A feast for the eyes and the taste buds, these Rainbow Cupcakes are a vibrant celebration perfect for parties, holidays, or simply adding a touch of joy to your day! Featuring layers of vividly colored batter crafted with gel food coloring, these cupcakes bake into a stunning rainbow effect that instantly wows. The moist, vanilla-flavored cake is topped with a cloud of whipped buttercream frosting, providing the perfect blend of sweetness and softness in every bite. To complete these cheerful treats, a generous sprinkle of rainbow sprinkles adds the ultimate festive touch. With straightforward layering techniques and only 30 minutes of prep time, this recipe makes it easy to create bakery-worthy cupcakes at home. Whether you're celebrating a birthday, Pride Month, or just love colorful desserts, these homemade rainbow cupcakes will be a star attraction on any dessert table!
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 24-cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to beat the unsalted butter and granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Alternately add the dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated; do not overmix.
Divide the batter evenly into six small bowls. Add a few drops of a different gel food coloring to each bowl and stir until the color is vibrant and evenly distributed.
Spoon a small amount of each colored batter into the prepared cupcake liners in rainbow order (e.g., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple). Use just enough of each color to create layers, but don't overfill the liners. They should be about 2/3 full when finished.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the tin for 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once cooled, frost the cupcakes with whipped buttercream frosting using a piping bag or an offset spatula.
Sprinkle the tops with rainbow sprinkles for an extra burst of color and fun. Serve and enjoy!
Serving size | 1130.9 grams (1130.9g) |
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Amount per serving | % Daily Value* |
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Calories | 3808 |
Total Fat 91.60g | 117% |
Saturated Fat 54.60g | 273% |
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.30g | |
Cholesterol 215mg | 72% |
Sodium 2413mg | 105% |
Total Carbohydrate 714.60g | 260% |
Dietary Fiber 8.20g | 29% |
Total Sugars 478.10g | |
Protein 39.60g | 79% |
Vitamin D 107IU | 537% |
Calcium 360mg | 28% |
Iron 14mg | 77% |
Potassium 724mg | 15% |
Source of Calories