There are desserts that make you smile after the first bite — and then there are these. Rainbow Swirl Cupcakes are a full-blown celebration in cupcake form: soft vanilla cake tinted with bright, joyful swirls and crowned with fluffy clouds of frosting. Perfect for birthdays, pride parties, or honestly any Tuesday that needs a little extra sparkle.
If you’re into colorful bakes, you might also love my Unicorn Fudge Bars or these Cotton Candy Sugar Cookies!
🌟 Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Gel food coloring in 4–6 colors
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3–4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Sprinkles (optional, but always encouraged!)
🌿 Instructions
1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. Mix Dry: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
3. Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
4. Add Eggs & Vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
5. Alternate Dry & Milk: Add flour mixture and milk in alternating batches, starting and ending with flour.
6. Divide & Color: Split batter evenly into bowls and tint each with gel food coloring.
7. Layer & Swirl: Spoon small amounts of each color into liners, layering as you go. Use a toothpick to swirl.
8. Bake: Bake 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
9. Make Frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Whip until fluffy.
10. Decorate: Pipe or spread frosting on cooled cupcakes. Top with rainbow sprinkles!
🎉 Serving Tips
- Arrange on a tiered stand with rainbow napkins and sparkly candles.
- Wrap individually in clear treat bags for party favors.
- Serve with cotton candy mocktails or mini milkshakes for a full color-bomb experience.
🧸 Variations
- Use lemon or almond extract in place of vanilla for flavor twists.
- Make minis for a kid-friendly snack tray.
- Use pastel shades for baby showers or Easter.
⚠️ Troubleshooting
- Batter too thin? Avoid liquid food coloring — it throws off the texture.
- Colors muddling? Don’t over-swirl! Gentle figure-eights do the trick.
- Dry cupcakes? Don’t overbake — test at 18 minutes.
📁 Storage
- Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerate if longer, and let them come to room temp before serving.
- Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 2 months.
Rainbow Swirl Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- Gel food coloring in 4–6 colors
For the Frosting:
- 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
- 3 –4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Sprinkles optional, but always encouraged!
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Mix Dry: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
- Cream Butter & Sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
- Add Eggs & Vanilla: Mix in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla.
- Alternate Dry & Milk: Add flour mixture and milk in alternating batches, starting and ending with flour.
- Divide & Color: Split batter evenly into bowls and tint each with gel food coloring.
- Layer & Swirl: Spoon small amounts of each color into liners, layering as you go. Use a toothpick to swirl.
- Bake: Bake 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add sugar, cream, vanilla, and salt. Whip until fluffy.
- Decorate: Pipe or spread frosting on cooled cupcakes. Top with rainbow sprinkles!
Notes
- Want bold color? Use a tiny bit more gel coloring, not liquid.
- No swirl? Just layer the colors for a bold striped effect!
Let me know if these made your day brighter—tag me on Pinterest or Instagram, I’d love to see your colorful creations! 🌈
