Cotton Candy Buttercream Cupcakes

Who loves Cotton Candy?....................ME!

I was poking around Amazon the other day and came across Cotton Candy Flavoring and the wheels started turning as to what I could do with this new flavoring.  Should I put it in Rice Crispy treats? Oh what about Ice Cream? Then it came to me.... it had to be Buttercream Icing..... YUM! What better post to use this new flavoring for than my post for Cookies for Kids' Cancer 

I’m so excited to participate in this Valentine’s event (again). This is the fourth year for our event and we want to continue to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer. Cancer is the #1 cause of death of children by disease in the U.S. There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. The National Cancer Institute’s budget for childhood cancer is less than 4%. It’s such a small number and that’s why I got involved. Help us make a difference by donating to Cookies for Kids' Cancer! Our goal is to raise at least $3000. Because these three companies: OXO, Mediavine and Dixie Crystals have each pledged to match our donations raised through this campaign up to $3000! That means when we raise $1, it turns into $4! Thank you to so many of you who have already donated, please help us reach our goal so we can get the full matching donations and help us make an even huge difference! Donate here today.

I made the cupcake toppers using Bugles, white chocolate, heart sprinkles and cotton candy.  First I dipped the bugles in melted chocolate and placed a heart sprinkle on the front to make my white cone that will hold my cotton candy.

After the bugles had dried I put a glob of melted chocolate on a tooth pick and stuck it to the back of my bugle cone.  A sucker stick might be a better option if you would be using these toppers for a kids party.

Lastly I pinched off pieces of cotton candy to form my cotton candy cone.  To make the cotton candy stick to my bugle cone, I dipped the top of my bugle in melted chocolate and then stuck the cotton candy on top of the bugle cone.  I did do this a couple hours before I was ready to take my pictures only to figure out that the cotton candy had started to melt and it was all sticky.  My advice would be to put the cotton candy on the toppers closer to the time that you will be serving your cupcakes.

The cupcakes are just as good as the icing and the best part is by adding a few extra ingredients to the Duncan Hines White cake mix.... You will get 40 cupcakes! Woo Hoo.... cupcakes for a crowd, which is nice when you are making them for a wedding or party.

Cotton Candy Buttercream Cupcakes

cupcakes:
1 Duncan Hines White Cake mix
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond
1 cup whipping cream with 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice added to sour the whipping cream
4 egg whites

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Place cupcake liners in cupcake pan (You'll need about 40)

Put 1 cup of whipping cream in a measuring cup and add 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice, allow to sit for a few minutes so that the whipping cream will curdle and become thick.

In a large bowl mix all ingredients together.  Continue mixing for about 2 minutes

Pour batter into cupcake pan.  Bake for 13-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cupcakes comes out clean.

Cool completely then ice with Cotton Candy Buttercream frosting

Frosting:
1 stick Crisco
1 stick butter, softened
1 packet Dream Whip
2 teaspoons Cotton Candy flavoring
1 1/4 cup whipping cream
2 pounds powdered sugar

Cream Crisco and butter.  Add in cotton candy flavoring and dream whip and mix.  Add alternately powdered sugar and whipping cream and mix until light and fluffy.

Ice cupcakes however you wish, I used a large round decorating tip.


Be sure to visit the other bloggers participating in the Valentine’s Day event and check out their recipes! Brownie Cups from Julie of The Little Kitchen
Valentine’s Day Delight Recipe from Jennifer of The Rebel Chick
Strawberry Cake Rolls from Coleen of The Redhead Baker
Perfect M&M Cookies from Carlee of Cooking With Carlee
Paleo Almond Butter Cookies from Taryn of Hot Pan Kitchen
Black Tahini Truffles from Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Pink Glitter Drink fo Valentine's Day from Jenn of Ever After in the Woods
Vegan Matcha Rose Shortbread from Carolann of Apron Warrior
Star Wars Kylo Ren Emoji Cookies from Jenn of justJENN recipes
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies from Faith of An Edible Mosaic
Andes Mint Cookies from Rebekah of Kitchen Gidget
Chocolate Pots from Kristin of On the Home Front
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookie Bars from Melissa of Persnickety Plates
Dark Chocolate and Smokey Blue Cheese Gougères from Lisa of Taste Cook Sip
Nutella Cookies from Raquel of Organized Island
Strawberry Sandwich Cookies from Heather of Delicious Not Gorgeous
Mini Chocolate Lava Kiss Cakes from Sue of It's Okay to Eat the Cupcake
Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies with White Chocolate from Lisa of Blogghetti
Chewy Dark Chocolate Coconut Cookies from Jessica of A Kitchen Addiction
Butterscotch Cookies from Marlynn of Urban Bliss Life
Gluten Free Hot Cocoa Cookies from Elaine of Small Farm Big Life
Cherry and Chocolate Chip Cookie Cutter Cookies from Brenda of Meal Planning Magic
Cherry Cheesecake Bars from Laura of Untwisted Vintage
Grapefruit Gin Spritz from Sarah of Chef Sarah Elizabeth
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies from Brianna of Flippin' Delicious
chocolate heart cookies from Meaghan of the decorated cookie
Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies from Gwynn of Swirls of Flavor
Salted Caramel Bars from Marybeth of Baby Savers
Cotton Candy Buttercream Cupcakes from Nina of Crazy for Cookies and More
Valentine's Day Cookie Cake from Bree of Baked Bree
Red Velvet White Chocolate Chips Cookies from Maria of The Cookware Geek
Valentine's Blondie Bars from Becca of The Salted Cookie
Confetti Cookies from Amy of The Nifty Foodie
Heart of Gold Chocolate Sprinkle Blossoms from Erin of The Spiffy Cookie
Ancho Chili Brownies from Dee of Meatloaf and Melodrama
Heart Shaped Spritz Cookies from Holly of A Baker's House
Strawberry Macarons from April of April Erhard
Sweetheart Chocolate Pretzel Bites from Nicole of For the Love of Food
Gluten-free Peanut Butter M&M Cookies from Michelle of My Gluten-free Kitchen