5 Crowd-pleasing Cupcake Recipes

Satisfy your sweet tooth with homemade cupcakes in every flavor

By
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
A journalist, writer, and author, Lizz Schumer has 10+ years of experience covering food and drink for a wide variety of well-known print and online publications.
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Updated on 05/12/20
Strawberry cupcakes recipe

​The Spruce 

If you haven't noticed, cupcakes have grown far beyond the chocolate, vanilla, and sometimes funfetti (if you were really fancy) options you knew as a kid. These days, you can find cupcakes everywhere from weddings to gourmet restaurants and twee bakeries that decorate them as beautifully as full-size cakes. Their built-in portion control, portability, and of course, adorable looks, make cupcakes perfect for just about any occasion that calls for dessert.

But why buy cupcakes from an expensive bakery when you can make these single-serving treats right at home with little work and a whole lot less money? Try these cupcake recipes for bakery-level sweets right at home, including options for vegan and gluten-free tiny cakes.

  • 01 of 05

    Red Velvet Cupcakes

    Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

     Kristina Vanni

    True Southerners know red velvet cake goes perfectly with a crisp white boiled frosting. But the rest of us have come around to cream cheese frosting with these vivid, cheerful cupcakes. The original red velvet cake recipe used beet juice for that signature color, but most bakers prefer red food coloring these days.

  • 02 of 05

    Unicorn Cupcakes

    Unicorn Cupcakes

     Kristina Vanni

    Transform a classic vanilla cupcake into an impressive mythical unicorn cupcake with just a couple of marshmallows, a dash of sprinkles, and a perfectly placed candle. These make a great substitute for a birthday cake when the party includes a picnic.

  • 03 of 05

    Strawberry Cupcakes with Fresh Strawberries

    Strawberry cupcakes recipe

    ​The Spruce 

    Fresh strawberries flavor both the cupcakes and the frosting of this incredible fresh strawberry cupcake recipe. They taste best when strawberries are in season, so try these for an early summer or late spring party when the little gems are sweet and bright red.

  • 04 of 05

    Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcakes

    Chocolate Sour Cream Cupcakes
    Photo: Diana Rattray

    The addition of sour cream gives these rich chocolate cupcakes an extra moist texture and an ever-so-slight tang. They work wonderfully with a caramel or white frosting, a basic chocolate frosting, or even your favorite ganache. Chocoholics: add this one to your favorites list, stat.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below.
  • 05 of 05

    Pancake Batter Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

    pancake cupcakes with maple frosting
    Diana Rattray

    These pancake batter cupcakes aren't nearly as sweet as most, but the maple frosting more than makes up for that. Enjoy breakfast for dessert with this recipe, no matter what time of day you dig in. Sprinkle some maple flakes or crumbled maple candy over the frosted cupcakes for a pretty presentation.