So when it came time for our school’s bake sale a week ago, I thought Rainbow Cupcakes would be fun for a change. I was right, they were the first ones to go because children cannot resist color and lots of it. They even beat out the luscious chocolate cupcakes I made. It is Rainbow Cupcakes from now on!
This is simple to do by dividing the batter equally among six small bowls- I used yellow cake mix for deeper hues. Color each bowl of batter a different color. I made- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
Layer colored batter in the order of a rainbow’s colors into cupcake liners and bake according to the package directions. Remember the order? ROY G. BIV: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo (I skipped this one), and violet.
I wanted the frosting to go in a swirl of rainbow colors too so I used a technique Ma taught me years ago from her cake decorating classes. To get your frosting to go on in a swirl of color, dye regular buttercream frosting into three separate colors; I used pink, blue, and yellow.
Unfortunately I did not have jewel toned frosting colors to match the cupcakes, so I did mix jewel tones with pastels. Alert Stacy and Clinton. This did bother me a little at first but one can’t cry over cupcakes now can they? Place spoonfuls of each color side by side in a pastry bag working your way to the top of the bag. It is easier if you turn the bag inside out like you do when putting on pantyhose- at least for you ladies- and working your way up. Once the frosting is piped on your cupcakes, you will notice other colors like green, purple, and orange.
Starting at 12 o’clock on the outer edge of each cupcake and using constant pressure on the pastry bag, pipe frosting clockwise for three rotations, working your way toward the center ending in a little peak.
At the bake sale we placed each cupcake in a 9 ounce plastic punch cup and invited the children to decorate the cupcakes they had purchased. The cups caught all spills, and let me say there were some big spills. The decorated cupcakes were then placed in cellophane party bags and tied with a pretty ribbon for transporting home.
I can’t wait to find an excuse to make these again. They brought smiles to many little faces.
For more Cupcake Videos see my Big Red Kitchen Youtube Channel
Related Posts:
Buttercream Frosting
Soft Pretzel Samoas
Little Peach Cakes
My children’s play is tonight!!! I can not wait to see them but I think I will be a little nervous too. Gulp.
Have a grand weekend filled with lingering, delicious meals. I think I will sleep! Also a big fat Happy Mother’s Day too!
Robin Sue
81 Comments
AMAZING! i love rainbow cupcakes!!! if only i knew how to bake… or had the time for it…:(
My kids would LOVE these. I need to make them!
Wonderful cupcakes! It looks they were very good!!
Love this! I made them with only five colors (I didn't have any purple). The only thing I would change next time is the order -I'd put the blue/purple on the bottom and end with the red – the cupcakes would look prettier because any edging showing wouldn't be blueish green. I didn't attempt the rainbow icing -looked beautiful but I didn't trust my skills. I just put robin's egg blue icing with star sprinkles – the children loved them. Thanks for all your ideas!
-Ami
Ami I thought the same thing- to flip the colors over so the red would show. I think the blue icing sounds very pretty!
You are my hero.
This is the best idea ever.
I love these cupcakes, as will my children. I've made cookies in a similar style but they look so inviting in a cupcake. It is amazing how bright colors can make food look so much more appetizing.
I love it!
I made a rainbow wedding cake with white frosting…it makes it look like a rainbow with clouds!
If you buy the Wilton gel food coloring, you can get much brighter colors. My kids are HUGE fans of this recipe!
Jolene-Thanks I will have to do that. Pastels are pretty but I want BOLD for these. Thanks for stopping by!
That's so cool! I never saw such neat cupcakes. Now I know what my next project is…
Those are really cool looking! Now I'm gonna have to find something sweet to eat.
These look lovely and very professional even though you haven't used professional icing tools but still they look great. Thanks for sharing.
These are BEAUTIFUL! Found you via a Google search for "rainbow cupcakes" & am so happy! Have been perusing the rest of your blog for 15 minutes (should be working) & I'm going to save you as a favorite. Great ideas & beautiful execution…the photos are lovely. Thanks for taking the time to share your wonderful recipes with all of us…so glad to have found you!
Best Wishes,
Caroline
Caroline- so glad you like my blog, thanks for visiting!!
pretty pretty. im gonna make those right meow i hope the icing works =]
Unicorn Poop.
These are so pretty!! Do you have a shot where we can see the color of the cake more clearly?
Really glad you explained how to do the frosting with the colors- I was wondering that!
Wow!!!! I LOVE these! As soon as we get a new oven, I am making these! So, so cute!
Who could resist the fun colors? I know I'd buy some, just to try them out, even though chocolate is definitely my favorite cupcake flavor.
Robin Sue, I always wondered how others were able to swirl frosting onto their cupcakes with such pretty colors. Now that I know, I'd like to say thank you for the tip. I look forward to trying your rainbow cupcakes and the frosting. Also Robin, I wanted to let you know, that since I enjoy viewing your blog and all the wonderful recipes you have posted, I wanted to let you know, in case you haven't seen it, I gave you a Loveliest Blog Award at: http://domesticgoddessinthekitchen.blogspot.com/
Awesome, i just can't find words!
These are beautiful! I don't know that I could even eat one. I would just want to bake several dozen of them and set them up on pastel colored platters. They remind me of candy land. Gorgeous!
this is really a party of colors and flavors. my kids really loves it. we all made it together it was amazing.