30 Easy Cupcake Recipes - Delicious Homemade Dessert Ideas! (2024)

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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!

30 Easy Cupcake Recipes - Delicious Homemade Dessert Ideas! (1)

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.
30 Easy Cupcake Recipes - Delicious Homemade Dessert Ideas! (2)

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 - Delicious Homemade Dessert Ideas! (3)

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Moist Pumpkin Cupcakes

u003cpu003eLight and fluffy, these u003cstrongu003eHomemade Moist Pumpkin Cupcakesu003c/strongu003e are packed with real pumpkin flavor and spice, with maple syrup, cinnamon, and pumpkin flavors. Then they’re topped with a silky cinnamon maple cream cheese frosting. Irresistible!u003c/pu003e

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Coconut Cupcakes

u003cpu003eTopped with an coconut buttercream frosting and toasted coconut, these Coconut Cupcakes are infused with sweet coconut flavor in every bite.u003c/pu003e

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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.

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Turtle Cupcakes

u003cpu003eThese u003cstrongu003eTurtle Cupcakesu003c/strongu003e are a moist chocolate cupcake with a rich chocolate ganache filling, salted caramel buttercream, and crushed pecans. They’re the perfect sweet and salty dessert!u003c/pu003e

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Blackberry Bourbon Smash Cupcakes

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

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Strawberry Rosé Cupcakes

u003cpu003eu003cemu003eThese Strawberry Ru003c/emu003eu003cemu003eoséu003c/emu003eu003cemu003e Cupcakes are a dense vanilla sponge cake spiked with ru003c/emu003eu003cemu003eoséu003c/emu003eu003cemu003e. These cupcakes are filled with a fresh strawberry compote and topped with a whipped vanilla buttercream. u003c/emu003eu003c/pu003e

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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

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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.

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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.

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Gingerbread Cupcakes

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

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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!

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Easy Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes

u003cpu003eu003cemu003eThese Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes are super easy, even if you’re not a gluten-free baker! They’re fully u0026amp; moist and are topped my favorite vanilla frosting.u003c/emu003eu003c/pu003e

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

30 Easy Cupcake Recipes - Delicious Homemade Dessert Ideas! (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist cupcakes? ›

"Baking fluffy, moist cupcakes is all about creating air bubbles in your batter that expand in the oven," she says. "If you overmix your batter, you collapse those bubbles and end up with a brick-like cake." Always mix at a low speed to avoid this, stopping just as all ingredients blend.

What can you put inside cupcakes? ›

Each cupcake is filled with a delicious filling, from custards, jams, curds, creams, fudge, and more! Fantastic Filled Cupcakes is the baking book you need in your kitchen! There's a cupcake for every taste and occasion!

Can cupcakes be served as dessert? ›

Cupcakes look cute and make for a great dessert for one. They are easy to eat and can be enjoyed at parties or even at your desk. Just put down your pen and bite into a delectable cupcake.

How do bakeries get their cakes so moist? ›

Jump to:
  1. Use Buttermilk Instead of Milk.
  2. Add Vegetable Oil.
  3. Use Instant Clearjel or Instant Pudding Mix.
  4. Use the Right Recipe.
  5. Don't Overbake.
  6. Bake in Sheet Pans Instead of individual Cake Pans.
  7. Use a Simple Syrup or Glaze.
Apr 23, 2021

Are cupcakes better with milk or water? ›

Most box cake recipes will tell you to add water to the mix. Instead, try adding milk using the same proportions. This will make the cake richer and creamier because it ups the fat content. You can even use buttermilk here for a pleasant tang.

What not to do when making cupcakes? ›

  1. Not preheating the oven. This is a common mistake that can lead to a cake that is not cooked evenly. ...
  2. Not using the right pan. ...
  3. Not greasing and flouring the pan. ...
  4. Not measuring the ingredients correctly. ...
  5. Overmixing the batter. ...
  6. Opening the oven too often. ...
  7. Not letting the cake cool completely before frosting.
Feb 7, 2020

What can I put on cupcakes besides frosting? ›

Three Quick Cupcake Toppings That Are Just as Sweet as Frosting
  1. Chocolate-Hazelnut Sea Salt.
  2. Mascarpone-Vanilla Bean.
  3. Peanut Butter and Jelly.
May 1, 2020

What does "cupcake" mean in slang? ›

a sexually attractive young woman. a beloved girl or woman.

How many cupcakes for 50 guests? ›

The general rule of thumb for most gatherings is to have approximately 1.5 standard size cupcakes per guest. It will vary depending on whether there will be other desserts of more than one flavor of cupcake.

What did cupcakes used to be called? ›

What were cupcakes called in the past? Back in the day, they were called “Number Cakes” or “1234 Cakes”. This was because the recipes back then were simply 1 cup of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 cups of flour, 4 eggs, 1 cup of milk, and 1 spoonful of baking soda.

What is the most popular Flavour of cupcake? ›

Different Flavors

39% said they enjoy vanilla. 30% prefer strawberry. 27% enjoy red velvet. 20% like lemon flavored cupcakes.

How do you keep cupcakes soft and moist? ›

As a general rule of thumb always store your homemade cupcakes in an airtight container away from sunlight on your countertop for a day OR in the fridge for 4-6 days. Keeping your cupcakes in a closed container keeps them moist and prevents them from drying out and also prevents from contamination.

How to make cupcakes more moist from a box? ›

Replace water with whole milk, coffee, or soda.

The result is a moister and more flavorful cupcake. Replace water with whole milk in vanilla and white cake mixes.

How do you keep cupcakes moist before frosting? ›

Same Day or a Day Ahead: For the freshest cupcakes, it's ideal to bake and frost them on the same day you plan to serve them. If you need to make them in advance for the next day, store them unfrosted in an airtight container at room temperature. Then, frost and decorate them the day of your event.

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