This Easy Rainbow Cupcakes Recipe and Incorporating Arts & Crafts Into Home Education Routines post was first seen at Thrifty Nifty Mommy. Sponsored by Michaels, as always, all opinions are my own.
Everyone is stuck at home and daily schedules have been turned upside down. But did you realize that social distance crafting is growing among families in the U.S.? In fact, 50% of parents surveyed have confirmed they are incorporating arts and crafts into their child’s home education routine. Because guess what? Arts and crafts are educational, fun, and are a great way to pass the time together as a family!
Michaels Is Here To Help You Get Crafting!
To make crafting easier, Michaels craft stores has announced the launch of contactless same-day delivery for online orders in select locations!
In an effort to protect customers while also emphasizing the safety of Makers and Michaels team members, this contactless same day delivery as well as curb side pickup is a great option for everyone! Both services will ensure you can create safely at a time when crafting and DIY projects are on the rise. And if your local store isn’t open, online ordering and shipping is also an option. See here for more details.
Arts And Crafts Are Educational
Arts and crafts is a term to describe a wide variety of activities involving making things with one’s own hands. But did you realize that arts and crafts are actually educational too!? There are lots of options families can incorporate into their daily home education routines that are actually learning in disguise. It’s a great way to work together as a family and have some fun while being stuck inside.
New data uncovered by Michaels reveals that being home is spurring creativity and a DIY culture:
- Nearly 138 million Americans have looked to a creative project to stay busy right now. This ranges from arts and crafts projects to home improvement work and re-decorating.
- 50% of parents surveyed in their community confirmed they are frequently incorporating arts and crafts into their child’s home education routine.
- 95% of parents surveyed believe that crafting is an educational activity.
Arts And Crafts Are Important
Taking part in arts and crafts offers a process which helps children explore, discover, create, and experiment. Altogether, arts and crafts help children in growing as an individual. This entire process allows kids to be more spontaneous, creative, and expressive without any inhibitions. Arts and crafts offers a way for people of all ages to express themselves while also having fun.
Just a few examples to get you started are:
- Baking: Encourage the kids to get busy in the kitchen and help create meals, snacks, and desserts. {SKILLS: math, fractions, measuring, reading, and following directions}
- Painting: Painting can help children communicate their emotions or feelings. Through the use of different colors, they are able to express themselves without the use of words.
- Knitting and Crocheting: These crafts work both sides of the brain, using both logic and creativity. Not only that, you can improve fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination.
- Candle Making: You can practice following instructions, measuring, and more while making candles.
- Bulk Kids Crafting: Depending on the type of crafts you choose, there’s an endless amount of learning and skill building to be had!
- Card Making: Get the kids working on crafting homemade cards and then write a note inside. Send to family members, friends, and nursing homes to encourage others during this time. {SKILLS: writing, spelling, fine motor control}
Easy Rainbow Cupcakes Recipe
The best part about this show-stopping Easy Rainbow Cupcakes Recipe is that they are SOOO easy to make! I just used a regular cake mix, grabbed a few essentials from Michaels, and me and the kids got to work. It was so fun to make them together as a family and the kids loved being the taste testers!
Ingredients:
- Boxed White Cake Mix + Ingredients On Box
- Wilton Color Right Performance Color System
- Cupcake Corer
- Reusable Decorating Bag
- Decorating Tip
- Sprinkles
- Card Making
- Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar + more if needed
Buttercream Frosting Recipe Instructions:
- In a large stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese till smooth; about 2 minutes total.
- Add vanilla and continue beating.
- Slowly mix in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Make sure it’s fully incorporated before adding additional cups.
- After you’ve added all 4 cups, check consistency. Add additional powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, if not thick enough.
- Beat for 1 minute after everything is added to increase volume.
- Place in a piping bag and frost cakes or cupcakes as desired. Top with sprinkles.
- Enjoy!
Easy Rainbow Cupcakes Recipe Instructions:
- Begin by following the directions on your white cake mix box. Once batter is made, divide evenly into 6 bowls.
- Then, using your Performance Color System (aka: food coloring), create 6 colors of your choosing.
- Carefully spoon even amounts, one on top of another, into cupcake liners. The batter should be divided evenly between 24 total cupcake papers.
- Once all batter is dispersed, bake the cupcakes according to the package directions.
- Check cupcakes with a toothpick and remove from the oven once the toothpick comes out clean. (***NOTE: It’s extremely important to not over-bake cupcakes as that will make them taste dry.) Place on a wire rack to cool.
- Once cool, use a cupcake corer to remove a small amount of cake from the center of each cupcake and then fill with sprinkles of your choice.
- Carefully frost each cupcake with cream cheese buttercream frosting (recipe below), making sure to fully cover the center sprinkles.
- Finally, add additional sprinkles to the top of each cupcake.
- Enjoy! Everyone will be stunned as they bite into their cupcake and discover the hidden sprinkle surprise inside!
Print Our Easy Rainbow Cupcakes And Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting Recipe
If you’re wanting to stun your family or guests, definitely grab this recipe and whip up a batch of our easy rainbow cupcakes recipe with cream cheese buttercream frosting. I get SO many compliments every time the kids and I make these!
Easy Rainbow Cupcakes & Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting Recipe

This delicious cream cheese buttercream frosting recipe is the perfect finishing touch to any cake or cupcake!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar + more if needed
Instructions
- In a large stand mixer, beat butter and cream cheese till smooth; about 2 minutes.
- Add vanilla and continue beating.
- Slowly mix in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time. Make sure it's fully incorporated before adding additional cups.
- After you've added all 4 cups, check consistency. Add additional powdered sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, if not thick enough.
- Beat for 1 minute after everything is added to increase volume.
- Place in piping bag and frost cakes or cupcakes as desired.
- Enjoy!
Notes
*Store leftover/extra frosting in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 6 days.
*Keep frosted cakes and cupcakes in the refrigerator until serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 139Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 60mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 0gSugar: 18gProtein: 1g
These nutritional facts are offered only as an estimate and could vary slightly.
Don’t forget to connect with Michaels to get loaded up on all your crafting and baking supplies, here.
Website / Facebook / Instagram / YouTube
Tina F
Friday 28th of July 2023
These cupcakes looks like they are a lot of fun to make. I did not know this about Michaels. Our store is about an hour away so I don't go to Michaels as often as I would like.
Peggy Nunn
Sunday 21st of May 2023
Thank you for all the details and suggestions. This is great.
Amy D
Saturday 20th of May 2023
These cupcakes are something special. My daughters would love the rainbow colors and sprinkle surprise inside. We need to make these this summer.
Sue E
Tuesday 18th of April 2023
I read all of the recipes above. They sound delicious and a couple really sounded healthy. I would use that excuse so I can rationalize myself eating some since I am a Diabetic. In my opinion, I believe that it is important for children to learn cooking especially during the epidemic. It was a way to bond.
Shirley O
Monday 10th of April 2023
These cupcakes look so yummy and fun to make.