It wasn't until I read Christina Tosi's, Momofuku Milk Bar: A Cookbook, nearly a decade ago, that I learned about cereal milk. The idea of infusing milk with cereal is the perfect way to infuse familiar cereal flavors into baked goods. These Fruity Pebble Cupcakes are inspired by the cakes in that book, and also by my littlest, who came up with the idea of these cupcakes for her birthday. These Fruity Pebble cupcakes are tender, fluffy and moist, infused with Fruity Pebbles flavor, filled with strawberry jam and topped with light and fluffy whipped vanilla Fruity Pebbles buttercream.
Cereal Infused Milk
Steeping the milk used in both the cupcakes and the buttercream with the cereal will infuse the milk with all that familiar Fruity Pebbles flavor. Combine the cereal and the milk and let it sit for 45-60 minutes for the milk to absorb the flavor from the cereal. The milk will change to a light orange color. Pour the milk/cereal mixture into a sieve set over a measuring cup, and with the back of a spoon, press on the cereal left in the sieve to get as much of the cereal milk out as possible for optimal flavor.
How to make Fruity Pebbles cupcakes
These cupcakes are quick and easy to prepare. Room temperature ingredients are key to a perfect cupcake. The egg, egg white, oil and vanilla extract are combined together in bowl and whisked to mix. The dry ingredients – cake flour, sugar, baking powder and salt – are mixed together in the bowl of a stand mixer. Room temperature butter is mixed into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. The cereal milk is added just until the flour mixture is moistened, then the batter is whipped for a full 90 seconds. This aerates and stabilizes the batter for fluffy cupcakes.
The remaining milk is mixed in with the egg/oil mixture. The egg/oil mixture is added to the batter in two additions, scraping the bowl after each addition. Be sure to scrape the bowl when noted to make sure the ingredients are being thoroughly incorporated.
Whipped Fruity Pebble Buttercream
This whipped vanilla cereal milk buttercream is super light and creamy. Whipping the butter and the confectioner’s sugar first, then whipping the buttercream after the milk, vanilla and salt are added ensures a light and creamy frosting, rather than a dense and cloying frosting. Whipping the buttercream also makes it smooth and not grainy as some American style buttercream can be.
Assembling the Fruity Pebble Cupcakes
Once the cupcakes are completely cool, assemble the cupcakes. Using a small paring knife, at an angle, cut a cone out of the center of the cupcake, about halfway down the cupcake. Cut the cone off of the removed piece to make a lid that will sit on top of the filling. Fill the cupcakes with a heaping teaspoon of strawberry jam and place the lid on top. Alternatively, you can use a cupcake corer. This is the one I use.
Pipe or spread the filled cupcakes with buttercream. Sprinkle the top with some Fruity Pebbles cereal.
If you make these Fruity Pebble Cupcakes, let me know! Drop a comment or tag me on Instagram. I love seeing your creations.
Enjoy!
Ash xx
For more cupcake recipes, check out these posts:
Maple Bacon Blueberry French Toast Cupcakes
Funfetti Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Recipe
Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
Cereal Milk
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal
Fruity Pebbles Cupcakes
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg white
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (175g) cake flour
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ cup cereal milk
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- ⅓ cup strawberry jam
Fruity Pebbles Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 ¼ cups confectioner's sugar
- 2 - 4 tablespoons cereal milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup Fruity Pebbles cereal
Instructions
Make the cupcakes:
- Combine the cereal and the milk and let it sit for 45-60 minutes for the milk to absorb the flavor from the cereal.1 ½ cups whole milk, 2 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal
- Pour the milk/cereal mixture into a sieve set over a measuring cup, and with the back of a spoon, press on the cereal left in the sieve to get as much of the cereal milk out as possible.
- Measure out ½ cup of the cereal milk for the cupcakes. Set the remaining milk aside for the frosting.
- Heat the oven to 350F. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners and set aside.
