Description
These Night Sky Cupcakes are rich, moist chocolate cupcakes topped with a stunning swirled galaxy buttercream frosting. The deep chocolate base mimics the vastness of space, while the vibrant, multi-colored buttercream creates a cosmic nebula effect, complete with edible silver glitter and star sprinkles to bring the night sky to life in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Rich Chocolate Cupcakes (The Night Sky Base)
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- ¾ cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup hot coffee or hot water
For the Swirled Galaxy Buttercream (The Nebula)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- ¼ cup heavy cream or milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Gel food coloring (Black, Royal Blue, Violet/Purple, and Pink/Fuchsia)
- Edible silver glitter
- Silver star sprinkles
- White nonpareils
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cupcake liners. Prepare a second tin or plan to bake in batches as this recipe makes 14-16 cupcakes.
- Sift the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine evenly.
- Combine the Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until slightly frothy. Add buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
- Marry the Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix gently with a whisk or spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing; some lumps are fine.
- Bloom the Cocoa: Pour the hot coffee or hot water slowly into the batter and whisk gently until smooth. The batter will become thin, which is normal for moist cupcakes.
- Fill and Bake: Using a cookie scoop or measuring cup, fill each cupcake liner two-thirds full. Bake in the center rack for 18-22 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool Completely: Let cupcakes cool in the tin for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Allow at least 1 hour until fully cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Cream the Butter: Beat softened butter in a stand or hand mixer on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
- Incorporate the Sugar: On low speed, gradually add sifted powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add a pinch of salt once all sugar is incorporated.
- Smooth and Flavor: Add heavy cream and vanilla extract. Beat on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes until creamy and spreadable. Adjust consistency with more cream or powdered sugar as needed.
- Divide and Color: Separate frosting into four bowls. Leave one plain white, tint the second with black gel food coloring, the third with royal blue, and the fourth with a blend of violet/purple and pink/fuchsia gel colors. Stir each until uniform.
- Prepare the Piping Bag: Lay plastic wrap flat and place dollops of each colored frosting side by side in a rectangle. Roll into a tight log and twist ends to secure. Insert one twisted edge into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, snipping the twist.
- Pipe the Galaxy: Hold the piping bag vertically over cooled cupcakes and pipe swirls to create a marbled galaxy effect with multiple colors intertwined.
- Add the Stars: Immediately sprinkle edible silver glitter, silver star sprinkles, and white nonpareils over the fresh frosting to mimic shimmering stars and stardust. Repeat for all cupcakes.
Notes
- Use high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best rich chocolate flavor.
- Bring eggs and buttermilk to room temperature to ensure even mixing and smooth batter.
- Do not overfill cupcake liners to avoid mushrooming tops.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Gel food coloring is preferred to maintain frosting consistency.
- The swirling technique with plastic wrap allows for a beautiful galaxy effect with minimal effort.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: night sky cupcakes, galaxy cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, buttercream frosting, celestial desserts, galaxy buttercream, chocolate cupcake recipe, swirl frosting, cosmic cupcakes
