Mardi Gras Marbled Cupcakes

These bright, vibrant Marbled Mardi Gras Cupcakes are the perfect celebration treat!

Course Cupcakes

Cuisine American

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 20

Total Time 45

Servings

Calories 438kcal

Author Michelle Ordever

Equipment

Ingredients

1 15.25oz box of white cake mix
3 eggs
⅓ cup oil
1 cup water
1 tsp clear vanilla or rum extract optional
Electric food coloring gel in yellow green and purple

For the Frosting

3 cups unsalted butter softened
6 cups powdered sugar icing sugar
5-7 Tbsp heavy whipping cream double cream
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Electric food coloring gel in yellow green and purple
Mardi Gras sprinkles

Instructions

To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4 (or according to box instructions). Line cupcake pans with 24 cupcake liners and set aside.
Using an electric handheld or stand mixer, place the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water into a large bowl and mix until combined and smooth.
Separate the mix into three bowls and add 1-2 drops of food coloring per bowl and mix until well incorporated. (four colors are shown below, but use only purple, green, and yellow as in the ingredients list!)
Using a spoonful of each colored cupcake batter at a time, place into each cupcake to create a marbled effect, until the cupcake liners are about 3/4 full.
Bake for 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Leave to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
To make the frosting, use an electric stand or handheld mixer and add the butter, powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla to the bowl.
Beat on medium speed until creamy and smooth and stiff peaks form.
Separate the frosting into three bowls and add 1-2 drops of food coloring per bowl and mix until well incorporated and you reach the desired shade. Remember you can always add more coloring, but not take it away!
Place each colored frosting into three separate 12-inch piping bags. Snip off the tips.
Drop a Wilton 1M tip (or your favorite star tip) into a 16-inch piping bag.
Add the three filled 12-inch piping bags to the 16-inch bag, and squeeze a little out to blend the colors.
Pipe swirls of frosting onto each of the cooked and cooled cupcakes.
Add sprinkles on top of the frosting, you can use any type of sprinkle that you like, but try to stick to the Mardi Gras colors! Sugar pearls work well as they look like beads.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!

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