These Rainbow Cupcakes are easier to make than they look thanks to boxed cake mix. You are welcome to make your own cupcake batter from scratch, but I am all about easy desserts! These colorful cupcakes are guaranteed to wow your guests at your next birthday party!
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Why these cupcakes are awesome
- Cake mix shortcut makes this easy
- Bold colors
- Eye catching and impressive
How to make rainbow cupcakes at home
I decided to use 5 colors for my cupcakes: red, orange, yellow, blue, and green. You can just use these colors or go ROY G BIV on the cupcakes, but some of the colors are so similar, I think 5 gives you a good feel. How ever many colors you decide to use, prepare your batter according to package directions and divide your batter evenly into that many bowls.
I used five colors and divided my batter into five bowls. Next, I used some food coloring gel to color each bowl of batter a different color. Gel food coloring is pretty potent so make sure to start with a small amount to make sure you don't make your color to dark. I especially had to be careful with yellow since it quickly looked orange if I used too much. If you use regular liquid food coloring you will need to use a lot to get the colors bright and vibrant which will thin out the batter.
Line your cupcake pan with white cupcake liners.
I started by pouring the blue batter. You will need to push it around with a spoon if the the bottom of the liner is not fully covered.
You will layer each color on top of the previous one. I tried to keep as close to the actual rainbow pattern as I could.
Bake according to your recipe's directions.
Just out of the oven. Aren't these cool rainbow cupcakes pretty!
Rainbow cupcakes decorating ideas
I didn't want to take away from the visual appeal of the cupcakes so I chose to go with a basic vanilla frosting and sprinkles.
For the frosting I just used plain vanilla frosting and a cake decorating bag with a round tip.
I just did a basic circular pattern on the cupcakes. This was pretty quick and easy.
Add some rainbow sprinkles.
When you unwrap them you are left with a surprise on the wrapper.
And here's how it looks inside. These cupcakes take a little work, but will score major points with your guests. Only you will know how easy it was because you made rainbow cupcakes with cake mix.
I froze my cupcakes and thawed them the day of the party so I could frost them. They held up great. I would have never known that they spent time in the freezer.
If you want to make a cake instead of cupcakes check out our Rainbow Cake.
📖 Recipe
Rainbow Cupcakes
Video
Ingredients
- 1 box White cake mix
- Food coloring
- 12 oz Frosting
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare cupcake batter according to package directions.
- Divide your batter into bowls based on the number of colors you will be making.
- Line your cupcake pan with clear cupcake liners. Start by pouring the blue batter. You will need to push it around with a spoon if the the bottom of the liner is not fully covered.
- Layer each color on top of the previous one. Try to keep as close to the actual rainbow pattern as you can.
- Bake according to package directions.
- Frost with plain vanilla frosting using a cake decorating bag with a round tip.
- Top with rainbow sprinkles.
Notes
Nutrition
Related recipes
Frequently asked questions
I like to use gel coloring for these cupcakes. It is pretty potent so make sure to start with a small amount to make sure you don't make your color too dark. I especially had to be careful with yellow since it quickly looked orange if I used too much. If you use regular liquid food coloring you will need to use a lot to get the colors bright and vibrant and it could make your batter more runny.
I froze my cupcakes and thawed them the day of the party so I could frost them. They held up great. I would have never known that they spent time in the freezer.
If you are freezing them, just be sure to frost them after then have been thawed.
There is a great tutorial for rainbow frosting at Sugar Hero.
Vicky says
Our Pinteresting Family, Thanks so much! I think the rainbows make them taste better. 🙂
Sugarr2518, Thanks for stopping by!
Crafty Mischief, Are you doing a rainbow party? There are so many fun ideas out there.
Crafty Mischief says
Yum! I have been wanting to try this. Maybe for my daughter's birthday in September? Love all the pics! Thanks for sharing Vicky!
Sugarr2518 says
These are almost too pretty to eat! Loving these:)
Our Pinteresting Family says
Those look amazing!!! I can't wait to try this out. Pinning it right now. 🙂 Megan