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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!
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.
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:
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Swiss Meringue Buttercream or Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream
- Mascarpone Whipped Cream or Chocolate Whipped Cream
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Moist Pumpkin Cupcakes
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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.
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.
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!
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.
Turtle Cupcakes
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Strawberry Rosé Cupcakes
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Margarita Cupcake Recipe
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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.
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!
Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes
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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!
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.
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.
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.
Your page is plagued with ads, it makes it really difficult to read.
Hi Amy- I am happy to show you the cost associated with running my business, thus making advertising necessary in order to provide FREE content. However I also ask that you keep in mind this is a very long post, with a lot of photos, so you’re going to see more in-content ads than a regular blog post. Have a great day.
I would like the recipe for perfect vanilla icing
Here you go Patricia. You can also do a search for Perfect Vanilla Frosting
https://beyondfrosting.com/perfect-vanilla-frosting/
I’m so glad I found this list of cupcake recipes! There are such a wide variety, I can’t wait to try them.
My only disappointment, however, would be that many of them seem to use boxed cake mix. I prefer making everything from scratch where possible, and was wondering if there were some basic substitutions for the cake mixes in some of the recipes?
Hi Mackenzie. I appreciate your note. I also like baking from scratch but I enjoy the convince of the boxed mix and hope that my readers who are less experience bakers will still be able to make a stunning desserts even if it is a box! For recipe from scratch, check out these: carrot cake cupcakes (or sweet potato cake), Chocolate Stout Cake, Mocha Irish Cream Cupcakes for two, Triple Irish Cream Cupcakes, Whiskey Chocolate Toffee Cupcakes, Spiced Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream, Banana Cake with Brown Butter Rum Frosting, Mini Neapolitan bundt cakes, Pineapple upside down cake, and most of my coffee cakes. However, I do have some favorite from scratch cupcakes that I like. Check out Life Love Sugar, I Am Baker, Crazy for Crust or Sally’s Baking Addiction.
This is my first time on a blog so bear with me. I love the collection of recipes and am planning on trying a few or more of them. I do have a problem and hope someone can help me. I need to make red icing for 2oo cupcakes for a wedding but have a huge issue with the red staining lips and tongues. What does everyone do to stop this from happening. Thanks Bonnie
Hi Bonnie! Welcome and thank you for stopping by! I hope you will stick around. Unfortunately, I think that red lips and tongues are likely inevitable when you need to make a bright red icing. I will suggest to use “No-taste red” when coloring your frosting. This will prevent your guest from tasting the food coloring. You can get this at a craft store like Michaels or even online. The other option is to make a red velvet buttercream. Do a Google search for this, there are some recipes from my friends, I Am Baker and Wine and Glue who both are quite talented!
Thanks so much for getting back so quickly. I shall make a batch of the red velvet buttercream up and see what my customer thinks of it. I will keep you posted. Bonnie
I just discovered your blog. I really like it!! I was looking for a vanilla frosting for my grandson’s Birthday cake. This sounds like the PERFECT VANILLA FROSTING.
Thank you so much.
Mary
I love this collection! Mmmm…..frosting! Still loving the Rice Krispie frosting, HELLLLLLOOOO!!!!?!!!! Delish! Congrats on your blog anniversary!
HAHAH! Thanks Tahny!
Oh, this is awesome! 🙂 All your yummy cupcakes in one post- yay!
Thank you so much for sharing at Marvelous Mondays this week! Pinned.
Thanks Carrie!
What a great collection!! Love all of these.
Thank you!