30 Easy Cupcake Recipes | Beyond Frosting

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A collection of over 30 Easy Cupcake Recipes that you’re going to want to bake ASAP. From classic chocolate cupcakes to creative flavor combinations, there’s really something for everyone. Plus, helpful tips and tricks for making the best cupcakes at home!

A collage of beautiful cupcakes including vanilla, chocolate, rainbow, funfetti and red velvet with a text overlay

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Best-Ever Cupcakes You Need to Make
Why You’ll Love These Cupcake Recipes
Cupcake Baking Tips and Tricks
What Frosting Should I Use?
30 Easy Cupcake Recipes to Try
Easy Vanilla Cupcakes
Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Classic Yellow Cupcakes
Lemon Cupcakes
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Rainbow Cupcakes
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Moist Pumpkin Cupcakes
Funfetti Cupcakes
Champagne Cupcakes
Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes
Coconut Cupcakes
Amazing Coconut Cream Pie Cupcakes
Turtle Cupcakes
Cookies and Cream Oreo Cupcakes
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes
Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cupcakes
Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cupcakes
Strawberry Rosé Cupcakes
Margarita Cupcake Recipe
Peach Pie Cupcakes
Apple Pie Cupcakes
Gingerbread Cupcakes
Triple Irish Cream Cupcakes (From Scratch)
Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes
Easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate and Strawberries Cupcakes
Ultimate Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Coffee Cake Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
How to Store Homemade Cupcakes
Can I Freeze Cupcakes?

The Best-Ever Cupcakes You Need to Make

Today I’m sharing a round-up of 30 wonderful and easy cupcake recipes that I just know you’re going to love! Cupcakes are one of my specialties, and they’re the most fun to make. I love the endless flavor combinations, the creativity, and even the technicality of dreaming up and baking the perfect cupcake.

You’ll find recipes for classic cupcakes that you can customize with frosting and decorations. Plus creative flavors, and seasonal cupcakes to suit any holiday or special occasion. Join me on my cupcake journey as we dive into a collection of my best homemade recipes!

Why You’ll Love These Cupcake Recipes

What makes these the best cupcake recipes? Let’s narrow it down to the top three reasons you’re going to want to bake them all:

Simple to make. The cupcakes in these recipes turn out great without any fancy equipment or specialty ingredients. Just the basics, plus a little decorating magic!
Lots of variety. Just because these cupcakes are easy doesn’t make them boring. You’ll find classics like vanilla cupcakes, plus fun and creative flavors, from gingerbread to coconut cream pie.
Great for any occasion. Instantly turn any gathering into a party with a batch of homemade cupcakes. These easy recipes cover all the bases, from holidays to birthdays, and more.

Two rainbow cupcakes stacked on top of each other

Cupcake Baking Tips and Tricks

Before we kick things off with the ultimate list of cupcake recipes, here are my best tips for making perfect homemade cupcakes:

Correctly measure your ingredients. Make sure that you’re correctly measuring ingredients like flour the right way, so you wind up with cupcakes that are fluffy, not cakey. If you don’t have a kitchen scale to measure by weight, spoon the flour from the bag into your measuring cup, and then level it off using the back of a knife.
Dairy and fat are key to an ultra-moist cupcake. You’ll notice that a lot of my cupcake recipes below call for sour cream. Sour cream is known for keeping cakes and cupcakes extra moist due to its high-fat content. If you don’t have sour cream, plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute.
Don’t overmix the cake batter. Make sure to only mix your cupcake ingredients until they’re just combined. Mixing creates the necessary air pockets in the batter for light, fluffy cupcakes. Overmixing, however, deflates the batter and your cupcakes may turn out tough and dense.
Be careful to not over-fill the cupcake liners. To avoid a cupcake explosion inside your oven, aim to fill your cupcake liners no more than ½ to ¾ of the way full. Don’t know the difference? Check out this helpful tutorial.
Use a toothpick to tell when your cupcakes are done baking. This is an age-old baking trick, and the easiest way to tell when your cupcakes are ready. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cupcake, and if it comes out clean, the cupcake is done. (Provided you don’t hit an add-in like a chocolate chip, of course, in which case try again in another spot.)
Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting. If your cupcakes aren’t at room temperature before you go to frost them, you’ll wind up with melty, slippery frosting. Make sure you budget enough time to allow the cupcakes to cool.

What Frosting Should I Use?

