45 Cupcake Ideas That Prove You Can Have Your Cake and Actually Eat It Too
Cupcakes can be a divine indulgence for one or served as a whole crowd-pleasing batch. Either way, you can do better than snoozy chocolate and vanilla. Here, a roundup of cupcake ideas that are sure to excite your taste buds, satisfy your sweet tooth and please your eyes.
Bonus: You don’t need to be an expert-level baker to pull these off, either. We’ve categorized each recipe by level of difficulty: easy (great for beginning bakers; practically foolproof), medium (a little more involved; you'll need a few specific tools to master these treats) and hard (ideal for routine bakers and aspiring cake decorators; it may take some practice to nail the design). Happy baking!
30 Birthday Cake Recipes That Are Actually Easy to Pull Off
1. Birthday Cupcakes with White Wine Buttercream
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour 55 minutes
Difficulty: easy
A splash of white wine gives sometimes-cloyingly-sweet buttercream frosting a slightly tangy and decidedly more sophisticated taste. The end result is one very special vanilla cupcake.
2. Hummingbird Cupcakes with Pineapple Flowers
Photo/Styling: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 4 hours
Difficulty: hard
Warm spice and tropical fruit flavor get baked into a cupcake with an incredibly moist crumb and serious visual appeal. Let’s just say this is the only edible arrangement that will sweep us off our feet.
3. Brownie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Finally, a recipe that eliminates the fussiest, messiest and most annoying part of cupcake making. Yep, this brownie and fluffernutter number actually frosts itself…and it’s brilliant.
4. Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Fresh strawberries and homemade whipped cream come together to make a cupcake with just the right amount of sweetness and tons of flavor.
5. Peppermint Devil's Food Hi-Hat Cupcakes
The Fearless Baker
Time Commitment: 3 hours
Difficulty: medium
Light and airy devil’s food cake, a dollop of peppermint-spiked marshmallow, a drizzle of chocolate glaze—put ‘em all together and you’ve got cupcake perfection.
6. 30-Minute Angel Food Cupcakes
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Difficulty: medium
An excellent angel food cake usually requires some painstaking effort, but this heavenly recipe relies on clever workarounds and small quantities to cut the hassle and the cook time in half, while still delivering the goods.
7. Ice Cream Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: easy
Ice cream cake just got downsized and we’re prepared to pretend like every day is our birthday as a result.
8. Samoa Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour 5 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Coconut flakes, caramel and chocolate sauce top this fluffy coconut-flavored delight. Yep, everyone’s favorite Girl Scout cookie (sorry, thin mints) just got a seriously yummy update.
9. Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Difficulty: easy
This recipe yields just four sinfully rich chocolate cupcakes—you know, because someone decided that chocolate cupcakes shouldn’t be reserved for large gatherings. (And we’ll raise a cup to that.)
10. Coconut Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Sally’s Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Difficulty: easy
Ditch the raisins—nobody wants them there anyway—and add some coconut to your carrot cake batter for a subtle flavor boost that harmonizes beautifully with the warm spice blend.
11. Coconut Banana 3-Milk Cupcakes with Nutella Buttercream
Photo: Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Another one for coconut lovers—these incredibly decadent morsels are like the love child of a tres leche cake and a tropical fruit smoothie. The nutella is just the icing on the cake (literally).
12. Lavender Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: medium
If you’re feeling fancy, score some lavender extract and wow your guests with a batch of these delicious, sophisticated and subtly perfumed sweet treats.
13. Vegan & Gluten-Free Lemon Blueberry Pistachio Cupcakes
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 1 hour 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Coterie member Monique Volz is making cupcake magic for our vegan and gluten-free friends, but the combination of creamy pistachio and tart fruit in these bad boys is one that any palate would approve of.
14. Peppa Pig-Inspired Cupcakes
Candace Davison
Time Commitment: varies
Difficulty: easy
Presenting a no-fuss cupcake decorating project that comes together with store bought goods and promises to impress every pint-sized guest at the party (and your Pinterest followers, too).
