Candy Cane Cupcake Swirls (Printer-Friendly Version)
Fluffy cupcakes with swirled batter and peppermint-spiked frosting topped with candy cane accents.
# Required Ingredients:
→ Cake Batter
01 -
1 box (432 g) white cake mix with ingredients as per package instructions
02 -
Red gel food coloring, quantity as needed
→ Frosting
03 -
340 g unsalted butter, softened
04 -
0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
05 -
345 g confectioners' sugar
06 -
30 ml heavy cream
07 -
5 ml pure vanilla extract
08 -
2.5 ml peppermint extract
→ Decoration
09 -
Mini candy canes, as needed
10 -
White and red coarse peppermint sugar, as needed
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 -
Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds and preheat oven to 175°C. Line eighteen standard muffin cups with liners. Prepare white cake mix according to package directions in a large bowl. Transfer half of batter to a separate bowl and tint with red gel food coloring to desired shade. Alternate spoonfuls of plain and red batter in liners to approximately half full.
02 -
Bake cupcakes for 18 to 20 minutes, rotating tins halfway through baking for even cooking. Verify doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely.
03 -
In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and salt on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add confectioners' sugar in two additions, beating well after each. Incorporate heavy cream, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract. Continue beating at medium-high speed until frosting is light, fluffy, and smooth, approximately 2 minutes.
04 -
Fit a piping bag with a 12.7 mm round tip. Using a small brush or skewer, paint two lines of red gel food coloring inside the piping bag to create candy cane striping effect.
05 -
Fill prepared piping bag with frosting. Pipe swirls over each cooled cupcake. Garnish each with a mini candy cane and sprinkle with red and white coarse peppermint sugar.
# Handy Cooking Tips:
01 -
For a fluffier frosting, beat thoroughly after adding sugar and cream to dissolve sugar crystals and incorporate air.
02 -
Adjust the thickness of gel food coloring stripes in the piping bag to intensify the candy cane effect.