If you want a recipe that wows, while remaining super simple to make, then I have the cupcakes for you.

These creamy ricotta cheese rainbow cupcakes with marshmallow buttercream frosting, are made with a cake mix base, although if boxed cake mixes are not your thing, then they work just as well with a basic sponge cake base. Just make up enough cake mix for a dozen cupcakes and you’re good to go.

Rainbow Ricotta Cheese Cupcake Ingredients:

  • 1 white cake mix
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
  • 3 large egg whites
  • ¾ cup of ricotta cheese
  • One dozen cupcake liners – I use these reusable cupcake liners. 
  • Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food coloring

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 sticks of softened, salted butter.
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla essance
  • 4 cups of sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon of either half and half or whole milk
  • Lorann marshmallow flavored syrup (you can find it on Amazon.)
  • 1 large piping bag with a large round frosting tip – like these.
  • Rainbow colored sprinkles – you can find them here.

Directions for Cupcakes:

Step one

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.

Step 2

Mix your cake batter according to the instructions on the box, or make up enough basic cupcake batter for twelve cakes.

Step 3

Mix in the ricotta cheese.

Step 4

Divide the batter evenly between 6 bowls.

Add color to each until you get the shades you are looking for. The colors darken when baked, so don’t make your mixes too dark.

Step 5

Add a small spoonful of each color batter into the cupcake liners. layering the colors in whichever order you like. Each cupcake should end up roughly 2/3 full.

Step 6

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the rainbow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting. 

Directions for Frosting:

Step 7

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract.

Step 8

Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the half and half or milk in between each cup. 

Step 9

Continue to mix for 1 minute or until creamy. Add in your marshmallow flavoring.

Step 10

Prepare a piping bag and fill it with frosting and top your cupcakes with a swirl of frosting.

Step 11

Top each cupcake with your rainbow sprinkles and enjoy!