Go Back
–+ servings
How to make Rainbow Cupcakes with Vanilla Cloud Frosting

Rainbow Cupcakes with Vanilla Cloud Frosting

Before we dive into the delightful world of rainbow cupcakes, let’s chat about what you might enjoy alongside these sweet treats.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12
Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

  • 12 cup muffin pan
  • 12 Cupcake liners,
  • Star Tip

Ingredients
  

Cupcake Batter:

  • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
  • ½ cup plain yogurt Greek or regular
  • ¼ cup colorful confetti sprinkles
  • ¾ cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract optional
  • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:

  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream whole milk, or half-and-half
  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened to a creamy consistency
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest adds brightness
  • Blue gel food coloring or natural coloring
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract

Decorations:

  • 2 tablespoons festive sprinkles
  • 12 3-inch rainbow sour candy strips (e.g., Airheads Xtremes)

Instructions
 

Step 1: Preheat Your Oven

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (170°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

  • In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this aside for later.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugar

  • In another bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until it's light and fluffy. This may take about 2-3 minutes.

Step 4: Add the Eggs and Yogurt

  • Add the eggs, yogurt, vanilla, and almond extracts to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until well combined.

Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients

  • Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir until just combined; be careful not to overmix.

Step 6: Divide the Batter

  • Divide the batter into bowls, adding different shades of food coloring to each. Use red, yellow, green, blue, and whatever else sounds appealing to you.

Step 7: Layer the Batter

  • Spoon layers of each color into the cupcake liners, starting from the bottom. Aim for even distributions to create a lovely rainbow effect.

Step 8: Bake

  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely.

Step 9: Make the Frosting

  • While the cupcakes cool, make the vanilla cloud frosting. Beat the softened butter, adding in powdered sugar gradually. Mix in heavy cream, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Beat until fluffy.

Step 10: Decorate

  • Once the cupcakes have cooled, use a piping bag to swirl the frosting onto your rainbow cupcakes. Top with sprinkles and sour candy strips.

Notes

  • Use gel food coloring for brighter colors; it's more concentrated than traditional food dye.
  • Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature; it creates a better texture.
  • Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to dense cupcakes.
  • Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting; the heat can melt your frosting!
  • Experiment with different color combinations for the batter to keep things exciting!

Nutrition

Serving: 75gCalories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 3gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8.6gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 69mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21g
Keyword Rainbow Cupcakes with Vanilla Cloud Frosting
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!