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Neon Galaxy Cupcakes

by Nick Makrides
Published: Last Updated on

Neon Galaxy Cupcakes! A glow in the dark cupcake? Here it is! The secret ingredient is the tonic water. There’s a chemical in it that causes the cupcake to glow in the dark near UV light! How freaking cool!

Neon Galaxy Cupcakes

Glow in the dark, brightly coloured, strawberry flavoured vanilla cupcakes with brightly coloured frosting dipped in tonic water glaze.

Neon Galaxy Cupcakes

Neon Galaxy Cupcakes

Brightly coloured, strawberry flavoured vanilla cupcakes with brightly coloured frosting dipped in tonic water glaze. When under a UV light they glow.

Serves 20

4.8 from 9 votes
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Prep: 55 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 40 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 177kcal

Ingredients

Cupcakes

  • 3 1/2 cups (430 g) plain flour all-purpose
  • 1 1/4 cups (265 g) caster sugar superfine
  • 3 tsp (3 tsp) baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp (1/2 tsp) fine salt
  • 1/2 cup (125 g) unsalted butter softened
  • 2 large (2 large) eggs
  • 1 cup (375 ml) full-cream milk whole
  • 1/2 cup tonic water
  • 1/2 cup (125 ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp (2 tbsp) Greek yoghurt or sour cream
  • 1 tsp (1 tsp) vanilla extract vanilla bean paste
  • 1 tsp (1 tsp) strawberry essence
  • 5 drops (5 drops) pink food gel
  • 3 drops (3 drops) orange food gel

Tonic Jello

  • 1 pkt (1 pkt) clear jelly or blue jelly.
  • 1/2 cup (175 ml) boiling water
  • 1 cup (250 ml) tonic water

Frosting

  • 1 batch (1 batch) Swiss meringue buttercream frosting
  • 2 drops (2 drops) green food gel + 1 drop yellow food gel
  • 2 drops (2 drops) purple food gel
  • 2 drops (2 drops) blue food gel

Learn How To Make it! [VIDEO]


Instructions

Cupcakes

  • Preheat a fan-forced oven to 160C (320F) or 180C (356F) for a conventional oven. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the flour, baking powder, caster sugar and salt. Turn mixer on low speed and allow it to mix for a couple minutes to help everything combine well (alternatively you may do this by sifting the ingredients together). Add the softened butter and let it mix until it resembles a fine sand like texture.
  • Next, add tonic water, eggs, yogurt, oil and vanilla extract in a large jug and whisk well.
  • Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients in a slow and steady stream until no dry ingredients are visible. Scrape down the bowl and mix for another 20 seconds.
  • Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 of the way (using an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter into the cupcake liners makes this a quick and easy process otherwise you can use two tablespoons).
  • Bake for 30-35 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Allow them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack before frosting.

Tonic Jello

  • Prepare the jello recipe according to the packet instructions but replace the water in the recipe with the tonic water. Allow to come to room temperature before using.

Frosting

  • To prepare frosting split into three separate bowls. Colour one purple, one green with the green and yellow food gel and blue. Mix until well combined.
  • Add each colour to three separate piping bags and snip a small bit off the end of each one.
  • Lay a piece of plastic wrap on your work bench and pipe lines of the different coloured frosting on it. Then roll up and twist both ends. Snip off one end and insert it into a large piing bag fitted with a Wilton 1M piping tip. Frost a swirl of frosting on your cupcakes and dip into the jelly/jello. Allow excess to drip off, before chilling.
  • Use a black light to make them glow in the dark!

Notes

Cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days. Dip into tonic water glaze an hour before serving.
Cupcakes will glow in the dark under a Ultra Violet Lights.

Nutrition

Serving: 20g
Calories : 177kcal
Carbonhydrates: 17g
Protein: 3g
Fat: 11g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat : 0.1g
Trans Fat : 0.1g
Cholesterol: 31mg
Sodium: 140mg
Potassium : 30mg
Fiber: 1g
Sugar : 1g
Vitamin A: 169IU
Vitamin C: 0.1mg
Calcium: 50mg
Iron: 1mg
Nutrition Disclosure
Gave this recipe a go?Mention @thescranline or tag #thescranline!

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2 comments

Jae January 14, 2023 - 4:49 am

4 stars
I’ve looked over this recipe 11 times now. Will you please let me know where to find how much tonic water to add to the cupcakes? The instructions say to add it, but I don’t see how much to add in the list of ingredients.

Reply
Nick Makrides January 21, 2023 - 5:59 am

Hi Jae! Sorry about the confusion caused on my end. It should be 1 cup of milk and 1/2 cup tonic water. Have updated the recipe! N x

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