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Purple Orange Pastel Halloween Cupcakes: Easy Dreamy Recipe

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These dreamy purple and orange pastel Halloween cupcakes are soft, pretty, and just sweet enough. With a tender vanilla crumb and silky two-toned buttercream, they are the perfect whimsical treat for fall celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • ½ cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
  • Purple and orange gel food coloring
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
  • 3 ½ cups (420g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
  • Pinch of salt (for frosting)
  • Purple and orange gel food coloring (for frosting)
  • Edible glitter or sanding sugar (for decoration)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, beat softened butter and granulated sugar on medium speed for 3-4 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla and almond extract; beat until combined.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. With mixer on low, add dry ingredients in three additions, alternating with milk. Mix just until combined.
  5. Divide batter evenly into two bowls. Add purple gel food coloring to one bowl and orange to the other; stir gently.
  6. Fill each liner about two-thirds full. For marbled effect, drop a scoop of each color into each liner and swirl with a toothpick. Bake 18-20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  7. Cool in tin 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely (at least 30 minutes).
  8. For buttercream: Beat softened butter on medium speed for 2 minutes until creamy. Add sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time, then heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Beat on medium-high 3-4 minutes until fluffy.
  9. Divide frosting into two bowls. Color one purple and one orange with gel food coloring. For two-toned effect, spoon both colors onto plastic wrap, roll into a log, snip corner, and place in piping bag with star tip.
  10. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes in a spiral from outside in. Sprinkle with edible glitter immediately.

Notes

Use room temperature ingredients for best texture. Gel food coloring is essential for vibrant pastels. Do not overmix batter. Cool cupcakes completely before frosting. For two-toned frosting, use plastic wrap method for easy ombré effect.

Nutrition

Keywords: Halloween cupcakes, pastel cupcakes, purple orange cupcakes, easy cupcake recipe, fall dessert, buttercream frosting, two-toned frosting

Find it online: https://cookdella.com/purple-orange-pastel-halloween-cupcakes-easy-dreamy-recipe/