Cotton Candy Cupcakes

Whatever the question, milk is the answer.

Need to sleep soundly?

             Drink milk
How do you enjoy a chocolate chip cookie?
             With milk
Want a yummier cotton candy?
             Add milk (in powder form that is).

Ahh cotton candy... whoever invented this amazing treat will get a hug from me. For reals. Thinking out of the box - that is what he or she did when cotton candy was created. I mean, literally, it's just sugar that has been spun. Yes, just sugar! Sugar guys, just sugar! Boy I am amazed! Can anything get any simpler than that? Can you feel me excitedly jumping up and down my chair as I type this? Because that is what I am doing.... okay probably not, but I am close to doing that right now. Oh cotton candy. The things you make me do.

Anyway, will the creator of this heavenly treat, please stand up? I owe you a hug. Or better yet, you can have some of these cotton candy cupcakes. You, my dear Bake Happy friends,  can have some, too! Come on, I know you want one!

Cotton Candy Cupcakes
adapted from The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook
350F/25 cupcakes

What we need

For the cupcakes
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 cup milk
3 drops cotton candy flavoring
2 cups cotton candy (do not pack)

For the Icing
1 cup butter unsalted
2 cups icing sugar
1 drop cotton candy flavoring
1/8 cup of milk (or cream) - optional
soft pink food gel color
1 cup cotton candy

Here's how:
(1) Sift together/dry whisk flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

(2) Add eggs one at a time, slowly.

(3) Add a third of the dry ingredients, then half of the milk. Repeat till all is combined. Then add cotton candy flavoring

(4) Add two cups of cotton candy using a spatula. Mix until you see streaks of pink. Fill cupcake liners until two thirds full and bake for 15 minutes

(5) To make the frosting, cut up butter into small chunks. Beat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add sifted confectioner's sugar gradually. At some point, the frosting will look like bread crumbs. Just add milk or cream and beat some more. Lastly, add 1 drop cotton candy flavoring and the cotton candy.
As an added treat, let's make some Cotton Candy Ravioli to serve as the cupcake topper. I saw a picture of this from the Georgetown Cupcakes Girls New Book, Sweet Celebrations. I thought of making my own version.

Super easy really. Get some marshmallow fondant, roll it thinly. Add small balls of cotton candy.

The cover it with another thinly rolled marshmallow fondant and cut into squares. Yummy!

But of course, going old school, topping a cotton candy cupcake with cotton candy, will do just fine as well. Totally.