There is a recipe for rainbow cupcakes from cake mix and they are the perfect treat for kids and adults alike. This is a simple and easy way to make some really cool looking cake. This post contains affiliate links.

These are some of my favorite cupcakes to make because I just love all the colors.
Table of Contents
What do you need to make Rainbow Cupcakes from Cake Mix?
All you need is a white or yellow boxed cake mix, gel food coloring, frosting, rainbow non-pareil sprinkles, cute rainbow cupcake liners, and cupcake pans.
Since you will be coloring the batter, you don’t need to worry about making a white cake mix with just egg whites. I just make a white cake mix and keep in the yolks.
These food coloring gels are what I use. They’re made in the USA and color beautifully.

These are my favorite cupcake pans. I don’t like to use metal ones due to a sensitivity to metals. These Sweese ones are heavy duty muffin pans made from porcelain ceramic. They are so easy to clean and stand up to a ton of use. I use mine at least 3 times a week for all kinds of things.
For the frosting, sometimes I will take the time to make my own frosting. Other times, I will just buy one of those Pillsbury Pastry Bags of premade frosting, which tastes pretty darn good.
How do you make Rainbow Cupcakes from a Cake Mix?
Follow the directions on your cake mix box to make the cake batter.

Then, divide the cake batter into six bowls.
You’ll need 6 gel food colorings:
- red
- orange
- yellow
- green
- blue
- purple
Add food coloring slowly and mix until you get the desired intensity for each color.
Lay out the cupcake liners in the muffin tins.

Then spoon each batter color in rainbow order. Sometimes I start with red and sometimes I go backwards and start with purple. Plan accordingly, so they are only filled about 2/3rds full.
You can leave the batter as is, or you can swirl each one with a toothpick.

Bake for about 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
Allow them to cool completely before frosting.
I like to swirl white frosting and then add rainbow non-pareil sprinkles.
More Rainbow Recipes
- Marshmallow Edible Paints for Rainbow Toast
- DIY Rainbow Frosting Twinkies
- Rainbow Unicorn Cupcakes
- Unicorn Strawberry Shortcake
- Rainbow Tie Dye Mini Donuts
- Mini Unicorn Ice Cream Cakes
- Unicorn Ice Cream

Rainbow Cupcakes from Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 1 yellow or white cake mix (15.25 oz size)
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup oil
- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food colorings
- white frosting
- rainbow non-pareils
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F degrees.
Follow the directions on your cake mix box to make the cake batter.
Then, divide the cake batter into six bowls.
You'll need 6 gel food colorings: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple
Add food coloring slowly and mix until you get the desired intensity for each color.
Lay out the cupcake liners in the muffin tins.
Then spoon each batter color in rainbow order. Plan accordingly, so they are only filled about 2/3rds full.
You can leave the batter as is, or you can swirl each one with a toothpick.
Bake for about 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
Allow them to cool completely before frosting.
I like to swirl white frosting and then add rainbow non-pareil sprinkles.
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9 comments
How fun! They turned out super cute!
These look great! I love the colors and the little dot sprinkles, and I bet they’re delicious as well! In case you didn’t see it earlier, I featured this on my blog today! I’m stopping by to pin, and to let you know you can grab a Featured button if you don’t already have one! http://practicallyfunctional.net/2013/07/8-creative-ideas-3/
Those are some incredibly colorful cupcakes.
Thank you for linking to Raising Imperfection.
Please come back Friday to see if you were featured. 🙂
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
Raising-Reagan.com
Colourful and look Yummmmy!
Stephanie, these are adorable! The colors are fun and the sprinkles are so cute!! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
I’d love it if you linked this up over at Living Well Spending Less for Thrifty Thursday this week! http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/
Good looking cupcakes! They look fun to make and eat! Thanks for sharing at Submarine Sunday!
These are so fun & pretty, I’d be happy to taste test the next batch ;0) Found your post at Inspiration Mondays!
We’d love to have these shared at our SUPER SUNDAY Link Party, live now through Tuesday evening!
Lori
Who Needs A Cape? (Not Your Average Super Moms!)
I love the different colors. I bought a fun-fetti cake mix and bought some icing so that we could make a homemade birthday cake. Too bad I didn’t opt for a plain white cake and make pretty colored layers instead.
These are absolutely adorable!!! I will have to do this with my 9 year old daughter! She loves to bake!! <3