Best Cupcake Recipes

Cupcakes are a great go-to for every event. They are easy to make, easy to share, and an easy fit to whatever event is currently happening. They are also loved by kids and adults alike, and they can be adapted to meet dietary requirements. In short, they are a fantastic treat.

We’re going to look at the best cupcake recipes, including an easy Halloween cupcake recipe, a cupcake recipe for dogs, a gingerbread cupcake recipe, and many more. You will be a cupcake champion by the time you have finished!

Best Cupcake Recipes

For the best way to make a really simple, basic cupcake recipe, you will need:

➔ 2 eggs
➔ 2 ½ cups of flour
➔ 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
➔ 1 ½ cups of sugar
➔ ½ cup of butter
➔ 1 ¼ cups of milk
➔ 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder

Note that your eggs, butter, and milk should all be at room temperature before you start. Having a mixer makes this recipe much easier, but it can be done by hand.

Method:

Step 1) Whisk your baking powder and flour together in a bowl and set it to one side.

Step 2) In a different bowl, beat together the sugar and the butter until they are light and fluffy. It is easiest to use a mixer here.

Step 3) Add an egg and beat until it is mixed in, and then add the other egg and beat it in.

Step 4) Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F and put your cupcake liners into your muffin tin.

Step 5) Add the vanilla extract to the milk.

Step 6) Add a third of the flour into the butter and eggs and beat until it is combined. Next, add a third of the vanilla milk mixture and beat until it is combined. Continue this process until all of the ingredients are in one bowl and mixed together.

Step 7) Use a scoop to transfer the batter to your cupcake liners. Fill them to two thirds full, but not fuller, or they will spill over the tops of the tins as they rise.

Step 8) Place in the hot oven and bake for 17-18 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake and check that it comes out clean before removing the cupcakes from the oven.

Step 9) Place the tins on wire trays and leave them to cool completely before you remove the cupcakes.

You now have a really simple recipe of cupcake goodness that you can dress up in any fashion! This recipe will be a wonderfully light sponge of sweetness for any occasion – as well as very easy to make. You should get approximately 20 cupcakes from it.

Cool Cupcake Twists

Now that we’ve looked at a basic recipe, you can start to build on the above and create some amazing cupcake recipes from scratch for any occasion. We’re going to start with a cupcake ice cream cone.

Cupcake Ice Cream Cone

Making a cupcake ice cream cone is super easy, and it is a great way to alter your simple recipe of cupcake yumminess.

You’ll need some ice cream cones, and a basic cupcake batter like the one shared above. Once you have created your batter, you need to add a large spoonful to each ice cream cone, without filling the whole cone.

Put the cones in your oven and bake them for twenty minutes. These are delicious topped with swirled buttercream!

Strawberry Lemon Cupcake

A strawberry lemon cupcake is a thing of beauty – with bright yellow spongey cake and delicious pink icing (or the other way around if you prefer!). These are a match made in heaven, and you can make them in many different ways.

Lots of people fill them with lemon curd and then pipe strawberry frosting on top. We’ll discuss how to fill cupcakes successfully later, but remember that you can also add lemon juice and lemon zest to the sponge mix to give them a really zingy flavor.

Pumpkin Pie Cupcake

Another of the best cupcake recipes from scratch, a pumpkin pie cupcake is a delicious treat for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Forget the mess of actual pumpkin pie; these are easy to eat, and involve minimal clean up afterward!

You’ll need a can of pumpkin puree and some pumpkin spice mix. Top your cupcakes with whipped cream and you have the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving dinner. Just remember to refrigerate them beforehand or the whipped cream may melt.

Margarita Cupcake

If you want to give your dessert offering an adult twist, consider a margarita cupcake. These are made using lime, with an optional dash of tequila in the batter, and tequila added to the frosting. You can use lime zest and lime juice in the cake batter, but be careful that you don’t make it too thin.

Lime zest can be tricky in a frosting bag, so make sure you get it as fine as possible, or only use lime juice. Be aware that this may make the frosting a little thinner than usual and you will have to handle it carefully.

Apple Pie Cupcake

An apple pie cupcake is again a wonderful alternative to the full pie, and much easier to transport and eat. If you are wondering what to make for a fall get together, consider whipping up a batch of these.

You just need some diced apples, some cinnamon, and some lemon juice with a little sugar for the filling, and then you can fill these cupcakes with apple goodness. Cut the centers out of your cupcake to add the apple to the middle, and then whip some heavy cream and sour cream with sugar for your frosting.

A final touch can be added by sprinkling cinnamon on the cream, and your cupcakes are ready to go. These look beautiful and taste even better.

Maple Bacon Cupcake

The maple bacon cupcake might sound like an odd idea to you, but this is a truly amazing match that will really stand out at a party. You will be using bacon grease and maple syrup in your cake batter for this one.

