These sweet and delicious cotton candy cupcakes will be the hit of the party. Perfect for birthday parties, baby showers, or just because.

I LOVE cotton candy.

When I was a child, we had a cotton candy machine at my house. It was AMAZING. We actually still have it, but I’m kind of afraid the plug will cause an electrical fire, so my kids haven’t experienced the awesomeness that is this cotton candy machine.

It’s sad. I know!

I also love cupcakes. If I have a choice between cupcakes and an actual cake, I’m going to choose cupcakes, hands down. They just taste better! Plus, you can have two and not feel guilty. Two slices of cake, and that’s a completely different story.

What if we could combine two of my favorite things – cotton candy and cupcakes?

Wouldn’t that be amazing?!

YES! Yes, it would. So we did.

Perfect for a tea party, Troll themed birthday party, Cotton Candy party, Circus themed party, or a special treat just because. Affiliate links have been used in this post.

Sweet and Delicious Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1-ounce royal blue gel paste natural food color
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 2 ¼ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup buttermilk

Cotton Candy Buttercream

• 1 cup butter
• 2-3 Tablespoons cream
• 1 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon raspberry extract *or can use a few drops cotton candy flavor*
• 4-6 cups icing sugar
• Pink or red natural food dye

Don’t forget the cotton candy and cupcake liners.

How to Make Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 375F and line your muffin trays with cute liners.

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

Add in the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla.

Make a paste with the food coloring and cocoa and add to butter-sugar mixture.

Use that same bowl to mix the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Add to the butter mixture slowly, and then add the buttermilk and vinegar, stirring until just incorporated.

Add salt and flour with buttermilk.

Portion 1/4 cup portions of batter into your cupcake liners.

Bake 18-22 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Cool cake thoroughly before frosting.Cream the butter and 4 cups of the icing sugar together. Add the flavor extracts and a few drops of food coloring, and add more cream or sugar to achieve your desired consistency.

Spoon the frosting into a piping bag and swirl onto your cooled cupcakes.

Then tear off pieces of cotton candy and add them to the top.

They are so cute and delicious!!