Rainbow Colorful Cupcakes

Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

5 from 103 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Decorating Time: 10 minutes
Total: 38 minutes

This rainbow colorful cupcakes recipe is a favorite. It is great for children’s parties, Mardi Gras or Easter celebrations. They are a creamy ricotta cheese rainbow cupcake with marshmallow buttercream frosting.

4 rainbow colorful cupcakes on a wire cooling rack

Colorful cupcakes are fun to make and fun to eat. They are super easy because you start with a box cake mix then add ricotta cheese and lots of fun color and a marshmallow buttercream topping with sprinkles. It makes a decadent cupcake that everyone will love.

Serve them with Rainbow Popsicles to keep the colorful fun going!


MORE CUPCAKE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Root Beer Cupcakes with Cake Mix | Bacon Maple Cupcakes | Strawberry Milk Cupcakes


What We Love About This Rainbow cupcake Recipe

This recipe is great because these cupcakes are so cool. They’re perfect for a celebration, and when you taste them you will be blown away with the creamy magical texture.

  • 30 Minutes to Make: This recipe is so quick and easy.
  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
  • Family Friendly: These cupcakes scream fun for the family.
  • Makes Great Gifts: Great for parties or gift giving.
half of a rainbow colorful cupcake on a plate next to a fork and glass of milk with another cupcake in the background

Ingredient Notes

Almost all the ingredients are pantry staples, however there are a few things listed below that you will need.

  • White Cake Mix: Any brand will do, use whatever is your favorite.
  • Ricotta Cheese: This gives the decadent texture to these cupcakes.
  • Lorann Marshmallow Flavored Syrup: All the gooey flavor without the mess! Marshmallow flavor adds the yumminess of marshmallows to your cakes, cookies, and candies. It also makes a fun topping for cakes or cookies by adding it to vanilla frosting.

Equipment Needed

How to Make Cupcakes Rainbow Style

These are the basic steps for making cupcakes rainbow style. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

a collage of 2 images showing the ingredients needed to make colorful cupcakes

STEP 1: PREP

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees and then spray or line a standard muffin tin. Next, add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, mix in your ingredients and blend well.

a collage of 4 images showing the steps needed to make the purple and blue colors of the colorful cupcakes
a collage of 4 images showing how to add the green, yellow, orange and red colored batter to the colorful cupcakes

STEP 2: COLOR AND BAKE

Second, evenly separate the batter into 6 containers and color each with the 6 food colors until desired color of each is achieved. Add a small spoonful of each color of the batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Next, bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

a collage of 4 images showing the baked rainbow colorful cupcakes and the 3 steps needed to make the frosting

STEP 3: ICING

Then in a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and beat until light and fluffy, then add in the vanilla extract. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, while adding a bit of the half and half or milk in between each cup.  Continue to mix until creamy, and lastly add in your marshmallow flavoring.

a collage of 4 images showing the steps needed to frost the rainbow cupcakes

STEP 4: DECORATE

Prepare piping bag and fill bag with frosting.  Frost your cupcakes and top each cupcake with the rainbow sprinkles.

Prep and Storage Tips

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

You can bake cupcakes up to two days ahead; arrange them (unfrosted) in an airtight container and store at room temperature. Frost before serving.

HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE

Store in an airtight container. Air is the enemy of your colorful cupcakes.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

To freeze, arrange unfrosted cupcakes on a baking sheet and wrap the whole sheet in plastic wrap, then in foil, or store in an airtight container. Freeze up to three months. Thaw at room temperature before unwrapping. Then frost as normal.

Frequently Asked Questions about this Cupcake Rainbow Recipe

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE MORE CALORIE FRIENDLY?

ZenSweet Vanilla Bean Cake Mix – Vanilla Cake Mix with No Sugar Added can be used along with no calorie sweetener to make a lighter version of these colorful cupcakes.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING FOR THE RICOTTA CHEESE?

Yes, many things are good substitutions for the ricotta cheese in this recipe. For example:
*Cottage Cheese
*Cream Cheese
*Mascarpone Cheese
*Dairy-free ricotta usually made with nuts

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Indeed, you can adjust the recipe to make the quantity of cupcakes that you require.

WHAT MAKES THE PERFECT CUPCAKE?

The best way to make a tender cupcake is to not overmix, make sure you stop just as the ingredients are mixed. For more hints, check here.

4 rainbow colorful cupcakes on a wire cooling rack

Expert Tips for Making This Coloured Cupcakes Recipe

  • Add Candy: Little Candy pieces or mini m&m’s are a wonderful addition to this recipe.
  • Short cut tip: Make the cupcakes the day before and then decorate when you need them.
  • Variation tip: Color the icing different colors to match the rainbow theme.
  • Top: Top this fun rainbow colorful cupcakes recipe with these rainbow prism rings. A great take home.
  • Piping Bag and Tip: Here is a cute starter kit of a bag and tips to use for decorating.

Did you try this recipe?
Click below to leave a review and rating!

4 rainbow colorful cupcakes on a wire cooling rack
5 from 103 votes

Rainbow Colorful Cupcakes

Yield: 24 cupcakes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Decorating Time: 10 minutes
Total: 38 minutes
This rainbow colorful cupcake recipe is a favorite. It is great for children's parties, events, Mardi Gras or Easter celebrations. They are a creamy ricotta cheese rainbow cupcake with marshmallow buttercream frosting.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 1 cake mix, white
  • 1 cup water
  • cup vegetable oil
  • 3 egg whites, large
  • ¾ cup ricotta cheese
  • Gel food coloring, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food coloring
  • Frosting Ingredients
  • 1 ½ sticks salted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon half and half , or whole milk
  • Lorann marshmallow flavored syrup
  • sprinkles, Rainbow colored

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.
  • Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, mix in your water, oil, and eggs on medium until well incorporated. Mix in the ricotta cheese.
  • Evenly separate the batter into 6 containers and color each with the 6 food colors until desired color of each is achieved.
  • Add a small spoonful of each color of the batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
  • Directions for Frosting:
  • In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract.
  • Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the half and half or milk in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1 minute or until creamy. Add in your marshmallow flavoring.
  • Prepare piping bag and fill bag with frosting. Frost your cupcakes and top each cupcake with the rainbow sprinkles

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 252kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!Follow Us: @CakeMixRecipesBlog or tag #cakemixrecipes
Course: Cupcakes
Cuisine: American

This recipe is my personal adaption of an ethnic inspired recipe. It is not intended to be an authentic recipe.  I’ve recreated this recipe because I enjoy the flavors and I want to encourage my readers to expand their tastes and try new flavor combinations. The recipe, ingredients and processes may have been adapted to make the recipe accessible for the average American. I have provided links to authentic versions of the recipe in the post above. I encourage you to visit these pages and learn more about the traditional version(s) of this recipe.

Recipes You Might Have Missed

9 thoughts on “Rainbow Colorful Cupcakes”

  1. 5 stars
    I’d never made cupcakes with ricotta before. They were moist and had a beautiful texture. My grandkids flipped for the rainbow colors and now everyone thinks I’m a genius baker. lol Thank you!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    Oh, the kids really enjoyed creating and eating these cupcakes! Many thanks for the recipe. I’ll absolutely use this for my child’s birthday party.

    Reply
  3. 5 stars
    These cupcakes are so festive and enjoyable! My kids were impressed with these lovely cupcakes. They want more! So I bookmarked it.

    Reply
  4. 5 stars
    Anything rainbow is a recipe for my granddaughter’s “best day ever”. We had a blast making these fun cupcakes. That marshmallow flavored frosting is fantastic!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Rate This Recipe