Unicorn Magic Swirl Cupcakes
Unicorn Magic Swirl Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- gel food coloring, pink, blue, purple, yellow, green, as needed
For the Unicorn Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream, or whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- gel food coloring, pink, blue, purple, as needed
- 1/4 cup unicorn sprinkles
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. This recipe makes 4 cupcakes, so you will only need 4 liners.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and large eggs until smooth.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix with a whisk or spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cupcakes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Divide the cupcake batter evenly into 5 small bowls. Add a different gel food coloring (pink, blue, purple, yellow, green) to each bowl and stir gently until the color is uniform. You'll have about 2-3 tablespoons of each color.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Spoon small dollops of each colored batter alternately into the prepared cupcake liners, layering them to create a rainbow swirl effect. Fill each liner about two-thirds full.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 350
- 8
Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the muffin pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cupcakes must be completely cool before frosting.
⏱️ 15 min
- 9
While the cupcakes cool, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed until incorporated, then increasing to medium speed. Once all the sugar is added, beat in the heavy cream and vanilla extract until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick, add a bit more heavy cream, 1 teaspoon at a time.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Divide the buttercream frosting into 3 small bowls. Add a different gel food coloring (pink, blue, purple) to each bowl and stir gently until the color is uniform.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
To create the swirled frosting effect, lay a large piece of plastic wrap flat. Spoon stripes of each colored frosting onto the plastic wrap. Roll the plastic wrap into a log, twisting the ends. Snip one end of the plastic wrap log and insert it into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe swirls of frosting onto each cooled cupcake.
⏱️ 7 min
- 13
Decorate the frosted cupcakes immediately with unicorn sprinkles for a magical finish.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Unicorn Magic Swirl Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- gel food coloring, pink, blue, purple, yellow, green, as needed
For the Unicorn Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream, or whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- gel food coloring, pink, blue, purple, as needed
- 1/4 cup unicorn sprinkles
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. This recipe makes 4 cupcakes, so you will only need 4 liners.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the whole milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and large eggs until smooth.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix with a whisk or spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cupcakes.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Divide the cupcake batter evenly into 5 small bowls. Add a different gel food coloring (pink, blue, purple, yellow, green) to each bowl and stir gently until the color is uniform. You'll have about 2-3 tablespoons of each color.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Spoon small dollops of each colored batter alternately into the prepared cupcake liners, layering them to create a rainbow swirl effect. Fill each liner about two-thirds full.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Be careful not to overbake.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 350 - 8
Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the muffin pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cupcakes must be completely cool before frosting.
⏱️ 15 min - 9
While the cupcakes cool, prepare the buttercream frosting. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating on low speed until incorporated, then increasing to medium speed. Once all the sugar is added, beat in the heavy cream and vanilla extract until the frosting is smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick, add a bit more heavy cream, 1 teaspoon at a time.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Divide the buttercream frosting into 3 small bowls. Add a different gel food coloring (pink, blue, purple) to each bowl and stir gently until the color is uniform.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
To create the swirled frosting effect, lay a large piece of plastic wrap flat. Spoon stripes of each colored frosting onto the plastic wrap. Roll the plastic wrap into a log, twisting the ends. Snip one end of the plastic wrap log and insert it into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe swirls of frosting onto each cooled cupcake.
⏱️ 7 min - 13
Decorate the frosted cupcakes immediately with unicorn sprinkles for a magical finish.
⏱️ 2 min