15. Hydrangea Flower Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Difficulty: medium
These carrot cake cupcakes are blessedly easy to pull off—a star-tipped piping bag does all the heavy-lifting—and almost too pretty to eat.
16. Olive Oil Cupcakes with Mascarpone Buttercream
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
Mascarpone and olive oil lend an air of Italian sophistication to these swoon-worthy and oh-so colorful cupcakes—just be sure to use the highest quality olive oil you can find so the flavor really shines.
17. Vegan Peach Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream Frosting
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
This cupcake is a breeze to bake and boasts a clever and undeniably charming presentation that’s equally easy to achieve. Plus, there’s actually no honey in the frosting, so every component is indeed vegan-friendly.
18. Gluten-Free Butterfly Cupcakes
Fork and Beans
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Pretzels, jelly beans and sprinkles are all you need for this cute and pretty garnish, which can be added as a finishing touch to gluten-free cupcakes (per the recipe above) or simply used to spruce up the store-bought stuff.
19. Key Lime Cupcakes
A Classic Twist
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Difficulty: easy
The pie vs. cake debate can finally be put to bed, ‘cause these fluffy and tangy key lime cupcakes boast the very best of both desserts.
20. Two-Toned Rose Cupcakes
Sally’s Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: varies
Difficulty: medium
Score the right tip for your piping bag and you might be surprised by how easy it is to craft a floral masterpiece on a perfectly baked vanilla (cup)cake.
21. Double Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
The Bojon Gourmet
Time Commitment: 38 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Banana, chocolate and cream cheese are an odd throuple that checks all the boxes in this indulgent and boldly-flavored cupcake recipe.
22. Chocolate Turtle Cupcakes
Life Made Sweeter
Time Commitment: 33 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Here, a delightful spin on a beloved dessert—featuring the classic combo of chocolate, caramel and crunchy pecan, plus a generous swirl of buttercream frosting to send your sweet tooth over the edge.
23. Marshmallow Flower Cupcakes
Photo: Bitz N Giggles
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
A bag of mini marshmallows and pastel-colored sprinkles are all you need to turn a snoozy cupcake into an Insta-worthy springtime treat.
24. Rainbow Cupcakes
Photo: Spend with Pennies
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
We’re getting psychedelic vibes (the good kind) from these brightly-colored, tie dye beauties.
25. Boozy Lemon Mojito Cupcakes
Broma Bakery
Time Commitment: 33 minutes
Difficulty: easy
A hint of booze and a combination of zesty lemon and refreshing mint make these cupcakes the star of any cocktail hour.
26. Cadbury Creme Cupcakes
Owl Baking
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Difficulty: hard
Folks who can’t resist the gooey, fondant center of a Cadbury Creme Egg should proceed with caution: These cupcakes—stuffed with a homemade replica of the beloved Easter candy—are dangerously good.
27. S'mores Cupcakes with Nutella
Butter Be Ready
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Difficulty: medium
Nutella gives the s’more a nutty upgrade in this cupcake twist on a classic…but, arguably, the best part is that you don’t need a campfire or even a love of the outdoors to dig in.
28. Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes
Grandbaby Cakes
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Pineapple upside down cake is a beloved Southern dish that, as luck would have it, takes well to a cupcake pan. Even better news: This version features a rum-spiked sour cream cake and a topping of crushed pineapple frosting that’s tasty enough to eat by the spoonful.
29. Genuine Tiramisu Cupcakes
Photo: The Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 5 hours 45 minutes (with chilling time)
Difficulty: easy
Everyone knows that espresso is the best companion to all things sweet, which is why you should follow in Coterie member Stefani Pollack’s footsteps and turn the creamy, caffeine-spiked Italian dessert known as tiramisu into a custardy, rum-soaked cupcake.(Hint: It’s a recipe for success.)
30. Banana Split Cupcakes
Photo: Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
The only thing this banana split doesn’t have is the ice cream—but cream cheese frosting is such a fine substitute, we doubt you’ll miss it. (But feel free to chill these guys in the fridge before you dig in if it floats your boat.)
