Recipe

How to Make Instagram-Worthy Rainbow Cupcakes

By Kaitlin Wheeler at Santa Clara University

There's nothing better than when beautiful creations come together with sweet flavors to make an artistic, colorful dessert. Dessert is obviously the best meal of the day, so why not spice it up a little? Baking rainbow cupcakes does not require you to be an art major-- all you need is a desire to "wow" the world with your skills.  

Rainbow Cupcakes

  • Prep Time: 45 mins
  • Cook Time: 20 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
  • Servings: 12
Ingredients
  • Pillsbury White Premium Cake Mix
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • Vanilla frosting
  • Red food coloring
  • Blue food coloring
  • Green food coloring
  • Yellow food coloring

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 1

Set the oven to 350°F.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 2

Pour the water, oil, and eggs into a bowl with the white cake mix.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 3

Mix this for 2 minutes on medium speed with beaters until there are no lumps in the bowl.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 4

Using a spoon, separate the cake mix equally into six separate bowls, where you will have six different colors of cake mix.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 5

For the red bowl, add 20 drops of red food coloring. For the orange bowl, add 5 drops of yellow food coloring and 3 drops of red food coloring. For the yellow bowl, add 5 drops of yellow food coloring. For the green bowl, add 10 drops of green food coloring. For the blue bowl, add 10 drops of blue food coloring. For the purple bowl, add 2 drops of red food coloring and 2 drops of blue food coloring. Make sure to mix each thoroughly with a spoon, leaving no trace of white cake mix.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 6

Start by putting half a spoonful of the purple cake mix across the bottom of the cupcake holders. Make sure to evenly cover the whole bottom with the cake mix. Follow this step with the other colors in this order: blue, green, yellow, orange, red.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 7

After all the colors have been layered evenly with only enough to cover the color beneath it, put the cupcakes in the oven. Let cupcakes bake for 20 minutes.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 8

While waiting for the cupcakes to bake, open a ziploc bag and place the vanilla frosting inside. Cut a 1/2 inch hole in the tip of the bag.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 9

Take the cupcakes out of the oven after 20 minutes. Let them cool for 10 minutes.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 10

Once the cupcakes have cooled, take the bag and squeeze the frosting in a circular motion, covering the whole top of the cupcake, following in the shape of a swirl. You will start at the outer part of the cupcake and slowly move around until you reach the center.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Step 11

Take the first bite to reveal the rainbow within.

Kaitlin Wheeler

Enjoy this wonderful dessert with all of its picturesque greatness.