You will also want to drizzle some maple syrup onto your cupcakes once they have finished baking, but allow them to cool before you frost them.

Add more maple syrup to your frosting, and then crumble your crispy bacon on top like sprinkles. This is a perfect recipe for the bacon-lover in your life!

Almond Flour Cupcake

If you’re going gluten free for your desserts, an almond flour cupcake is the way forward. Many gluten-free cakes are dense, but almond flour makes for a fluffy dessert that still tastes absolutely delicious.

You will want some very fine almond flour for your cake, plus some almond extract, coconut oil, baking soda, honey, eggs, and an optional addition of lemon zest. You can add other flavors too if you want your cupcakes to taste different, but they are very good in their simplest form.

Add some frosting to the top and you’ve got an elegant, naturally gluten-free dessert for everyone to enjoy.

Homemade Chocolate Cupcake

Nothing beats a homemade chocolate cupcake, and these are amazingly easy to make. Using good quality cocoa powder does make a big difference to the end result, so choose a good brand.

You will need the cocoa powder, plus boiling water, butter, self-rising flour, eggs, caster sugar, and baking powder. You can make a paste using the boiling water and the cocoa powder, and then beat in the rest of the ingredients – it really is as simple as that.

Bake for around fifteen minutes, and then ice with chocolate frosting. These will be popular with kids and adults alike.

Egg Cupcake

Sometimes known as an egg muffin, an egg cupcake makes a fabulous breakfast, and it’s a great alternative if you aren’t a fan of sweet cupcakes.

You can use any fillings that you like, but some popular ones include onions, chives, tomato, bell pepper, mozzarella, cheddar cheese, or finely sliced broccoli. Make sure your toppings are cut up small, and then add them to muffin trays and pour your whisked egg on top. Some people also add a little milk for extra creamy muffins.

Egg cupcakes should then be baked in the oven for about twenty minutes, until the eggs have set. Serve hot and enjoy!

Gingerbread Cupcake

These are amazing, and easy to make. You will need soft brown sugar, ground ginger, black treacle, cinnamon, golden syrup, and all the other usual ingredients. For the buttercream, you’ll want some ground ginger to give your cakes a really good flavor.

A gingerbread cupcake is perfect for a cold evening in front of a crackling fire. Top with some crystallized ginger for extra taste, or some miniature gingerbread men or gingerbread crumbs to add to the aesthetic.

Easy Halloween Cupcake

If you’re looking for an easy Halloween cupcake, you’re in luck because there are so many options out there.

A top cupcake recipe for Halloween is to start with chocolate cupcakes and then ice white circles on the top. Add some circles of black piped icing, and drag a toothpick through them to create spiderwebs.

Another great cupcake recipe for Halloween can be made just as easily by using chocolate cupcakes and piping bright red frosting on the tops. Next, dye some fondant black and shape it into little devil horns, and make a twisting tail curve around the cupcake. Some people make these cakes spicy for a great Halloween trick.

How To Make A Cupcake Recipe For Dogs

If you want to share the fun with your dog, let’s look at some dog cupcake recipes. Remember, it’s important to make sure the food is safe for your dog before you share it with your playful pup.

Our top recipe for a dog cupcake involves using bananas, honey, peanut butter, eggs, flour, baking powder, and water. The cakes get their sweetness from bananas and honey; do not trust a cupcake recipe for dogs that includes sugar, as this could make your dog sick.

You can top this with dog bone biscuits for extra effect. Apart from the biscuits, your cakes will be safe for humans, but they may not taste great to your party guests, so keep them away from the real cupcakes!

How To Make Filled Cupcakes

Have you ever wondered how to fill cupcakes with delicious frosting or interesting toppings? It might look complicated, but it’s actually super simple!

All you need is a sharp knife. Simply scoop out a cone-shaped center in your cupcakes and add whatever filling you desire. Reserve the piece of cake that you have scooped out, and then cut it so that you just have a thin slice from the very top remaining.

You can place this back on top of the filling, and your cupcake will look good as new – especially if you frost it!

Just make sure you don’t cut your cone shape right through the cupcake, or you’ll get filling leaking out of the base.

How To Make A Cupcake In Microwave

Making a cupcake in microwave is a great way to enjoy cupcakes fast – so let’s find out how. Bear in mind that these are single-servings (unless you’re sharing with a special someone), so you won’t get a whole batch of cupcakes.

You will need self-rising flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, eggs, milk, and oil. A little vanilla essence is good too. Mix everything thoroughly in a big, microwave-safe mug, and then place the mug in your microwave.

Heat on high for a minute and a half and check on it. If the mixture is still rising and squishy, put it back for another thirty seconds. Check that the mixture is all the way cooked through, and then give it a few minutes to cool a bit before digging in!

Hopefully, you’ve found some real inspiration in our best cupcake recipes, and you have lots of ideas about new things to try. Cupcakes are fantastic for any celebration, so whip out the tins and get baking!