Rainbow Buttercream Cupcakes

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Vanilla Cupcake Batter

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then mix in the vanilla extract.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
6. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.

Step 2: Bake the Cupcakes

1. Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
2. Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Step 3: Make the Rainbow Buttercream Frosting

1. In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
2. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined.
3. Add the heavy cream and vanilla extract, then beat on high speed until the frosting is light and fluffy.
4. Divide the frosting evenly into six small bowls.
5. Add a few drops of food coloring to each bowl to create red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple frostings. Mix each until the color is even.

Step 4: Assemble the Rainbow Buttercream Frosting

1. Lay out a piece of plastic wrap on a flat surface.
2. Spoon a stripe of each colored frosting onto the plastic wrap, side by side, to form a long strip of rainbow colors.
3. Roll the plastic wrap into a log, twisting the ends to secure.
4. Snip one end of the plastic wrap log and place it into a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
5. Pipe the rainbow frosting onto the cooled cupcakes in a swirl pattern.

Step 5: Decorate the Cupcakes

1. Add optional toppings like rainbow sprinkles or edible glitter for extra flair.