Cotton Candy Cupcakes are fluffy, cloud-like treats infused with cotton candy extract and topped with vibrant pink and blue swirled frosting. Their colorful marbled batter and fun decoration make them a playful, nostalgic dessert.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, and baking powder.
Add egg whites, cotton candy extract, sour cream, and milk. Stir until smooth, then mix in the melted butter.
Divide the batter evenly between two bowls. Color one pink and the other blue.
Fill cupcake liners with alternating spoonfuls of pink and blue batter. Bake for 18–20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
For the frosting, cream together butter and shortening. Gradually mix in powdered sugar, cotton candy extract, and cream until smooth.
Divide the frosting into two portions and color one pink and the other blue.
Use a piping bag to swirl pink and blue frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
Top with cotton candy or cotton candy-flavored suckers for decoration.
Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days. Unfrosted cupcakes keep for 2 days at room temperature.
Cupcake pan · Piping bag with frosting tip
Cotton candy extract is the signature flavor in this recipe. If unavailable, you could try vanilla extract mixed with a small amount of almond extract for a similar sweet profile, but the true cotton candy taste won't be replicated.
Unfrosted cupcakes keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature. Frosted cupcakes last 1-2 days at room temperature or up to 4 days refrigerated.
Dividing and coloring the batter pink and blue creates the colorful marbled swirl that gives these cupcakes their cotton candy aesthetic. You can skip this step for plain cupcakes if preferred.
Yes, but the cotton candy flavoring comes from the extract in the frosting, so use a buttercream recipe that allows you to add cotton candy extract and color it pink and blue for the intended effect.
Bake for 18-20 minutes at 350°F until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The tops should be set but not dark.
