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Mardi Gras King Cake Cupcakes

Festive cinnamon-spiced cupcakes inspired by traditional King Cake, topped with cream cheese frosting and colorful sanding sugar.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Autumn
Calories: 340

Ingredients
  

Cupcakes
  • 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs large
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 0.25 cup sour cream
Frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese softened
  • 0.5 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Muffin tin
  • Hand mixer or stand mixer
  • Piping bag

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line muffin tin.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients.
  3. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla.
  4. Alternate dry ingredients and milk, fold in sour cream.
  5. Layer batter with cinnamon swirl mixture.
  6. Bake 18–22 minutes and cool completely.
  7. Beat frosting ingredients until smooth and pipe onto cupcakes.
  8. Decorate with purple, green, and gold sugar.

Notes

Insert a small plastic baby after baking for traditional King Cake fun.