355millilitersCotton Candy Soda - can use cream soda, if needed
15ounces White Cake Mix
Light Blue Food Dye - optional
Frosting Ingredients:
1cupCotton Candy Soda - or use 1 teaspoon Cotton Candy flavor extract
½cupButter - softened
4cupsPowdered Icing Sugar
1-2TablespoonsMilk
Light Blue Food Dye - optional
2cupsCotton Candy
1Packet 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.
Notes
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.