Rachel Marek
Our cupcake recipe collection brings together all our favorites. You’ll find the classics, like vanilla and chocolate, plus miniature versions of other popular cakes—red velvet and carrot cake, we’re talking about you. There are also creations inspired by other desserts; think cupcake versions of pies. We also have cupcakes that showcase seasonal fruits—and fruits that are always in season (bananas!).
What these treats have in common is that they are easy to make. Many don’t require a mixer and use just a couple of bowls. All bake up much faster than larger cakes, making cupcakes a quicker route to dessert. Not only are they simple to make and easy to eat (no fork necessary), but they’re also fabulous for sharing. Bake a batch for a birthday, bake sale, or any kind of gathering—and see how they disappear.
Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes
Moist, light, and sweet, these vanilla cupcakes are crowd-pleasers. Top them with Magnolia Bakery’s signature vanilla frosting for a truly sweet experience.
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Everything you love about red velvet cake but in miniature form, right down to the crown of cream cheese frosting. These cupcakes are another surefire winner.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
Yossy Arefi
For lovers of carrot cake, we had to share these minis. They’re moist, sweet, lightly spiced, studded with golden raisins, and finished with the classic cream cheese frosting. Â
Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes
Our go-to chocolate cupcake, this recipe makes a lot, so it's just right for bake sales or summer gatherings—or when you want to stash 12 cupcakes in the freezer. The batter is made with buttermilk and is quite loose before it goes in the oven—but bakes up tender and just right.
Black Bottom Cupcakes
No frosting is necessary for these cupcakes. They’re chocolate on the bottom with marble-topped cream cheese filling—and they’re delicious.
Banana Cupcakes With Honey-Cinnamon Frosting
These easy-to-make cupcakes taste like your favorite banana bread in cupcake form. You don’t need a mixer because the simple batter comes together in two bowls. The honey-cinnamon frosting is equally a cinch to make and just the sweet finishing touch these treats need.
Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
For lovers of the chewy cinnamon cookie, we present this ode in cupcake form. Cinnamon-scented cupcakes are capped with "kisses" of seven-minute frosting and dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes
These cupcakes have four times the chocolate appeal. There’s a delicious chocolate cupcake made with melted chocolate—not cocoa as most are—and a chocolate pudding filling, a chocolate ganache glaze, and a crown of elegant chocolate curls. They just might be the ultimate treat for cacao lovers.Â
Martha's Strawberry Cupcakes
It's strawberries three ways with these seasonal treats. Diced strawberries are added to a delicate yellow cake batter; then the meringue buttercream frosting is flavored with strawberry jam, and a whole or half berry tops each cake.
Hi-Hat Cupcakes
Devil’s food cake is used for these cupcakes. It's a dark and delicious base just right for the ultimate contrast of fluffy meringue frosting encased in semisweet chocolate.
Blueberry Cupcakes
Rachel Marek
A tender vanilla cake studded with blueberries and topped with a spiced brown sugar mixture before baking. You can enjoy them like that or finish them with swirls of blueberry cream cheese frosting.
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
The light cupcake batter is flavored with lemon juice and zest for these cute cupcakes. They’re topped with lemon curd and finished with a seven-minute frosting that’s just like meringue. The finishing touch is using a kitchen torch to lightly brown the topping.
Pumpkin Cupcakes
Definitely the cutest fall dessert around, these easy cupcakes don’t require a mixer—all you need are two bowls. Pumpkin puree makes them moist and soft, and a tangy cream cheese frosting finishes them off in delicious style.Â
Coconut Cupcakes With Seven-Minute Frosting and Coconut Flakes
Calling all coconut cake lovers! These handheld treats are sure to satisfy your sweetest dreams. They have shredded coconut and coconut milk in the batter and are finished with billowy seven-minute frosting and a sprinkling of toasted coconut.
Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Con Poulos
A next-level cupcake that’s sure to delight, these tender treats feature a delicate cake that’s sliced into two layers. The mini Boston cream pies are spread with a luscious vanilla filling and topped with a decadent chocolate ganache glaze.
Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
These easy and delicious cupcakes are perfect for the spring and summer when strawberries are at their peak.