- In a measuring cup, combine the egg, egg white, vanilla and oil. Whisk to combine.1 large egg, 1 large egg white, 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix on low speed for a minute to combine.1 ½ cups (175g) cake flour, ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- With the mixer still running, add in the softened butter pieces. Mix on low speed until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. You should be able to gather a bit in your hand, squeeze and you have a solid piece. This means the butter is evenly distributed.5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- With the mixer still on low, slowly pour in the ½ cup of cereal milk, mixing JUST until the flour mixture is moistened. You will not use all the milk at this time. Pour the remaining milk into the bowl with the eggs and oil, and whisk to combine. Set aside.½ cup cereal milk
- Turn the mixer speed to medium and whip for a full 90 seconds. The mixture should be whipped up, thick, and lighter in color.
- Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is properly mixed.
- With the mixer speed on low, add the egg/oil/remaining milk mixture in two additions, scraping down the bowl after each addition has been mixed in.
- Once all the wet ingredients have been added, give the bowl a final scrape and mix with a spatula.
- Divide the batter evenly between the liners, filling them about ⅔ full.
- Bake the cupcakes for 17-20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out with a crumb or two when inserted in the center of the cupcake. Don't over bake.
- Place the baked cupcakes on wire racks to cool for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the hot cupcakes from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
- Using a sharp knife, cut a hole into the center of the cooled cupcakes to create a space for the strawberry jam. The piece you removed will be the shape of a cone.
- Spoon the strawberry jam inside each carved out cupcake. Fill the cupcake with the filling to the top, about a heaping teaspoon full. Slice off the pointy end of the cone piece you removed so that it can fit on top of the filling. Place on top of the filling.⅓ cup strawberry jam
Make the buttercream:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip butter and confectioner's sugar for 6-8 minutes on medium speed until very light and fluffy.1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, 2 ¼ cups confectioner's sugar
- Add in a pinch of salt, 2 tablespoons of cereal milk, vanilla and a pinch of salt. Whip for another 5 minutes. If your frosting is too stiff, an additional tablespoon of cereal milk.2 - 4 tablespoons cereal milk, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, pinch of salt
- Pipe or spread the buttercream onto the cupcakes. Sprinkle Fruity Pebbles on top of each cupcake.¼ cup Fruity Pebbles cereal
Molly
hello! was wondering if you could add the strained fruity pebbles to the cake batter?
Ashley
Hi Molly! While I haven't tried it, I think it would be too wet and soggy for the batter and would change the texture as well. But if you do decide to try it, please report back and let me know how it goes.
Raija
These cupcakes are so delicious!! Thank you for a simple, moist and amazing flavored cupcake that is so fun! I didn’t fill them with the strawberry jam, but they were a hit!
Rylie
Why do you have to make 2 cups of the milk mixture if you only use 1/2 cup & a couple tablespoons?
Ashley
Hi! That is the correct amount. There may be some cereal milk left over depending on how well the cereal is strained. The cereal does absorb quite a lot of milk which is why I used 2 cups. You can absolutely try the recipe with less equal parts of milk and cereal.
Rylie
Thank you! I made them today and they were delicious!
Vicki
Where is the cereal milk for the buttercream coming from ? Do you take it out of the cereal milk from the CC ?
Ashley
Hi! Yes, after making the cereal milk, 1/2 cup will be added to the cupcakes, while the rest of the cereal milk is set aside for the frosting. 2-4 tablespoons for the frosting.
vicki
How many CC does this make ? Did I miss that info ?
Ashley
This recipe makes 12 cupcakes.
Kodijo Thurman
I skipped the filling and opted for premade icing as we don’t enjoy buttercream. And they where delicious, hit the head on the nail for my pregnancy craving LOL.
Carolyn Schmidt
Hi ! I’m just wondering if the fruity pebbles are put on the icing a day in advance will they become soggy ? Or should they be put on right before serving to keep them crunchy?
Ashley
Hi! I would add them the day you plan on serving them. -Ash-