Name: Cotton Candy Cupcakes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 14 cupcakes
Cuisine: American

Cake Mix Recipes Verified

February 8, 2026

Cotton Candy Cupcakes are an easy and fun way to satisfy your cotton candy lovers. These Cotton Candy Cupcakes are an ideal delicious dessert for the summer months or for when you want a crowd pleaser for an event. They are colorful, fun and a perfect addition to any sweet table.

From the Cook

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Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Cake Mix Recipes Verified

Ingredients

WarningMilk and 5 other allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 350F.

Line a muffin tray with cupcake liners and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the white cake mix and cotton candy soda for 2-3 minutes. Adjust the color with light blue food dye, if desired. (If using, make the cake batter a deeper blue than you want the finished cupcake to be as it will lighten with baking.)

Scoop the cupcake batter with a measuring cup into the cupcake liners.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. (1 – 2 hours)

While waiting, place 1 cup of cotton candy soda in a saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until boiling. Reduce to medium-low and simmer until reduced to 1/4 cup (2 ounces of soda should remain). Allow to cool completely.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and powdered icing sugar for 2 minutes, then add the reduced cotton candy soda. Beat to mix well, then add the milk as needed to achieve a spreadable texture. Adjust the color with blue food dye, if desired.

Scoop the frosting into a piping bag and snip off 1” of the tip.

Swirl the frosting onto the cupcakes and then around the edge to create a “basket” effect.

Smooth the ridges of the frosting with an offset spatula.

Fill the basket with cotton candy and then garnish with pop rocks.

Smart Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Color Magic 🎨
Add light blue food dye gradually to achieve the perfect pastel cotton candy color, mixing thoroughly to ensure even distribution throughout the batter and frosting.
Pop Rocks Precision 💥
Sprinkle Cotton Candy Pop Rocks just before serving to maintain their signature crackling texture and prevent them from dissolving or losing their pop.
Soda Substitution Hack 🥤
Replace part of the liquid in the cake mix with cotton candy soda to intensify the cotton candy flavor and create a more moist, tender cupcake.
Frosting Fluffy Technique 🧁
Whip the buttercream frosting for an extra 2-3 minutes to create a light, airy texture that mimics the delicate nature of cotton candy.
Decoration Pro Tip 🌈
Use a piping bag with a large star tip to create tall, swirled frosting that resembles the wispy texture of cotton candy, giving your cupcakes a professional finish.