Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

Laissez les bon temps rouler with these easy to make Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting. Inside is a surprise that will delight even your most picky critic!

Ingredients:

It’s been some time since I’ve made these show-stopper cupcakes. I used the following simple ingredients for the cupcakes: Boxed cake mix, unsalted butter, half and half, eggs, gel food coloring. For the frosting, I used unsalted butter, cinnamon, confectioners sugar’, vanilla extract, and milk.

Making the Cupcakes:

I prepared the cake mix according to the package directions, except for using half and half in place of the water. Since this was for Mardi Gras, I wanted the cupcakes to have the traditional colors. Therefore, I divided the batter into thirds. I colored one-third purple, one-third green and the last one yellow. I used 5 drops of gel food coloring for each color.

Next, I transferred each of the colored batters to a disposable pastry bag. Then, I snipped off about 1/4-inch from the bottom of each one. I started filling the cupcake papers with the yellow, then the green, and finally the purple in the middle. I knew from experience that each cupcake would be a bit different on the inside, which adds to the fun!

I baked the Mardi Gras cupcakes in a preheated 350° F oven for about 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, I removed the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack.

Making the Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting:

I beat the room temperature butter with my electric mixer until it was creamy. This took about a minute. Then, I added the cinnamon, and continued beating until the cinnamon was well combined.

Next, I added half of the sugar, and beat the mixture on high for several minutes. Then, I added a tablespoon of the milk and the vanilla, followed by another cup of sugar. I continued beating the frosting on high until it was light and fluffy.

Finally, I added another 2 tablespoons of milk and the remaining amount of sugar. I continued beating the frosting on high until it was light and fluffy, and of the proper piping consistency.

Decorating the Mardi Gras Cupcakes:

I transferred the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip (1M), and piped the frosting on each cupcake.

Finally, I finished each cupcake off with some purple, green, and yellow sprinkles.

This is reposted from February 6, 2017. I ended up with 18 delicious and adorable Mardi Gras cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream frosting. Each one had a different combination of colors inside. What fun. Yum!

5 from 7 votes

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Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

35 mins

 

Laissez les bon temps rouler with these easy to make Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting. Inside is a surprise that will delight even your most picky critic!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Mardi Gras Cupcakes

Servings: 18

Calories: 281 kcal

Author: Chula King

Ingredients

Mardi Gras Cupcakes

• 1 15.5 ounce package yellow cake mix
• 7 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup half and half
• 3 eggs large
• Purple green, and yellow gel food coloring

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 to 4 tbsp milk

Instructions

1. For the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350° F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
2. Add all cupcake ingredients to large bowl. Beat on low for 30 seconds to combine. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 4 additional minutes.
3. Divide batter into thirds. Color each with 5 drops gel food coloring, ending up with purple batter, green batter, and yellow batter.
4. Add individual colored batter to piping bag. Snip off 1/4-inch from tip. Pipe, yellow batter on one side; green batter on the other side, and purple batter in middle.
5. Bake at 350° F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until center springs back when pressed.
6. Cool completely on wire rack.
7. For the Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting: Beat butter in large bowl on high until light and fluffy. Add cinnamon, beat to combine. Add 2 cups confectioners' sugar; beat until mixture comes together.
8. Add vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon milk. Beat to combine. Add another cup of confectioners' sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
9. Add 2 tablespoons milk and remaining sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add more sugar or milk to proper piping consistency.
10. Pipe on cupcakes with 1M star tip. Decorate with purple, green, and yellow sprinkles.
11. Yield: 18 Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

Nutrition Facts

Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

Amount Per Serving

Calories 281 Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 8g 12%

Saturated Fat 4g 20%

Cholesterol 45mg 15%

Sodium 224mg 9%

Potassium 36mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 50g 17%

Sugars 38g

Protein 2g 4%

Vitamin A 4.9%

Vitamin C 0.1%

Calcium 7.8%

Iron 4.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.