Spring Polka Dot Cupcakes

  • Prep 40 min
  • Total 1 hr 45 min
  • Servings 24

Ingredients

Cupcakes

Bright Buttercream Frosting

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
  • Yellow, red and blue food colors
  • 1/3 cup white baking chips

Steps

  • 1
    Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
  • 2
    Make cake batter as directed on cake mix box, adding gelatin with the water. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups (about two-thirds full).
  • 3
    Bake 22 to 27 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  • 4
    Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat powdered sugar and butter with spoon or with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Beat in vanilla and 2 tablespoons of the milk. Gradually beat in just enough of the remaining milk to make frosting smooth and spreadable. Divide frosting among 4 small bowls. Stir 6 drops yellow food color into frosting in one bowl. Stir 4 drops red food color into frosting in second bowl. Stir 6 to 8 drops blue food color into frosting in third bowl. Stir 4 drops yellow and 2 drops red food color into frosting in fourth bowl.
  • 5
    Frost 6 cupcakes with each color of frosting. Poke 4 or 5 white vanilla baking chips, flat side up, into frosting on each cupcake to look like polka dots. Store loosely covered.

  • Have fun making other colors and flavors of cupcakes by using lemon, lime, strawberry, raspberry or watermelon gelatin.
  • Try paste food color! It can be purchased at cake decorating and craft stores. The color is more concentrated, so a little goes a long way.
  • An easy way to frost cupcakes is to carefully dip tops into the frosting, give a slight twist and remove. Finish off with a swirl of a knife if needed.

Nutrition Facts are not available for this recipe
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