Easy Rainbow Cupcakes with Sanding Sugar Tutorial

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These are the easiest rainbow cupcakes ever! You don’t have to dye multiple colors of frosting to make rainbow frosting! You only need plain white frosting and some sanding sugar.

If you want more rainbow ideas, my daughter loved sewing this hanging rainbow cloud, so easy to make and they make a great party favor.

I’m so happy you are here! I love sharing easy ideas to celebrate all the special things in life! Whenever you need a yummy recipe to share with friends or a creative activity please come visit me! I will keep you stocked with loads of entertaining and gift ideas.

To me, rainbows have always represented hope. Hope for peace, happiness, good luck, thanks, and perhaps the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. These cupcakes are a simple way to bring happiness to others with their vibrant colors and sweet goodness.

These cute rainbow cupcakes are decorated to resemble majestic rainbow stripes. They’re perfect for birthday treats or a sweet treat for any event! Don’t miss what I do to them for St. Patrick’s Day.

Rainbow Frosting Cupcakes Supplies

Note: Affiliate links included in this section.

• Cupcakes
• Plain white frosting
• Piping bags
• Pastry Tip with 1/4 to 1/2 inch opening (Wilton 1A would work great)
• Sanding sugars
• A small bowl or jumbo baking cups
• Green fondant to make Shamrock toppers (optional)
• Small Shamrock cookie cutters to make Shamrock toppers (optional)

You will need a rainbow of sanding sugar! Just look at these vibrant colors!

Tips:

• You can actually ask your local grocery store to make you plain unfrosted cupcakes. This will remove the need to bake cupcakes.
• Another time-saving option is to purchase premade buttercream frosting.

How to Make Rainbow Cupcakes

Begin by baking your cupcakes or purchase plain cupcakes from the grocery store or a bakery. If you bake your own cupcakes make sure to cool them completely before decorating.

Pour colored sanding sugar (not coarse) in small bowls or jumbo baking cups. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large plain round tip (about 1/2 inch opening) with white buttercream frosting.

Using a pastry bag frost the top of the cupcake clear to the edge. Hold tip close to the cupcake to use less frosting. Dip top of the frosted cupcake in red sanding sugar.

Make another layer of frosting right on top of the red layer. This time don’t go clear to the edge. Bring the frosting in at least 1/4 of an inch.

Dip the cupcake in the orange sanding sugar.  Rock the cupcake so the edges are completely coated.

Repeat process with yellow sanding sugar and so on…….

until you have a beautiful sparkly cupcake with all the rainbow colors.

They make great Saint Patricks Day Cupcakes when you add a fondant shamrock.

Here’s a mom tip for you. Kids love to help bake and decorate sweets. That’s why I look for things they can help with like this rainbow cupcake. They have so much fun dipping them in the sugar and making all the rainbows.

If you like themed parties like cupcake parties, this is a simple cupcake to decorate. That way everyone will be able to participate in the fun. And when finished enjoy their sweet treat!

More St. Patricks Day cupcakes

Rainbow and Pot of Gold Cupcakes

Pot of Gold Cupcakes

LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!

I would love to keep you fully stocked with creative ideas, yummy recipes, fun crafts, and loads of free printables. Subscribe to Skip to my Lou to get new ideas delivered to your inbox. Follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram for all my latest updates.