My Mom is a really creative woman. I didn’t realize it until I grew up and became a mother myself. Now that I look back on the birthday parties she threw and the incredible cakes she created, I’m really amazed at the things she came up with back in the day when you couldn’t run to Target or Walmart and basically buy a party in a bag. Halloween costumes were no exception. We never, ever had store-bought costumes growing up. My Mom was a great seamstress and her creativity had no boundaries. I look at old family pictures and I love how she took simple ideas and turned them into something fun. Take me for example, around age 5:
That my friends, is a rainbow. And I thought it was the coolest costume ever. I was obsessed with this chick, and if you look at every picture I ever created out of any sort of art media between the ages of 3 and 9, it undoubtedly included 3 things: hearts, flowers, and rainbows. To this day, I still get a little bit giddy inside when I see all of those colors together. Something about rainbows just makes me happy.
So it’s no wonder these cupcakes make me smile. Every time 🙂
Gel food colors work especially well for this. Gel color adds a ton of color with a small amount of dye. You can find gel colors at craft stores like Michaels and Roberts, and in the cake decorating isle of Walmart. If using red, make sure to get the one that says “No Taste”
Divide your batter and tint each one
Then layer it by color into the cupcake papers. (See my tips in the recipe for easy layering). Sometimes I do red on top and sometimes I do the reverse so blue is on top.
Bake them up
And cool them on a rack before frosting.
Then you can frost and decorate to your heart’s desire!
The best part comes when you peel off that paper. Use white liners to show off the colors, or foil or dark liners to make it a surprise!
Even better is taking the first bite and seeing the inside:
Try them with the color of your favorite sports team, or your kids’ school colors. They’re sure to be a hit!
Colorburst Cupcakes
1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1 C yogurt (any smooth textured fruit flavor is fine!) or sour cream
1/2 C milk
1/3 C vegetable oil
Combine all ingredients until incorporated (about 30 seconds). Scrape sides of bowl and then beat on med-high speed for 2 minutes.
Divide batter according to how many colors you are using. I used 5 colors and it worked out to a little over 1 cup for each color, but each cake brand will be slightly different.
Use food coloring to color batter to desired intensity.
To get a layered stripe like I used, you’ll want to put a spoonful of each color in the cupcake one at a time. The batter is thick, so it won’t spread on it’s own. A great tip is to set out a little bowl of water where you’re working. Dip your finger in the water and then gently spread the batter out. The water will make it so the batter doesn’t stick to your fingers.
Another tip is to use a measuring spoon and some water to measure out how many teaspoons/tablespoons are going to fit in your cupcake. Then divide that by how many colors you have so you know how much of each color to use for each cupcake. For my 5 colors, it worked out perfectly with 2 t of each color in each cupcake. So I put in 2 t of blue in the bottom of each cupcake and spread it out with my finger. Then I put in 2 t of green on top of that, then yellow, etc.
Bake them according to the package directions, until a toothpick comes out dry.
I topped mine with this frosting.
Questions & Reviews
I made these yesterday for my daughter's 3rd birthday party. They were a huge hit. I put big swirly frosting tops on some for the grown-ups, but left the kids' unfrosted and let them frost their own. It was fun!
I made a red white and blue cake for my daughter's birthday using your techinique! Thanks!!
http://thegoodshiplollipop.blogspot.com/2009/07/happy-birthday-idgie.html
Love it!
WOW!! My son's preschool teacher is leaving and I made these for her going away party with the kids. They are SO awesome…and terrific color! Thank you so much for such great recipes and terrific tips!!!
I **LOVE** them! I found your site a while ago and I have looked at the recipe many times!
Making them tomorrow!
These cupcakes look fabulous so wonderfully bright. I featured them in my hippie party menu along with two of your other recipes.
http://spicyspaparty.blogspot.com/2009/06/hippie-luxe-eats.html
These cupcakes look fabulous so wonderfully bright. I featured them in my hippie party menu along with two of your other recipes.
http://spicyspaparty.blogspot.com/2009/06/hippie-luxe-eats.html
This is so great! I'm thinking red, white, and blue cupcakes are in the near future for us!! Thank you!
yum! thanks for the recipe!
I made a rainbow cake too!
http://tarablogsabouteverything.blogspot.com/2009/02/rainbow-cake.html
Thanks, Sara! I’m so excited to get one now that I know where I can!
Haylee, welcome to our blog! The tip I use is the Wilton 1M. I actually bought this cupcake decorating set which comes with several tips, including one for piping filling to the insides.
http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Piece-Cupcake-Decorating-Set/dp/B000NBNHT2
Because the 1M is oversized you’ll need a larger coupler as well (the plastic thingy that screws on to secure the tip to the bag) You should be able to find everything at a well stocked baking or craft store. I got my things at Michael’s Crafts.
Hope that helps!
Wow, these are cute!! I’m a new reader here from Tip Junkie and love your site already! But please tell me, I have been trying to find the tool that makes the BIG star pattern in the frosting. I always see that type of design on bakery cupcakes and such and I want to do it at home, but don’t know where to find the tool…where did you get yours?!
So adorable! I have to make these for my class next year.
THanks!
That makes total sense!
I am making these tomorrow, and am really excited!
These cupcakes are awesome! And so is that sweet Rainbow Brite costume!
Oh sorry if I wasn’t clear on that Dawn. You *can* just use a normal white cake mix and follow the directions on the back if you want. Any regular ol’ cake mix will do. My recipe is just a way to doctor it up a bit. So if you use my recipe with the sour cream and the other ingredients I listed, then just ignore the directions on the cake box. Does that make sense?
Did you use sour cream because the cake mix box had it in the recipe, or because it is what is needed for this specific recipe for the colorburst cupcakes?
My White Cake mix does not say to use sour cream, so I just wanted to check.
Do I follow the box directions, or yours?
Thanks!!!!!
Wow!! Amazing! Thanks for sharing. I might have to try these…they are just so cute. 🙂
Jen- What about just using gold liners?
By the way these are awesome! Thanks for all the creative ideas.
Birdie, we have a tracker, so we’ve been following that bbc thread 🙂 We found it quite amusing at first when a cute little cupcake could cause such debate! I’m glad the drama subsided and so many people over there are trying them and liking them. Are you a poster there? If so, make sure to thank all the ladies over there for the crazy traffic you’ve sent our way! lol
Check this out:
http://boards.babycenter.ca/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=bcCAUSBargains&tid=21166
I think that perhaps, you are a genius! These are awesome, and something I could possibly do with 2 children 2 and under! Baby #2, who says you have to miss out! Thanks!
Wow! Fantastic!!
These look so cute!! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for solving my “what to do for Blake’s Bday, since he is #2” dilema!! lovin it!
I think I love your Rainbow Brite costume most of all!
So cool!! my kids are alergic to food coloring, but I can always order natural foods coloring and still do this! So cute!!!
as I am a HUGE cupcake fan, I will definitely try these out sometime! thanks for the recipe
I absolutely love rainbow cupcakes of any kind! Your colors turned out GREAT!
I can’t wait to try this idea out for my kids, they’ll love it.
Gorgeous cupcakes, well done!