, try different varieties of cake mix or cotton candy to make these cupcakes special: such as blue cotton candy, green cotton candy for whatever special occasions you have coming up.
Indeed, try doubling for a large party or make half and freeze half for when you want a sugary treat.
Expert Tips for Making This Cotton Candy Cupcakes Recipe
- Add Circus theme decorations: Add little candy ferris wheel decorations on these tasty cupcakes.
- Cake Pops: One of the different ways to make these little cotton candy treats is by making cake pops with lollipop sticks.
- Variation tip: For a girl’s baby shower use a strawberry cake mix and a few drops of pink food coloring.
Did you try this recipe?
⭐ Click below to leave a review and rating! ⭐
Cotton Candy Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 355 milliliters Cotton Candy Soda, can use cream soda, if needed
- 15 ounces White Cake Mix
- Light Blue Food Dye, optional
- Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 cup Cotton Candy Soda, or use 1 teaspoon Cotton Candy flavor extract
- ½ cup Butter, softened
- 4 cups Powdered Icing Sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons Milk
- Light Blue Food Dye, optional
- 2 cups Cotton Candy
- 1 Packet Cotton Candy Pop Rocks, 9 grams
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the white cake mix and cotton candy soda for 2-3 minutes. Adjust the color with light blue food dye, if desired. (If using, make the cake batter a deeper blue than you want the finished cupcake to be as it will lighten with baking.)
- Scoop the cupcake batter with a measuring cup into the cupcake liners.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. (1 – 2 hours)
- While waiting, place 1 cup of cotton candy soda in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Reduce to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup (2 ounces of soda should remain). Allow to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, beat together the butter and powdered icing sugar for 2 minutes, then add the reduced cotton candy soda. Beat to mix well, then add the milk as needed to achieve a spreadable texture. Adjust the color with blue food dye, if desired.
- Scoop the frosting into a piping bag and snip off 1” of the tip.
- Swirl the frosting onto the cupcakes and then around the edge to create a “basket” effect.
- Smooth the ridges of the frosting with an offset spatula.
- Fill the basket with cotton candy and then garnish with pop rocks.
Expert Tips
- Add Circus theme decorations: Add little candy ferris wheel decorations on these tasty cupcakes.
- Cake Pops: One of the different ways to make these little cotton candy treats is by making cake pops with lollipop sticks.
- Variation tip: For a girl’s baby shower use a strawberry cake mix and a few drops of pink food coloring.
These cupcakes are so fun! My son is going to love them!
The garnish of cotton candy and pop rocks really take these cupcakes to the next level!
Thanks for such a fun recipe – it made my 9-year-old daughter’s day.