31. Irish Coffee Cupcakes
Saving Room for Dessert
Time Commitment: 48 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Caffeine and booze balance each other out beautifully in this coffee cake number, which features a silky buttercream frosting, brilliantly enhanced with a combination of Irish whiskey and coffee extract.
32. Monkey Bread Cupcakes
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 2 hours 35 minutes
Difficulty: medium
In case you missed it, monkey bread is a doughy mass of cinnamon sugar-coated deliciousness that you can pull apart with your hands. This cupcake version stays true to the original baked good, with the welcome addition of a tasty Cinnabon-style vanilla glaze.
33. Pomegranate Pistachio Cupcakes with Greek Yogurt Buttercream
Vintage Kitty
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Pomegranate and pistachio are the bold and exciting duo behind these muffin-like cupcakes, and the tang of greek yogurt in the rich, sweet buttercream frosting is an unexpected and very pleasant finish. If you’re looking to bake up something truly original, these cupcakes fit the bill.
34. Meatloaf Cupcakes with Mashed Potato Frosting
Recipe Tin Eats
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Difficulty: easy
OK this one is pretty weird and a major departure from the rest of the cupcake recipes in our roundup. However, if you’re craving something savory or have seriously picky kids to please at dinnertime, the novel presentation of this perfectly prepared meat and potatoes meal should do the trick.
35. Mum Flower Cupcakes
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 20 minutes (plus baking time)
Difficulty: easy
Score a big bag of mini marshmallows, slice them open and watch as a cupcake of your choosing blooms into a veritable garden beauty before your eyes. (No cake decorating expertise required.)
36. Butter Cupcakes with Grapefruit Buttercream
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Difficulty: easy
This just in: The bittersweet tang of grapefruit is the counterpart to buttery cake and sugar-laden buttercream frosting that we’ve needed all our lives.
37. Pound Cake Cupcakes
Photo: The Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
Difficulty: easy
The dense and supremely buttery crumb of these pound cake cupcakes is satisfying enough without the frosting—but hey, a little chocolate on top never hurt anyone. (Right?)
38. Mummy Cupcakes
The Mom 100
Time Commitment: 1 hour 10 minutes
Difficulty: medium
Win the Halloween bake-off and woo the little kid crowd with Coterie member Katie Workman’s ridiculously adorable and relatively easy-to-accomplish mummy cupcakes.
39. Mini Chocolate Cupcake No-Bake Cheesecakes
Let Me Eat Cake
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Difficulty: easy
Cold, creamy and undeniably delicious—this cupcake version of a no-bake chocolate cheesecake is basically the perfect warm weather indulgence.
40. Apple Pie Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Buttercream
Life Made Sweeter
Time Commitment: 37 minutes
Difficulty: medium
Once again, the pie vs. cake competition is settled with a cupcake—but this time, it’s a fall favorite, that’s stealing the show. (So bonus points if you bake these babies up after an apple-picking excursion.)
41. Maple Bacon Cupcakes
Broma Bakery
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
In case you missed it, maple syrup and bacon is a salty-sweet combo that will make your tastebuds sing.
42. Chocolate Stout Cupcakes
Owl Baking
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Difficulty: medium
The bitter, hoppy taste of stout complements the rich chocolate flavor of these bold cupcakes perfectly…so don’t be surprised if you end up throwing ‘em back.
43. Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Tahini Cream Cheese Frosting
Butter Be Ready
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Difficulty: easy
A standard carrot cake cupcake, cream cheese frosting and all, gets an exciting boost from tahini—an unexpected ingredient that adds complexity and balance to the familiar nutmeg and cinnamon spice blend.
44. Blackberry Limeade Cupcakes
Photo: Grandbaby Cakes
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Difficulty: easy
This refreshing and zingy blend of berry and lime is giving ice cream a run for its money in the favorite summer dessert department.
45. Churro Cupcakes
The Cupcake Project
Time Commitment: 29 minutes
Difficulty: easy
This Mexican-inspired cupcake has sugar, spice and everything nice (think: creamy, cinnamon-dusted frosting).
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