Description
Milky Way Galaxy Cupcakes are moist, chocolatey cupcakes topped with a stunning galaxy-inspired frosting swirl. Featuring a rich cocoa base and a marbled buttercream in shades of blue, purple, black, and white, these cupcakes are decorated with edible glitter or star sprinkles to resemble the night sky. Perfect for space lovers and special occasions, these cupcakes offer a delightful balance of flavor and visual appeal.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk (or dairy-free alternative)
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Galaxy Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk (or dairy-free alternative)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Gel food coloring (blue, purple, black, and white)
- Edible glitter or star sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Cupcakes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, enhancing the cupcake’s texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add Boiling Water: Carefully mix in the boiling water until the batter is smooth; don’t worry that it’s thin – this ensures moist cupcakes.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 liners, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool Cupcakes: Remove from oven and transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting the frosting.
- Prepare Galaxy Frosting: Beat softened butter in a large bowl until creamy, about 2 minutes, forming the base for your frosting.
- Add Powdered Sugar and Liquids: Gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time while beating on low speed. Once incorporated, add vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk; add more milk if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Divide and Color Frosting: Separate the frosting into four bowls and add gel food coloring to create vibrant blue, purple, black, and white colors, mixing each until smooth.
- Pipe Frosting: Using a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the tip cut off, apply a base layer of one color on each cupcake, then layer additional colors in swirls to create a galaxy effect.
- Swirl Colors: Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to gently swirl the different colors together, creating a beautiful marbled galaxy appearance.
- Add Decoration: Optionally, sprinkle edible glitter or star-shaped sprinkles over the frosting to mimic stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
- Set and Serve: Let the cupcakes stand for a few minutes to allow the frosting to firm up slightly, then serve and enjoy the galactic treat!
Notes
- The batter will be thin after adding boiling water; this is expected and results in moist cupcakes.
- Use gel food coloring for more vibrant frosting colors without affecting consistency.
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting the frosting.
- You can substitute milk with any dairy-free alternative to accommodate dietary preferences.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- For easier swirling of frosting colors, pipe small amounts of each color side by side before swirling lightly.
