Cotton Candy Cupcakes (Print Version)

Ingredients:

01 - 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour.
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar.
03 - ½ cup butter (softened).
04 - ¾ cup milk.
05 - 2 eggs.
06 - 2 ½ tsp baking powder.
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract.
08 - ¼ tsp salt.
09 - Pink and blue gel food coloring.
10 - 1 cup butter (softened, for frosting).
11 - 3 cups powdered sugar (for frosting).
12 - 2 tsp cotton candy flavoring (for frosting).
13 - 2 tbsp milk (for frosting).
14 - Cotton candy tufts (for garnish).
15 - Sprinkles (optional, for garnish).

Instructions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, and mix until just combined.
05 - Divide the batter into two bowls. Tint one portion with pink food coloring and the other with blue.
06 - Spoon the pink and blue batters into the cupcake liners, then swirl gently with a toothpick to create a marbled effect.
07 - Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
08 - For the frosting, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, cotton candy flavoring, and milk until smooth. Divide the frosting into two bowls, tint one pink and the other blue.
09 - Pipe swirls of pink and blue frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. Garnish with cotton candy tufts and sprinkles just before serving.

Notes:

01 - To maintain the light texture of the cupcakes, do not overmix the batter.
02 - Add cotton candy garnishes just before serving to prevent them from melting due to moisture.