Let’s break down the process into easy-to-follow steps. This recipe involves a few unique techniques, so we’ll be extra detailed.

Make the Cupcakes:

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

Step 2: Prepare Batter. Prepare the vanilla cake batter according to the package instructions.

Step 3: Divide and Color Batter. Divide the batter evenly among five bowls. Add a few drops of red food coloring to one bowl, yellow to the second, green to the third, blue to the fourth, and two drops of blue plus two drops of red to the fifth (to create purple). Stir each bowl, adjusting the amount of food coloring until you have five distinct colors of cake batter.

Step 4: Layer Batter in Liners. Spoon a little of each color batter into each cupcake liner, layering the colors until the liners are two-thirds full. You can create different patterns by layering the colors in different orders or swirling them gently with a toothpick.

Step 5: Bake. Bake the cupcakes according to the box instructions, or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Cool. Set the cupcakes aside to cool completely.

Make the Frosting:

Step 1: Beat Butter. In a large bowl using a hand mixer (or in the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment), beat the softened butter until fluffy.

Step 2: Add Sugar and Beat. Add the powdered sugar and beat on low until combined, then whip in the vanilla extract, heavy cream, and salt. Add more heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, if you’d like a thinner consistency.

Step 3: Divide and Color Frosting. Divide the frosting into five bowls, adding food coloring to each and stirring, just like you did with the cake batter (red, yellow, green, blue, purple).

Step 4: Prepare Frosting Bags. Place each color of frosting in a resealable sandwich bag (or piping bag). Snip off one corner of each bag.

Step 5: Create Frosting Tube. Lay out a piece of plastic wrap. Use each bag to pipe out a line of frosting in each color, side by side, on the plastic wrap. Roll up the plastic wrap, creating a tube of frosting. Twist the ends closed.

Step 6: Prepare Piping Bag. Slip a star tip onto one end of the frosting tube. Trim the plastic wrap that sticks through the star tip.

Step 7: Frost Cupcakes. Pipe the two-toned frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. The side-by-side colors in the tube will create a beautiful swirl effect as you pipe.

These instructions are a little longer due to the two-toned frosting.