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Cotton Candy Frosting

A magical, airy, multi-colored whipped buttercream frosting flavored exactly like fairground cotton candy and topped with edible glitter.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Course: Dessert, Frosting
Cuisine: American, Party
Calories: 115
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Frosting Base
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature
  • 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
  • 0.25 cup heavy whipping cream cold
  • 1 tsp cotton candy flavoring oil or dram
  • 1 pinch salt
Decorations
  • 3 drops gel food coloring pink, blue, yellow
  • 1 tsp edible glitter food safe

Equipment

  • Stand mixer or hand mixer
  • Piping bag
  • Large star piping tip
  • Plastic wrap

Method
 

  1. Beat the softened butter in a mixer on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until pale and creamy.
  2. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the sifted powdered sugar. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once incorporated.
  3. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in the cold heavy cream, cotton candy flavoring, and salt.
  4. Increase speed to medium-high and whip for 3-4 minutes until the frosting is light, fluffy, and has doubled in volume.
  5. Divide the frosting evenly into three bowls. Tint one bowl pastel pink, one pastel blue, and one pale yellow using gel food coloring.
  6. Lay a sheet of plastic wrap flat on the counter. Pipe or spoon a thick line of each color side-by-side onto the wrap.
  7. Roll the plastic wrap into a log, twisting the ends tightly to secure the three colors together.
  8. Snip one end off the plastic wrap log and place it inside a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
  9. Pipe swirls onto your desired dessert and immediately sprinkle generously with edible glitter.

Notes

Ensure your heavy cream is very cold before adding it to the frosting to help it whip up properly. Only use food-safe edible glitter or luster dust, not non-toxic craft glitter.