Looking to add a touch of festive flair to your baking repertoire? These Easy King Cake Cupcakes are a delightful twist on the classic Mardi Gras treat. With their colorful icing and hidden surprise inside, these cupcakes are sure to impress your friends and family. Whether you’re celebrating Fat Tuesday or simply want to bring a taste of New Orleans into your home, these cupcakes are the perfect choice. So grab your apron and get ready to bake up a batch of these delectable treats!
Easy King Cake Cupcake
Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
– 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 3/4 cup granulated sugar
– 2 large eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– 1/2 cup milk
– Purple, green, and yellow food coloring
– 1 plastic baby figurine (for decoration)
– 1 cup powdered sugar
– 2-3 tablespoons milk
– Colored sprinkles
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside.
3. In a separate large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy using a handheld mixer or stand mixer.
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients and the milk, alternating between the two, starting and ending with the dry ingredients, until the batter is smooth.
6. Divide the batter evenly into three separate bowls. Add a few drops of purple food coloring to one bowl, a few drops of green to another, and a few drops of yellow to the last bowl. Stir each bowl until the colors are well combined.
7. Spoon a small amount of each colored batter into the prepared muffin tin, layering the colors to create a rainbow effect. Be sure not to overfill the liners.
8. Bake the cupcakes in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
9. While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare the icing by mixing the powdered sugar and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Add more milk or sugar as needed to achieve a thick yet pourable consistency.
10. Once the cupcakes are completely cool, drizzle the icing over the tops of the cupcakes, allowing it to drip down the sides. Add colored sprinkles while the icing is still wet.
11. Before serving, insert a plastic baby figurine into one of the cupcakes for the traditional King Cake surprise.
These Easy King Cake Cupcakes are a fun and delicious way to celebrate the spirit of Mardi Gras. Whether you’re hosting a festive party or simply craving a taste of New Orleans, these cupcakes are sure to be a hit. So go ahead and indulge in a bite of this festive treat – you deserve it!
