Galaxy Cupcakes

This recipe makes the most gorgeous galaxy cupcakes with a surprise inside! They’re perfect for any outer space themed party.

The universe is a mysterious and magnificent place. And what could be more fitting than to celebrate its beauty with galaxy themed cupcakes? These deliciously sweet treats are easier to make than they look, and will impress your friends and family with their out-of-this-world look.

Making Galaxy Cupcakes is a fun way to celebrate any outer space themed special occasion! Whether you are celebrating a little astronauts birthday or space exploration day, which is coming up on July 20th, these cupcakes are just what you need.

These cupcakes feature a colourful delicious cupcake filled with outer space themed sprinkles, topped with swirls of colourful frosting and dusted with edible glitter stars.

These cosmic cupcakes are perfect for any budding astronauts out there, and they’re sure to be a hit with friends and family. So why not blast off on an interstellar baking adventure and make a batch of these out-of-this-world confections yourself?

Why You will Love these Galaxy Cupcakes

• Made from Scratch
• You can use a box cake mix
• Delicious vanilla cupcake
• Galaxy surprise inside!
• Moist and tender crumb.
• Creamy and fluffy vanilla buttercream frosting.
• Fun galaxy design.

How to Make Multi Coloured Frosting

I tried using the Wilton Colour Swirl Three-Colour Coupler Decorating Set for this cupcake but I wasn’t happy with the colours I used and wanted the colours swirled together a little more. It is an easy mode option for getting multi coloured cupcake frosting though. If the method I have used here sounds daunting, then I would definitely go that way instead.

This is the method I liked the most from different experiments:

1. Make vanilla buttercream frosting. Add colour a little bit at a time until you reach the desired shade.
2. Divide frosting into 4 bowls.
3. Add the food colouring and mix together, using a clean spoon for each colour.
4. Place each bowl of frosting into a pastry bag.
5. Pipe long rows of each colour of frosting onto a piece of plastic wrap, then roll up.
6. Cut off one end of the frosting log and place into a large pastry bag fitted with a 1M tip.

I found that varying the width of the frosting rows looked better, with a wider stripe of the dark blue frosting.

Another option is to fill up a large pastry bag with the different colours of frosting in stripes down the sides of the bag. This is a lot harder to do right but a good option if you don’t have a bunch of pastry bags.

Galaxy Cupcake Variations

If you want to switch things up a little try these ideas:

• Swap the vanilla buttercream for Cream Cheese Frosting.
• Add a flavour to the cupcakes and/or frosting using a teaspoon of flavour extract.
• Get creative with the colours used, but be sure to include a dark blue or black frosting colour.
• Use chocolate cupcakes for a food colouring free cupcake – galaxy chocolate cupcakes are just as pretty and delicious!

What to Top Galaxy Cupcakes with?

You can get really creative with decorating these fun galaxy cupcakes after frosting them, here are some more ideas:

• Star sprinkles
• Silver Star Cupcake Toppers
• Use jawbreakers as planets
• Simply use more Wilton Assorted Galaxy Sprinkles

Tips for the Best Galaxy Cupcakes

This easy chocolate cherry cola cupcake recipe results in rich cola flavoured chocolate cupcakes with a tender crumb, but you should be aware of some cupcake baking basics for best results.

• Make sure NOT to over-mix the batter if you want light, fluffy cupcakes.
• Use ingredients that are at room temperature.
• Do NOT open the oven door while baking.
• Always fill your cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
• Baking time can vary from oven to oven, so be sure to test your cupcakes!
• Allow your cupcakes to completely cool before frosting.

How Long do you Bake Cupcakes?

Most cupcakes bake for 18-22 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can test if they are done by sticking a toothpick into the centre of a cupcake, and if it comes out clean, they are done.

You can also test by gently pressing down on the cupcake and looking to see if it bounces back completely or not. If it does, they are done, if your finger left a dent they need more time.

How to Store Galaxy Cupcakes

To prevent these cupcakes from drying out, store them as you would other baked goods. These cupcakes should last up to three days at normal room temperature covered in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container, and about a week if refrigerated.

If stored in the fridge, bring the cupcakes to room temperature before serving.

Can I freeze galaxy cupcakes?

Yes, cupcakes freeze well and will last for up to three months if properly stored. Wrap cooled, unfrosted cupcakes, well in plastic wrap and then in a freezer bag.

Thaw them in the fridge overnight or on the counter for a couple of hours before frosting and serving.

About the Equipment Needed for Making Cupcakes

This galaxy cupcakes recipe does require some pretty standard baking equipment.

When it comes to vanilla cupcakes, I do usually pull out my stand mixer as it creams the butter more efficiently. You can use a simple large bowl and whisk instead if you don’t have an electric mixer.

You will need two muffin tins and 24 white cupcake liners as well for baking them.

When it comes to the buttercream, I always pull out my stand mixer to make sure I get it super smooth and creamy. A large bowl and a hand mixer works too.

