• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bitz & Giggles
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Holidays
  • DIY & Cleaning
  • Shop
  • About
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Holidays
    • DIY & Cleaning
    • Shop
    • About
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Cotton Candy Cupcakes

    Posted: Aug 20, 2014 · Updated: Jun 8, 2024 by Sara · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Cotton Candy Cupcakes Feature

    Want to Save This Recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it to your inbox. Plus get great new recipes from us every week!


    I've been on a cotton candy kick lately. A couple weeks ago I shared this super fun Cotton Candy Lemonade on my blog and then made these crazy cool Cotton Candy Cupcakes with the leftover cotton candy I had to share with readers over at This Silly Girl's Life!

    Because these treats were so fun to make, the only right thing to do, was to bring them back over here to Bitz & Giggles to share with all of you!

    The cupcakes themselves are made out of a box mix. Gah! I know, I know - it's just been one of those weeks. I whipped up some fluffy frosting that has real cotton candy mixed in - the cotton candy flavor is subtle, but adds a bit of candy sweetness to the vanilla cupcakes I made.

    Cotton Candy Cupcakes1

    So, after the standard cast of characters like the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla and heavy whipping cream, I added about a cup (okay, maybe a little more) of fluffy cotton candy. Yep, I did. And. . .it's delicious.

    Cotton Candy Cupcakes2

    I made sure not to mix it all in completely either. Can you see the little specks of cotton candy still in the frosting? That's a whole lot of goodness, my friends.

    Cotton Candy Cupcakes 3


    There's no need to lick the screen, this frosting is simple and quick. It goes together in a flash, so you can make your own. Before I frosted my cupcakes, I added a little blue food coloring. Then. . . I bedazzled them. . .slightly, because who doesn't like a bit of glitz and glamour?

    Cotton Candy Cupcakes4


    What is that stuff you ask? Rock candy crystals - cotton candy-flavored rock candy crystals to be exact. You can find rock candy crystals in specialty candy stores and, of course, online through Amazon, where I found mine.

    This stuff is so good. In fact, while I was making the frosting, I thought about eating some of the rock candy by the spoonful. . .so I did. And then I thought about eating a bit more of the cotton candy that was sitting there on the counter. . .so I did. And my final thought was, why don't I top the cupcake with some cotton candy, too? Genius.

    Cotton Candy Cupcakes8

    Ok, so I'm a little cotton candy crazy. Can you blame me? It's exactly one month until my hometown's annual fair. If you grew up where I did, you'd know that that's a pretty big deal. We never leave the fair without a bag. . .or two of cotton candy. . .each day (we're there Thursday - Sunday). So, let's just say I'm in training.

    If YOU love cotton candy too, you need to make these ASAP. And before I leave today, I want to share one more little surprise with you. Even though I used a standard box mix for the cupcakes, that doesn't mean they're standard by any means. I dressed up the outside, but I also dressed up the INSIDE. I created an awesome ombre effect - it took me two tries, but I did it!

    If you want to learn about the "ombre effect," check out my step-by-step tutorial to making ombre cupcakes. There's a trick to it and I finally figured it out, but only after a MAJOR ombre FAIL the first time!

    Ombre effect 6

    Looking for more fun summer recipes? Check these out!

    Fruit Infused Water - Bitz & Giggles

    Fruit-Infused Water

    Iced Coffee Sundae Cone Cake - Bitz & Giggles

    Iced Coffee Sundae Cone Cake

    Fresh Cucumber Salsa - Bitz & Giggles

    Fresh Cucumber Salsa

    Follow me on:

     Twitter |  Instagram | Pinterest | Google+ | Facebook | Bloglovin’

    Cotton Candy Frosting

    Super fun cotton candy frosting on top of your favorite cupcakes is sure to be a hit with the whole family!
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
    Servings: 1 dozen
    Calories: 308kcal
    Author: Sara
    adjust servings: 1 dozen

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 sticks unsalted butter (softened)
    • 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
    • 1 cup cotton candy
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • Food coloring (optional)

    Instructions

    • Mix together the sugar and softened butter on low speed, then increase speed until the mixture starts to form peaks.
    • Add the heavy cream, vanilla and continue to mix until well-blended.
    • Add some food coloring to the frosting if you would like.
    • Toss in the cotton candy and stir with a spoon just to break the larger pieces of cotton candy up.
    • Allow cupcakes to cool, then frost and top with crushed rock candy and extra cotton candy placed on a lollipop stick.

