Cotton Candy Cupcakes
Servings: 14 cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 15 ounces White Cake Mix
- 12 ounces Cotton Candy Soda
- Light Blue Food Dye - optional
Frosting
- 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
- 9 grams Cotton Candy Pop Rocks - 1 packet
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.
- 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.
Frosting
- 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
- Mix gently for the best texture: A light hand keeps the cupcakes tender and helps the pastel colors stay crisp instead of blending into gray.
- Stick with gel coloring: It delivers bright pastels with just a dab and won’t water down your batter.
- Boost the frosting flavor: Cotton candy is subtle, so the frosting is where you really want that sweetness to shine.
- Top with cotton candy right before serving: It dissolves quickly, so adding it at the last second keeps it fluffy.
- Start checking early: Cotton candy batters can dry out fast, so test for doneness at the first suggested bake time.
- Store them airtight: Protecting them from air and humidity keeps the cupcakes soft and the colors bright.