Spring Cupcakes Pastel Butterfly (Printable)

Soft vanilla cupcakes with pastel buttercream and butterflies, perfect for festive spring gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cupcakes

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
06 - 1 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
09 - 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

→ Pastel Butterfly Buttercream

10 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
11 - 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
12 - 2 tablespoons whole milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Gel food coloring: pastel pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple

→ Decoration

15 - Edible butterfly decorations or wafer paper butterflies
16 - Sprinkles (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
03 - Using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract until well incorporated.
05 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture in two batches, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined.
06 - Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
07 - Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center emerges clean. Transfer to cooling rack and cool completely.
08 - Beat softened butter on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing on low speed.
09 - Add milk and vanilla extract; beat on high speed for 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.
10 - Divide buttercream among 4–5 bowls. Tint each portion with pastel gel food coloring and mix thoroughly.
11 - Fit a piping bag with a large star tip. Spoon colored buttercream side by side into the bag to create a swirled effect.
12 - Pipe swirled buttercream onto cooled cupcakes in a generous swirl. Top each with butterfly decorations and sprinkles as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The buttercream is so airy and light, you can swirl it perfectly without fancy training.
  • The pastel hues and butterfly decorations always turn heads at gatherings, making you feel like a baking superstar.
02 -
  • If you rush cooling, the buttercream melts and slides, ruining the swirl—patience truly pays off.
  • Using too much food coloring can overpower the flavor and tone down the pastels, so go easy for best results.
03 -
  • Use an ice cream scoop to portion batter for perfectly even cupcakes every time.
  • Piping alternating colors is easier if you use a spatula to layer buttercream neatly along the sides of the bag.
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