Go Back
–+ servings
Laissez les bon temps rouler with these easy to make Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting. Inside is a surprise sure to delight!
Print Recipe
5 from 8 votes

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!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 18
Calories: 281kcal

Ingredients

Mardi Gras Cupcakes

  • 1 (15.5 ounce) package yellow cake mix
  • 7 Tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup half and half
  • 3 large eggs
  • Purple, green, and yellow gel food coloring (See Tip 1)

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

  • ½ cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 cups (16 ounces) confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 to 4 Tablespoons milk (See Tip 2)

Instructions

Mardi Gras Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
  • 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.
  • Divide batter into thirds. Color each with 5 drops gel food coloring, ending up with purple batter, green batter, and yellow batter. (See Tip 3)
  • Add individual colored batter to piping bag. Snip off ¼-inch from tip. Pipe, yellow batter on one side; green batter on the other side, and purple batter in middle. (See Tip 4)
  • Bake at 350° F for 18 to 20 minutes, or until center spri)ngs back when pressed.
  • Cool completely on wire rack.

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.
  • Add vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon milk. Beat to combine. Add another cup of confectioners' sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add 2 tablespoons milk and remaining sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Add more sugar or milk to achieve proper piping consistency.
  • Pipe on cupcakes with 1M star tip. Decorate with purple, green, and yellow sprinkles. (See Tip 5)
  • Yield: 18 Mardi Gras Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting

Notes

  1. I purchased the gel food coloring at Hobby Lobby. If you can't find gel food coloring, use paste food coloring that is more readily available. I would avoid using the liquid food coloring. Because of the quantity needed to achieve the desired color, it could impact the consistency of the batter.
  2. Use the amount of milk necessary to achieve the desired consistency of the frosting.
  3. Use more or less of the food coloring necessary to achieve the desired colors. 
  4. If you don't have piping bags, you can use ziploc bags. With the ziploc bags, cut off about ¼-inch from one of the corners.
  5. If you don't have the equipment to pipe the frosting, you can just frost the cupcakes as you normally would.

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 36mg | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 0.7mg