Cotton Candy Buttercream Frosting Recipe

I have a strange relationship with cotton candy, the treat itself I’m not a huge fan of because of the texture. Cotton candy flavored desserts however? My absolute FAVORITE! Like this cotton candy buttercream frosting recipe smothered on cakes and bakes, yum I’m in heaven.

This frosting recipe is easily one of my top favorites especially paired with some moist vanilla cupcakes. The ones in these images I colored blue for an extra color pop. They’re so pretty and just the most delicious treats for any occasion especially birthdays, baby showers, a gender reveal, or Valentines Day!

You’ll love these swirls of creamy cotton candy buttercream frosting. They’re pretty to look at, and oh-so-tasty!

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Table of Contents

Why You Will Love My Cotton Candy Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Only 5 ingredients needed
It’s ready in a flash
Tastes great on cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more
Festive for birthdays, baby showers, a gender reveal, and Valentines Day

Ingredients Needed

1 cup (2 sticks) room temperature butter
2 cups powdered sugar
½ oz cotton candy (I used pink)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt

How To Make It

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Combine room temperature butter and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl or stand mixer and mix
Next add the vanilla extract and salt and mix
Lastly add the cotton candy and mix until it dissolves into the frosting

Tips & Tricks

When you are mixing the butter and powdered sugar don’t add all the sugar all at once, instead add ½ – 1 cup at a time while mixing.
It’s so important to make sure your butter is room temperature before mixing your frosting to ensure it blends properly

What Is Cotton Candy?

Cotton candy only has 2 ingredients: air and flavored/ colored sugar. That’s it! Furthermore the “cooking” process is extremely easy. Just put the flavored/ colored sugar into the middle of a cotton candy machine and turn it on. The middle piece begins to spin and heat up to 300 degrees which melts the sugar and transforms it into the fluffy texture we all know.

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Now you’re ready to make the best buttercream frosting for all your cakes and bakes.