Description
Bright, colorful, and festive, these St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow Cupcakes are perfect for celebrating the holiday. With layers of vibrant cake batter, creamy vanilla frosting, and a touch of “gold,” these cupcakes are fun to make and even more fun to eat!
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 box white cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box)
- Food coloring: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp (30-45ml) milk
- 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla extract
For Decoration:
- Gold sprinkles or candy
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Liners: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Mix the Cake Batter: Prepare the cake mix according to package instructions. Divide the batter evenly into six bowls.
- Color the Batter: Add food coloring to each bowl to create red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple batter. Stir until the colors are evenly distributed.
- Layer the Colors: Starting with purple, spoon a small amount of batter into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Continue layering with blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, taking care not to mix the colors.
- Bake the Cupcakes: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
- Make the Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing well. Add milk and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth and fluffy.
- Decorate: Frost the cooled cupcakes using a piping bag or spatula. Top with gold sprinkles or candy for a festive touch.
Notes
- For even layers, use a small spoon or piping bag to control the amount of batter for each color.
- Be sure the cupcakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- You can substitute homemade cake batter if preferred.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: ~250 per cupcake