Mini King Cake Cupcakes (Printer View)

Bite-sized cupcakes featuring cinnamon swirls and colorful sanding sugar inspired by New Orleans.

# Components:

→ Cupcake Batter

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

→ Cinnamon Swirl Filling

10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Glaze

13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Colored Sugar

16 - 2 tablespoons green sanding sugar
17 - 2 tablespoons purple sanding sugar
18 - 2 tablespoons gold sanding sugar

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 24-cup mini muffin tin with paper liners or grease lightly.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
03 - In a separate bowl, combine milk, melted butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth.
04 - Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Do not overmix.
05 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the filling.
06 - Spoon about 1 tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup. Top each with approximately 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon filling, then swirl gently with a toothpick.
07 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
08 - Cool cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth and pourable.
10 - Drizzle glaze over cooled cupcakes. Immediately sprinkle with alternating bands of green, purple, and gold sanding sugar for a traditional King Cake appearance. Allow glaze to set before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They bake in under 20 minutes, so you can go from craving to celebration faster than you'd think possible.
  • The cinnamon swirl is hidden inside, which means every bite surprises you with warm spiced sweetness.
  • Twenty-four cupcakes means you've got enough to share without feeling guilty about keeping a few for yourself.
  • The colored sugar topping looks absolutely show-stopping, but it requires zero decorating skills.
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients are not optional here—cold milk and eggs won't mix evenly and you'll end up with a lumpy, uneven batter that bakes unevenly.
  • The difference between a tender cupcake and a dense one is often just 5 extra stirs, so when the recipe says don't overmix, it really means it.
  • If you forget to glaze immediately after the cupcakes cool, you can rewarm the glaze gently over low heat and it'll be just as good, which is a lifesaver on busy days.
  • The plastic baby surprise should always be inserted after baking (never bake it inside), and make sure guests know it's there so no one accidentally bites into it.
03 -
  • If your glaze sets too quickly on top of the cupcakes, a tiny splash of warm milk whisked in will loosen it just enough to work with again without making it runny.
  • The sanding sugar adheres infinitely better if you're gentle and deliberate—press it lightly rather than sprinkling from above, and it'll stay put through storage and transport.
  • Make extra cinnamon filling because it's impossible not to want to taste it straight from the bowl, and having a little extra means you can go heavier on the swirl if you're feeling indulgent.
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