Make Some Memories With These Easy Rainbow Cupcakes

Sometimes bringing the kids into the kitchen is a total disaster. Every food blogger I know has a story about the time the batter hit the ceiling or the mixer splattered eggs all over the walls. Believe me, I’ve been there. But the reason we keep doing it is because sometimes, just sometimes, it’s pure magical bliss.  We’re laughing, talking, and making memories that will last a lifetime. For my boys and I, these Rainbow Cupcakes fit the bill.

To be clear, I can’t promise a disaster-free afternoon, but the beauty of this recipe is two-fold. One – the actual baking is super simple. And, two – the bright cheery colors of the finished cupcakes are just so fun. You can’t help but smile.
We baked the cupcakes from scratch and tossed in some rainbow jimmies, but you can buy mixes with the rainbow bits already included. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there’s no shame in using a mix.
While the cupcakes are baking, take a rolling pin to these Airhead Extremes candies. You just want to flatten them enough so that your alphabet cookie cutters fit over them. Don’t roll them too thin, though. You want them to be able to stand upright when you balance them on the top of the frosting. Use the rainbow cut-outs to spell out your kids names, keeping in mind that you may need to fall back onto a nickname (i.e. like GAV for my Gavin). Three or four letters is about all you can realistically get on there.
To get that double-decker look with the frosting, simply pipe a layer of the buttercream onto the cooled cupcakes and gently roll it in a shallow dish of sprinkles.
Then add another dollop of frosting on top. I love the way this allows you to have a colorful decoration, while still creating a white poof at the top to hold the rainbow letters.
Rainbow Cupcakes
I had so much fun making these rainbow cupcakes with my boys. Do you have a go-to recipe that you save when the kids are in the kitchen with you? Do you have a favorite kid-related kitchen disaster story? Lay ’em on me. I absolutely love hearing all about it!

Photos by: Maria Hedrick Photography

Rainbow Cupcakes

By TheSweetNerd  

May 9, 2019

Ingredients

Cupcakes

2 1/4 cups cake flour (9 ounces), plus more for dusting the pans

1 cup whole milk, at room temperature

6 large egg whites (3/4 cup), at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (12 1/4 ounces)

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon table salt

12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks or 6 ounces), softened but still cool

Rainbow Jimmies

Easy American Buttercream Frosting

3 cups (680 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

6 cups confectioners sugar, sifted

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

Rainbow sprinkles

Decorating & Assembly

Airhead Xtremes bites

Letter alphabets mini cutters

Directions

Cupcakes

1Glass Measurer: Pour milk, egg whites, and extracts into 2-cup glass measure, and mix with fork until blended.

2Mixer: Mix cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in bowl of electric mixer at slow speed.

3Add butter; continue beating at slow speed until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no powdery streaks remaining.

4Add all but 1/2 cup of milk mixture to crumbs and beat at medium speed (or high speed if using handheld mixer) for 1 1/2 minutes.

5Add remaining 1/2 cup of milk mixture and beat 30 seconds more. Stop mixer and scrape sides of bowl. Return mixer to medium (or high) speed and beat 20 seconds longer.

6Divide and scoop batter evenly into cupcake liners.

7Bake at 350F. Bake until thin skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 10-12 minutes. Let cool completely before frosting.

Easy American Buttercream Frosting

1Cream the butter in a standing mixer. Aerate room temperature butter for about 1 minute on medium speed.

2Add the sugar, about 1 cup at a time, until it is fully incorporated. Then add the next cup and incorporate again. Repeat until you have added all the sugar. (Be sure to scrape down in between mixing). Last, add the vanilla and salt. Beat at low speed for 15 seconds until incorporated. Finally, whip (on medium to high speed) for about 4-5 minutes until light and fluffy.

Decorating & Assembly

1Roll out Airhead Xtremes bites and cut the letters to spell out the desired word.

2For the first layer of frosting, squeeze the layer on top of the cupcake and roll in sprinkles. Add the second layer and squeeze. Add letters on top of frosted cupcake.

00:00

Rainbow Cupcakes

20 Comments

  • Tessa
    7 years ago

    I love the use of Airhead Extremes – very cute. I’m going to get my Little Nerds on it.

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thanks, Tessa! Have you ever had Airhead Extremes? They’re delicious.

  • Kendall
    7 years ago

    These are so cute! Rainbow anything is the best but add my favorite candy and I’m sold!

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thanks, Kendall! I’m glad you enjoy them- now get to baking.

  • Ryan Arnold
    7 years ago

    This is the most adorable video, and such a good recipe! Love the use of the sprinkles + the rainbow candy; so many colors. Kids are always going to love this. Thanks for sharing.

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thanks so much Ryan! My boys for sure loved them.. loved eating them that is.

  • 7 years ago

    Oh my goodness I just love this, Your video is fantastic and the cupcakes look so fun! What a great project to do with a child.

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thank you, Dahn! Videos are so much more fun to make when I have my boys with me

  • These look like such fun, I was the ‘cupcake’ mom when my girls were growing up, I made thousands over the years, and I know I made lots of memories…love these!

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thanks so much Sue! I totally agree- making anything with the kiddos is just THAT much better.

  • What fun cupcakes! Perfect for a kids (or grownups!) party. Great video.

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thanks Kate! They definitely could be used for anything.

  • Oh my goodness! What a fun idea for the kiddos. Thank you for sharing.

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      My pleasure, Suzy! Its great to make with the kiddos but then the adults can get in on the eating action.

  • 7 years ago

    What a fun activity to do with your kids. The cupcakes look so fun.

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thanks, Sandi. They are certainly fun to make and eat.

  • Lorna Soonhee
    7 years ago

    Aw, these are so adorable and love how personalized they are!

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      Thank you Lorna. Personalization always makes it that much better.

  • 7 years ago

    i have made this pretty cupcakes with my brother and tastes very delicious

    • Cindy "TheSweetNerd" Rodriguez
      7 years ago

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the cupcakes Azinro!

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