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! 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.
Rainbow Cupcakes
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.
Video
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.
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Our Pinteresting Family
Those look amazing!!! I can't wait to try this out. Pinning it right now. 🙂 Megan
Sugarr2518
These are almost too pretty to eat! Loving these:)
Crafty Mischief
Yum! I have been wanting to try this. Maybe for my daughter's birthday in September? Love all the pics! Thanks for sharing Vicky!
Vicky
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.