Description
Milky Way Galaxy Cupcakes are moist chocolate cupcakes topped with vibrant galaxy-themed buttercream frosting. These cupcakes feature a rich cocoa batter combined with a smooth, colorful frosting swirled to resemble the mesmerizing Milky Way galaxy, finished with optional edible glitter or star sprinkles for a cosmic touch. Perfect for astronomy lovers or any special celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcake Ingredients
- 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 Ingredients
- 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 for easy removal.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure full integration, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients alternately with the milk, mixing gently after each addition until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add Boiling Water: Carefully mix in the boiling water until the batter is smooth; it will be thin, which is expected and helps create moist cupcakes.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Divide the batter evenly among the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Place the tray in the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Cool: Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting, ensuring the frosting does not melt.
- Prepare Galaxy Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy, approximately 2 minutes, using a mixer on medium speed.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating on low speed to prevent a sugar cloud, until fully incorporated.
- Flavor and Thin Frosting: Add the vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk, beating until smooth; add more milk if needed to reach your desired frosting consistency.
- Divide and Color Frosting: Split the frosting into separate bowls for each color: blue, purple, black, and white. Add gel food coloring drops incrementally to each bowl until you reach your preferred shades.
- Mix Colors Thoroughly: Stir each colored frosting until smooth and evenly pigmented.
- Pipe Frosting on Cupcakes: Use a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the tip cut off to apply a base layer of one color frosting to each cupcake.
- Create Galaxy Swirls: Add additional colors in swirls on top, then gently swirl them together with a spatula or the back of a spoon to achieve a marbled, galaxy-inspired effect.
- Add Decorative Stars: Sprinkle edible glitter or star-shaped sprinkles on top to mimic the stars of the Milky Way galaxy, adding sparkle and visual appeal.
- Set and Serve: Allow the decorated cupcakes to sit for a few minutes so the frosting can set slightly before serving to maintain shape and appearance.
- Enjoy: Share and enjoy these stunning Milky Way Galaxy Cupcakes that are both visually captivating and deliciously moist.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother batter and frosting.
- Do not overmix the batter once the wet and dry ingredients are combined to avoid dense cupcakes.
- The boiling water thins the batter and gives the cupcakes a moist, tender crumb.
- Gel food coloring is preferred because it provides vibrant colors without thinning the frosting.
- Optional edible glitter or star sprinkles enhance the galaxy effect visually but can be omitted if unavailable.
- To make these cupcakes dairy-free, substitute butter and milk with non-dairy alternatives.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Allow refrigerated cupcakes to come to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.
