Mardi Gras King Cupcakes (Printable)
Cinnamon-swirled vanilla cupcakes with vibrant icing and festive colored sugar for a celebratory touch.
# Ingredient List:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/4 tsp salt
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs
07 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 cup whole milk
09 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
→ Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
10 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
11 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
→ Icing
12 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
13 - 2-3 tbsp milk
14 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
→ Decoration
15 - Purple, green, and gold colored sugars
# How to Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Mix until just combined. Gently fold in ground cinnamon.
05 - Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl for the swirl filling.
06 - Fill cupcake liners halfway with batter. Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp cinnamon sugar swirl over each, then top with remaining batter. Gently swirl with a toothpick for a marbled effect.
07 - Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
09 - Spoon or drizzle icing over cooled cupcakes. Immediately sprinkle with colored sugars in alternating stripes of purple, green, and gold. Allow icing to set before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cinnamon swirl running through each cupcake creates those beautiful ribbons of spice that make traditional king cake so irresistible
- You get all the festive fun of king cake without the hassle of braiding dough or worrying about whether your yeast will cooperate
02 -
- If you're hiding a plastic baby or almond, tuck it into the bottom of a cupcake before baking and warn your guests to bite carefully
- The colored sugars need to be sprinkled while the icing is still wet or they won't stick properly
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and create a tender crumb
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before icing or the icing will melt right off