Is it just me, or can you eat those rainbow sour belts for days!
I think I may have a candy problem. Every time I walk by my local bulk food store (hello Bulk Barn), I need to buy sour rainbow belts. It doesn’t even register in my head. My feet seem to walk in there without thinking, and I come out with bags of candy.
With the occasional bag of quinoa too. You know, for balance.
Having sour rainbow belts in my house at all times means easy last minute dessert ideas for St. Patrick’s day. Just make any regular old dessert and plop on the rainbows. Instant festivity hack.
Since this Whole Wheat Chocolate Rainbow Cupcakes was a recipe that I made for my students, I made a LOT of cupcakes. And when I say a lot, I mean like 3 containers worth of cupcakes. Plus I kept some for me. For taste testing purposes..
And photography purposes. Obviously.
This recipe uses 100% whole wheat flour. This wasn’t really done on purpose: I ran out of all-purpose flour and I needed to leave for Vancouver the next day. Between going grocery shopping and packing on the last day before I leave, I chose the latter. But the healthier cupcakes convinced a couple of my colleagues to eat a cupcake, so I think it all worked out in the end.
These cupcakes were taste tested on all of my students who were there on the last day of school before the spring break (which, surprisingly, was a great deal of them). The verdict? They loved them! I didn’t have any to bring home after school because a lot of my students came back for seconds.
Good thing I saved some for myself! These disappear almost as quickly as they are made!
Whole Wheat Rainbow Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 3 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup canola oil
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups boiling water
Frosting
- 4 oz butter, softened
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 24 sour rainbow strips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 4 muffin pans with paper liners. (Or you can do two batches of 2 muffin pans). Set aside.
- In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, cocoa powder,baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add in the eggs, yogurt, cold water, canola oil and vanilla. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Add in the boiling water and mix. The batter will be very thin.
- Divide the batter between the 48 muffin cavities (or 24 if you are doing two batches). Place in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Allow to cool. Meanwhile, make the frosting.
Frosting
- Cream together the butter and cream cheese on high until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed, and add in the icing sugar and vanilla. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Cut two long parallel lines in the centre of the cupcakes. Stick the ends of the sour rainbow strips unto the holes.
- Place the frosting in a ziplock bag or a piping bag, and pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes around the ends of the “rainbow”.
Your cupcakes are so pretty decorated with the rainbow strips…I've not seen them before.
Adorable. I think the frosting amount is perfect and they're so cute!
These cupcakes are so pretty! I love the rainbow on top and they look absolutely delicious!
Thanks!! It is so much fun to make and eat 🙂
How cute! It’s my daughter’s birthday coming up so I think i will make these, try to sneak some healthy into her dessert haha 🙂
Hahah, good thinking 😉
Quinoa and rainbow candy, just what we need! These look fantastic, and I love the addition of whole wheat! You know, for balance.
Haha, yes! Balance is so important 😉
These are some seriously cute cupcakes! Decorating these would be super fun, and they sound tasty. Thanks for sharing!
The decorating process is so much fun 🙂
Wow, what a great way to send your students to send break ! Those cupcakes are adorable with the sour belt rainbows. Accidentally using the whole wheat flour worked out for the best since everyone loved them. I will be trying this healthier option soon.
Yay!! Let me know if you end up trying it out soon 🙂
My daughter wants a rainbow unicorn party so these will be perfect. Absolutely adorable and I can’t wait to make them for her!
Yay!! This would be so much fun to make for your daughter 🙂
Those rainbows are SO CLEVER! I never would have thought to decorate them using sour strips, but now I can’t imagine a better way. These cupcakes look like a killer party staple!
Yes!! They are always the first to go 🙂
These cupcakes are so pretty! Love the rainbow strips. It makes them so festive. Great for a kid’s birthday party too!
Yes! Kids love them!
The rainbow strips on the top looks so so pretty. I love making my bakes with whole wheat flour and the cupcakes looks so soft and has the perfect melt in the mouth texture.
Yes! Whole wheat flour in cupcakes can make them at least a LITTLE bit better for you 😉
Those raindows look so cute. This a perfect reciep to celebrate a Birthday, a special occasion or just a good day. Loving it!
I agree. Also, they are so fun to make 🙂
Delicious cupcakes that look like my perfect type! And And those rainbows are something special – they look amazing!
Thanks Mimi! They are so fun to make 🙂