    Notes

    1. Ensure Proper Butter Consistency: To achieve a smooth and creamy frosting texture, it's crucial to use softened butter. Make sure the butter is at room temperature before starting the recipe to ensure it blends seamlessly with the powdered sugar. If the butter is too cold, it won't incorporate properly, resulting in a lumpy or grainy frosting.
    2. Incorporate Cotton Candy Carefully: When adding the cotton candy to the frosting, handle it gently to avoid melting or clumping. Break the cotton candy into smaller pieces before adding it to the frosting to ensure even distribution. Stir the frosting gently with a spoon to incorporate the cotton candy, being careful not to overmix, as this can cause the frosting to become too thin or lose its fluffy texture.
    3. Customize with Food Coloring: Enhance the visual appeal of your cotton candy frosting by adding food coloring. Choose colors that complement the cotton candy flavor, such as pastel shades like pink, blue, or purple. Add the food coloring gradually until you achieve the desired hue, mixing well after each addition. Keep in mind that a little food coloring goes a long way, so start with a small amount and adjust as needed to avoid overpowering the frosting with color.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 10mg | Sugar: 71g | Vitamin A: 98IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BitzNGiggles or tag #bitzngiggles!
    311 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sandy

      March 07, 2024 at 11:59 am

      Why can't the cotton candy touch the frosting?

      Reply
      • Sara

        March 10, 2024 at 8:32 pm

        If the cotton candy touches the frosting it will begin to melt.

        Reply
    2. Kayla

      August 27, 2014 at 9:52 pm

      This looks just amazing! I love cotton candy, but this is taking the delicious treat one step further 🙂

      Reply
      • Sara

        August 27, 2014 at 10:46 pm

        Thanks, Kayla! These were so much fun to make!

        Reply
        • Cristi Lewis

          March 01, 2020 at 1:22 pm

          Today is the second time that I've made this recipe. It is absolutely delicious!! 💖 I love cotton candy and this takes it up a notch!! I look fwd to making the cotton candy lemonade you talk about. Thank you!! So great!!

          Reply
          • Sara

            March 02, 2020 at 10:09 pm

            Oh, I'm so glad, Cristi! Cotton candy anything is so much fun!

            Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Sara Zenner, blogger at Bitz N Giggles

    welcome!

    Hey, I’m Sara!

     Born and raised in Wisconsin, where family and fun are at the heart of it all - I inherited a deep appreciation for home cooking and family traditions. I’m all about quick and easy recipes, tidying up, and laid back “up north” living.

    Read more!

    Popular Recipes

    • A piece of Poor Man’s Lobster showcasing the flaky, buttery cod fillet served with broccoli and lemon.
      Poor Man's Lobster
    • A green cocktail garnished with pineapple and a cherry.
      Green Hawaiian Cocktail
    • California Blend Vegetable Casserole
    • Air fryer corn on the cob on serving dish with butter.
      Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
    • No Bake Cherry Dump Cake - An easy, no-bake cherry trifle dessert with layers of angel food cake, sour cream, pudding, cherry pie filling and whipped topping.
      No Bake Cherry Dump Cake
    • Pouring caramel sauce over salted caramel kentucky butter cake.
      Salted Caramel Kentucky Butter Cake Recipe

    Thanksgiving Recipes

    • A heaping plate filled with colorful veggie casserole.
      Veggie Casserole Recipe
    • Piece of apple pie with ice cream on a white plate.
      Sheet Pan Apple Pie
    • A bowl of soup filled with carrots, potatoes and turkey
      Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe
    • side view of a piece of pumpkin pie
      Praline Pumpkin Pie
    • piece of pumpkin poke cake garnished with cinnamon
      Pumpkin Poke Cake
    • stack of stuffing balls on a white platter
      Thanksgiving Stuffing Balls

    Footer

    Featured on:

    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy
    • ↑ back to top
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2025 - As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required