So, what type of frosting is best for cupcakes? It depends on the recipe, but in general, you can’t go wrong with the basics like Vanilla Buttercream Frosting, or Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. Buttercream is a favorite for frosting cupcakes because it’s rich and pipable, and holds its shape well. Plus, buttercream frosting is incredibly easy to make at home!

If you’re looking for more options when it comes to decorating cupcakes, try these other classic and easy frosting recipes:

You’ll also find some more of my favorite frosting recipes here.

Once you have your basic frosting whipped up, the possibilities are endless when it comes to coloring and decorating your cupcakes. Check out my posts on How to Color Buttercream Frosting and How to Use a Piping Bag for more guidance and ideas.

A piping bag with chocolate frosting piping a cupcake

30 Easy Cupcake Recipes to Try

Fasten your apron ties, because you’re going to want to binge the below cupcake recipes like the next season of your favorite Bravo show. Don’t forget to check out the sections below with tips on storing and freezing your homemade cupcakes!

A vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles

Easy Vanilla Cupcakes

Next up are another long-standing favorite, classic vanilla cupcakes. This recipe turns out deliciously fluffy and moist vanilla cupcakes that you’ll want to make again and again.

A dark chocolate cupcake is unwrapped sitting on a white board surrounded by sprinkles

Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

Come to the dark side, we have chocolate cupcakes! Rich and fudgy and frosted with chocolate buttercream (or any frosting you can think of), this easy chocolate cupcakes recipe is a keeper.

Three yellow cupcakes stacked together. These cupcakes are topped with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

Classic Yellow Cupcakes

Let’s kick things off with the original cupcake that just about everyone remembers from their childhood birthday parties: homemade yellow cupcakes! This is a classic recipe for easy cupcakes that can be dressed up any way that you’d like.

An unwrapped cupcake sitting on a wire rack with a big swirl of lemon frosting and a lemon garnish on top

Lemon Cupcakes

For a zesty twist, try these easy lemon cupcakes infused with sunshiney citrus flavors. These lemon cupcakes make the ultimate springtime or summer dessert, or a bright, fresh, and delicious pick-me-up any time of the year.

An unwrapped cupcake on a kitchen countertop in front of a granite backsplash

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

If you love homemade carrot cake, prepare to swoon over these moist and flavorful carrot cake cupcakes! This is my grandmother’s original recipe, topped with classic cream cheese frosting.

Rainbow Cupcakes

Take a bite of the rainbow with these easy rainbow cupcakes. Made from fluffy vanilla cupcakes dyed bright and vibrant colors, and swirled with rainbow buttercream.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

How gorgeous is that vibrant red color? This is an easy recipe for the most perfect red velvet cupcakes ever. Romantic enough for Valentine’s Day, and tasty enough for any other occasion.

A pumpkin cupcake with cream cheese frosting with the wrapper pulled off

Moist Pumpkin Cupcakes

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A gorgeous funfetti cupcake with the wrapper pulled down and frosted with a light teal color frosting and garnished with colorful sprinkles

Funfetti Cupcakes

When the occasion calls for a celebration, these cupcakes put the “fun” in funfetti! Tender and moist and filled with rainbow sprinkles, these are the ultimate birthday cupcakes.

A gorgeous champagne cupcake with frosting and sprinkles and roses in the background

Champagne Cupcakes

Raise a toast at your next get-together with these beautiful sparkling champagne cupcakes! It’s honestly the best celebratory cupcake idea, topped with champagne Swiss merignue.

A big bite taken out of these death by chocolate cupcakes showing the chocolate filling

Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

This easy recipe for chocolate ganache-filled cupcakes is a chocolate lover’s dream come true. Sink your teeth into a fudgy cupcake topped with more fudgy frosting, and you’ll see why!

A coconut cupcake topped with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut

Coconut Cupcakes

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Amazing Coconut Cream Pie Cupcakes

Fluffy coconut cupcakes made from cake mix are filled with coconut cream mousse and topped with cream cheese whipped cream in this easy cupcake idea inspired by a classic coconut cream pie.

side view of a gold platter filled with chocolate cupcakes with salted caramel buttercream

Turtle Cupcakes

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A few Cookie and Cream Oreo Cupcakes sitting on a white cake plate

Cookies and Cream Oreo Cupcakes

These Cookies and Cream Oreo Cupcakes are a moist vanilla cupcake stuffed with Oreo cookies and topped with an Oreo buttercream frosting. This is the ultimate Oreo cupcake made from scratch.