To core the cupcakes you can use a cupcake corer or a large round decorating tip.

To decorate your cupcakes bakery style then you will also need 4 standard pastry bags, 1 large piping bag, and a Wilton 1M decorating tip.

About the Ingredients for Galaxy Cupcakes

We are using a standard vanilla cupcake recipe here, feel free to use this technique with cake mix instead if you need a shortcut for easy galaxy cupcakes.

Butter – I normally like to use just oil in my cupcakes as it usually results in a more tender and moist cupcake, but the richness of the butter add a lot of flavour to vanilla cupcakes. You need to use softened butter so that it creams nicely.

Sugar – Just plain white granulated sugar.

Oil – Vegetable oil is a good neutral flavoured oil.

Eggs – Bring them to room temperature before starting.

Vanilla – Real vanilla extract is best but feel free to use artificial if that is what you have on hand.

Flour – Spoon and level the flour when measuring it, otherwise you’ll wind up with a dense cake.

Baking powder – Helps make the cupcakes rise. Ensure that your baking powder is still active or fresh (less than 6 months old.)

Salt – Makes all the other ingredients really shine.

Milk – If whole milk is unavailable, feel free to use any milk you have available, including non-dairy.

Food colouring – Use high quality gel food colouring to get vibrant colours that do not affect the consistency or flavour.

Icing Sugar – To make the frosting.

Sprinkles – I used the new Wilton Assorted Galaxy Sprinkles for the surprise filling.

Toppings – I used Wilton Edible Glitter Stars in silver as well as Wilton Planet, Moon and Star Royal Icing Decorations to really make these cupcakes pop.

Looking for More Themed Cupcakes Recipe

Check out more super fun, themed cupcakes ideas.

These Lemon Beehive Cupcakes are as delicious as they are stunning. A perfect addition to any party – they make a yummy treat for baby showers, themed birthdays, picnics and more!

These butterfly cupcakes are an adorable treat. Perfect for spring and summer celebrations, you won’t believe how easy these adorable cupcakes are to make!

These Grill Cupcakes are a whimsical dessert to help you celebrate a summer barbecue party!

Ice cream sundae cupcakes featuring a funfetti cupcake and rich vanilla buttercream, decorated to look like an ice cream sundae!

How to Make Galaxy Cupcakes

Yields: 12 Cupcakes | Prep time: 40 Minutes | Cook time: 23 Minutes

Ingredients:

• ¼ Cup butter, softened
• ¾ Cup Sugar
• ¼ vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1¼ Cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ Cup whole milk, room temperature
• Black food gel
• Teal food gel
• Fuchsia food gel
• Purple food gel

For the Frosting:

• 1 Cup Butter, softened
• 3 Cups powdered sugar
• 4-6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Royal blue food gel
• Black food gel
• Teal food gel
• Fuchsia food gel
• Purple food gel

For the toppings:

• Wilton Assorted Galaxy Sprinkles
• Wilton Edible Glitter Stars in silver
• Wilton Planet, Moon and Star Royal Icing Decorations

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cupcake tin with plain white paper cupcake liners. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the oil and vanilla extract, then add the eggs one at a time.

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly add half of the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, with the mixer on low. Then add half the milk, and combine. Add the remaining dry ingredients, then the milk, and mix until just combined.

Split the batter into four small bowls.

Colour the first bowl with black food gel and mix until combined. Add purple food gel to the second bowl to make purple batter, then teal to the third bowl and fuchsia to the remaining bowl.

Spoon small blobs of each colour to each cupcake liner, filling the liners ¾ full.

Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

While cupcakes cool, prepare the frosting: Add room temperature butter to the bowl of a mixer fitted with whisk attachment (or large mixing bowl if using hand-held mixer). Mix on high until a creamy consistency is reached.

Add powdered sugar, cream, and vanilla extract. Mix on low for 30 settings. Increase speed to high for 1 minute.

Divide the frosting in the following way: 1/2 of the frosting into a bowl, then add 1/3 of the remaining frosting each into 3 separate bowls.

Add 2 drops black food gel and 4 drops royal blue food gel into the bowl with 1/2 of the frosting. Mix until well combined.

Next, add teal, fuchsia, and purple each into the remaining bowls separately. Mix until well combined.

Transfer each of the frosting colours to their own piping bags (without tips). Lay out a piece of plastic wrap, cut the ends of each bag, and pipe long rows of each colour of frosting side-by-side onto wrap.

Roll up the frosting into a log, and twist one end and cut the tip off. Insert the log into a piping bag, cut end down, fitted with a large star tip.

Core each cupcake using a a cupcake corer, or a large round piping tip.

Fill with sprinkles and top the cavity with the removed piece of cupcake.

Pipe swirls of frosting on top of the cupcakes starting from the centre and work your way outwards.

Sprinkle each cupcake over with Wilton Edible Glitter Stars in silver, and top off with moon and star icing decorations.