Description
This Cotton Candy Frosting recipe creates a light, fluffy, and sweet frosting with the nostalgic flavor of cotton candy. Perfect for adding a playful and colorful touch to cakes, cupcakes, and cookies, this frosting is easily customizable with optional food coloring and adjusts in texture from thick for piping to thin for spreading.
Ingredients
Scale
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring (available at baking supply stores or online)
- 1-2 drops food coloring (optional, for pastel pink or blue color)
Instructions
- Beat the Butter: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with a hand mixer or stand mixer until creamy and smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Powdered Sugar: Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud. Once all sugar is added, increase speed to medium and beat until fully combined.
- Add Cream and Flavoring: Add the heavy cream 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency (thicker for piping, thinner for spreading). Then, add the cotton candy flavoring and beat until incorporated.
- Add Food Coloring (Optional): If you’d like to achieve the classic cotton candy look, add 1-2 drops of food coloring and mix until the color is evenly distributed. Start with a tiny amount and adjust until you reach your desired shade.
- Frost and Serve: Once your frosting is fluffy and well-mixed, it’s ready to use! Frost cakes, cupcakes, or cookies with a spatula or piping bag. Let it set for a few minutes to firm up before serving.
Notes
- Use softened butter at room temperature for smooth and creamy frosting.
- Sift powdered sugar to prevent lumps in the frosting.
- Adjust the consistency with heavy cream depending on whether you want to pipe or spread the frosting.
- The cotton candy flavoring is essential for the signature taste; it can be found in specialty baking stores or online.
- Food coloring is optional but helps create the classic cotton candy appearance.
- Store leftover frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator and bring it to room temperature before using.
