Description

Bright, moist, and buttery rainbow cupcakes topped with creamy vanilla frosting. Perfect for Pride Month, birthdays, or any celebration!

Rainbow Cupcakes

Makes 12 | Total Time: 50 min + 30 min cooling

These are the ultimate party cakes — bright, colorful, and always the star of the show. I first made them to celebrate Pride Month, and I was so pleased with how pretty they were and how surprisingly easy they were to make!

The cake is a moist vanilla sponge topped with luscious, creamy vanilla buttercream — a classic and delicious combination perfect for any occasion.

🕒 Prep & Bake Time

• Preparation: 25 minutes
• Baking: 20–23 minutes
• Cooling: 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cake Batter

• 8 oz (225 g) margarine or unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup (225 g) superfine sugar
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1¾ cups (225 g) self-raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp whole milk
• Purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red strong food colorings (use high-quality brands like Sugarflair or Wilton)

For the Buttercream

• 8½ tbsp (120 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp milk
• 4 tbsp rainbow cake sprinkles, to decorate

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) (160°C fan) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. Mix Batter: Combine butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, vanilla, and milk. Beat 2–3 minutes until smooth.
3. Divide & Color: Separate the batter evenly into six bowls. Add a different food coloring to each (purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red).
4. Layer: Transfer each color into disposable piping bags and layer each color into the liners in order. Smooth each layer if needed.
5. Bake: 20–23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
6. Make Buttercream: Beat butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, half the sugar, then the rest with milk. Beat until creamy.
7. Pipe & Decorate: Fill a piping bag with the buttercream, swirl onto cupcakes, and top with rainbow sprinkles.

Enjoy

Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

These rainbow cupcakes are perfect for Pride Month, birthdays, or any event that calls for happiness, color, and celebration!

🍰 Storage & Tips

• Store in a cool, dry place (avoid refrigeration unless necessary).
• For extra vibrancy, use gel-based colorings — they won’t water down the batter.
• Add a touch of almond extract for a richer flavor twist.

🩷 Serve It With

Pair with:

• Homemade strawberry lemonade
• Vanilla bean ice cream
• Tropical fruit salad

Nutrition & Benefits (per cupcake, approx.)

• Calories: 280
• Fat: 12g
• Sugar: 29g
• Protein: 3g