A close up of a frosted cupcake with a mini chocolate chip cookie on top and mini chocolate chips

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes

What better way to enjoy all the flavors of a chewy chocolate chip cookie? Chocolate chip cookie cupcakes are an easy dessert inspired by everyone’s favorite homemade cookie.

A close up shot of a cinnamon and brown sugar cupcake with a blue polka dot cupcake liner, topped with a big scoop of oatmeal cream pie marshmallow frosting

Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcakes

This Oatmeal Cream Pie Cupcake starts with a spice mix cake mix with some added brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. The frosting is a creamy marshmallow-cinnamon frosting with some Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies mixed into the frosting.

A gorgeous peanut butter cupcake topped with a creamy peanut butter frosting swirl that covered in crushed peanuts.

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cupcakes

Like a fluffernutter sandwich, in the form of a fluffy, nutty cupcake. These peanut butter marshmallow cupcakes are filled with marshmallow creme and frosted with peanut butter marshmallow frosting.

An overhead view of a cupcake covered with vanilla frosting and a blackberry sauce, The cupcake is garnished with a mint leaf

Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cupcakes

A simple vanilla cupcake recipe inspired by the boozy bourbon cocktail! These bourbon smash cupcakes are infused with the flavors of whiskey, blackberries, and mint.

frosted rosé cupcake topped with half a strawberry

Strawberry Rosé Cupcakes

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A close up of a frosted margarita cupcake in a green cupcake liner

Margarita Cupcake Recipe

u003cpu003eThis homemade Margarita Cupcake recipe is a tequila spiked cupcake loaded with lime and topped with a lime infused frosting.u003c/pu003e

A frosted cupcake with a crumble topping

Peach Pie Cupcakes

These peach pie cupcakes are a real Southern treat! All the sweet fruity flavor of a homemade peach pie wrapped up inside a moist and fluffy brown sugar cupcake recipe.

Apple Pie Cupcakes

Apple pie cupcakes are sure to be the apple of everyone’s eye as soon as they hit the dessert table. Filled with apple pie filling and topped with maple buttercream for the perfect fall-inspired dessert.

Gingerbread Cupcakes

Elegant and full of warm caramelized spice, these gingerbread cupcakes are rich in molasses flavor and literally melt in your mouth.

A close up shot of a Baileys marbled vanilla and chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting

Triple Irish Cream Cupcakes (From Scratch)

It doesn’t have to be St. Patrick’s Day in order for you to make these boozy Bailey’s Irish Cream Cupcakes. Made from marbled cupcakes infused with Irish cream throughout, from the crumb to the tip of the chocolate frosting!

A vanilla cupcake with teal frosting and sprinkles

Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes

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a close up of a chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting and sprinkles

Easy Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes

You’ll love these gluten-free chocolate cupcakes topped with my favorite vanilla buttercream frosting. They’re so moist and fluffy!

A close up of a chocolate covered strawberry cupcake on a pink glass cake plate.

Chocolate and Strawberries Cupcakes

The ultimate romantic dessert! Easy chocolate cupcakes are frosted with smooth and airy strawberry Swiss meringue, then finished with a chocolate-covered strawberry.

A cookie dough cupcake in a white and blue cupcake liner.

Ultimate Cookie Dough Cupcakes

This cookie dough cupcake recipe takes a malted vanilla cupcake and piles it high with cookie dough frosting and chocolate chips, plus a chocolate chip cookie for the ultimate dessert.

closeup of a frosted snickerdoodle cupcake sitting in a cupcake liner

Coffee Cake Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

These Coffee Cake Snickerdoodle Cupcakes are a vanilla cupcakes with a brown sugar streusel, covered with a layer of cinnamon sugar on top and finished off with a brown sugar cinnamon frosting. What a fun weekend I had! I am trying to soak up every last bite of October before it disappears in front of

How to Store Homemade Cupcakes

Almost all cupcake recipes can be prepared in advance. It’s best to store homemade cupcakes in an airtight container, in a cool and dry location.

Depending on the type of frosting or if there’s a filling, your cupcakes may need to be refrigerated once they’re baked. Likewise, if you live in a warm or humid climate, you may also want to consider refrigerating your cupcakes to keep them fresher for longer. Refer to the recipe for specifics.

Can I Freeze Cupcakes?

Many of these cupcake recipes freeze well before they’re frosted. Once the baked cupcakes have cooled completely, they can be stored airtight and frozen for a couple of months. Of course, always refer to the individual recipes for detailed freezing instructions.