Yellow Cupcake Recipe

This Yellow Cupcake Recipe is made  from scratch is a better than cake mix! It’s a classic cupcake topped with chocolate fudge frosting and sprinkles. You’ll love how light and fluffy these are. 

Easy yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting

If you are familiar with the Moist Yellow Cake Recipe, then you know that I tested 4-6 recipes for yellow cake and two cake-mix versions in order to find the perfect yellow cake. Well it also makes for an amazing cupcake!

Of course, my yellow cupcakes would be covered with a fudgy chocolate frosting because DUH! The frosting is rich, which is a perfect contrast to the cupcake because it’s not overly sweet.

You’ll absolutely love these. You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy these, but they do make a perfect birthday cupcake!

What makes these cupcakes so good

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I use to love baking with cake mix. Slowly over the last year, my love for cake mix has been fading away. When I was testing yellow cake recipes and tasting them next to yellow cake mix, I truly understood how artificial they tasted. 

I truly believe these are better than cake mix. These are moist and fluffy but  they’re denser  with a much tighter crumb than what you’ll find with a cake mix. There’s so much more flavor in these cupcakes and if you were to taste them side by side, you’d agree, there’s no competition. 

This recipe uses a combination of oil and melted butter, so it’s easy to throw together. There’s also egg and egg yolks for richness and a tender crumb. Lastly the two powder ingredients, sour cream and buttermilk. Both gives these cupcakes added moisture and a slight tang. 

Yellow Cake Ingredients:

• Granulated Sugar
• Vegetable oil
• Melted butter
• Eggs and egg yolks
• Pure vanilla extract
• Sour Cream
• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Buttermilk (or milk)

Ingredient substitutions:

Buttermilk: I personally feel that cake is way better with buttermilk as it contributes to the flavor and texture of this cake. However, if you don’t have buttermilk you can substitute it with regular milk or make homemade buttermilk.  To make homemade buttermilk use 1 tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar and then add enough milk to make 1 cup. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes and then stir. You can substitute regular milk instead of buttermilk if absolutely necessary. 

Sour cream: This is essential for keeping the cupcakes moist. If you don’t have sour cream. I recommend substituting with non-fat Greek yogurt. 

How to make Yellow Cupcakes:

• Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
• Combine wet ingredients and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, with all the dry ingredients except the buttermilk and sour cream. Beat on medium speed until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Next mix in the sour cream and beat until well combined.
• Alternate adding the dry ingredients with the buttermilk: Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add half the dry ingredients and half the buttermilk and mix just until the flour starts to incorporate. Add remaining dry ingredients and buttermilk and beat until all of the ingredients are well combined. Use a spatula to stir the batter from the bottom to the top to ensure it’s well mixed.
• Fill the pan: Using a large cookie scoop, divide the batter evenly, filling each liner 2/3 full.
• Bake: Bake at 350°F for 14-16 minutes. Cool Completely before frosting.

Fudgy Chocolate Frosting

Chocolate frosting is very popular in our house. My husband get final taste testing for all things chocolate frosting. This frosting uses a combination of melted chocolate and cocoa powder for the ultimate fudgy, rich frosting that is perfect for these cupcakes. 

I recommend using a high quality chocolate bar like Ghirardelli, Lindt or Guittard. These are the best for melting into a smooth texture needed for this frosting. Chocolate chips can work too, but they tend to be oilier, as they have a coating on the chocolate chips, whereas the bars do not.  

Nearly all my frosting recipes start with cold butter, which allows you to control the consistency so you don’t have frosting that’s too soft or wilted. However, it’s really important that you spend the time beating the butter for 5-7 minutes at a high speed before adding any additional ingredients. The consistency should be super whipped and fluffy prior to adding any powdered sugar. 

Can I use this recipe to make a cake?

 Yes, this recipe can be made in 9-inch by 13-inch pan or into a three layer 8-inch cake. See the recipe card for further instructions.

How to freeze cupcakes

I recommend freezing these unfrosted. Flash freeze on a baking sheet for 15 minutes, then transfer to airtight, freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to one month. Defrost to room temperature prior to frosting. 

How to store frosted cupcakes

Store cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to 3 days once they are frosted. If you live in a hot and humid environment then I would suggest that you refrigerate cupcakes that are frosted and allow them to come to room temperature before serving.

More cupcake recipes you’ll love

• Chocolate ganache cupcakes
• Funfetti Cupcakes
• Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cupcakes

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If you love no-bake recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, No-Bake Treats!

 

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