31 Cupcake Recipes for Bite-Size Celebrations
The best cupcake recipes will still serve you well, whether you’re bringing sweets for a picnic or tailgate and can’t show up with a layer cake that needs slicing, or you’ve promised not to arrive at the bake sale empty-handed. This list includes cupcakes for every season and occasion; they’re ready for the dessert table at your next family gathering, or to pack up and bring to a friend who could use a little pick-me-up. Scroll down for chocolate, classic vanilla, pumpkin spice, and so many more favorites.
1/31Devil’s Food Cupcakes
When you need a cupcake that’s really, truly chocolaty, these richly flavored little cakes are the way to go. Like most devil’s food cupcake recipes, this one uses cocoa powder for concentrated chocolate flavor, plus baking soda for a fluffy crumb.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Kaitlin Wayne2/31Super Easy Vanilla Cupcakes
To get simple buttercream frosting with speckles of vanilla seeds, substitute vanilla paste for the extract called for in your frosting recipe.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton5/31Chocolate Cupcakes
Things don’t get much better than a rich chocolate cupcake topped with a buttery chocolate frosting—but you could top this with cream cheese frosting for tangy contrast, or Swiss meringue buttercream for a black-and-white look.
Photo by Greg McBoat6/31Strawberry Champagne Cupcakes
Described by cookbook author Allyson Reedy as “little clouds of cake,” these vanilla cupcakes are chock-full of diced fresh strawberries—plus a pour of sparkling wine.
Photo by Tara Fisher7/31Toasted Marshmallow Cupcakes
This British recipe calls for digestive biscuits, but graham crackers will work just as well to give the chocolate-filled vanilla cupcakes and toasted ’mallow topping with that classic campfire flavor.
Photo by Alan Richardson9/31Larry the Turkey Cupcakes
Turn these pumpkin-spice cupcakes into Thanksgiving name cards for a truly adorable table.
Photo by John Kernick10/31Zucchini Ginger Cupcakes
These exceptionally moist, ginger-spiced cupcakes are a great answer to the annual zucchini glut problem. The cream cheese frosting on top gets a little cinnamon, ground ginger, and orange zest whipped in.
Photo by Alan Richardson12/31Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
Turn these fall-spiced cupcakes into a pumpkin patch–themed holiday centerpiece for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Tara Donne14/31Vegan, Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes
These vegan AND gluten-free vanilla cupcakes may require a bit of shopping (for ingredients like potato starch and arrowroot powder), but once you take a bite, it’ll all be worth it.
Jonathon Kambouris16/31Sweet Potato Cupcakes
Pie shouldn’t get all the sweet potato fun. These cupcakes are a great way to use up a bit of sweet potato left over from dinner. Garnish with chopped dried cranberries for a little zing.
Photo by Romulo Yanes29/31Cranberry Cupcakes
These cranberry-flecked cupcakes are dressed up in dulce de leche and cream cheese frosting that’s mixed with chopped toasted pecans. Use your own homemade dulce de leche, or pick up a store-bought version.
Photo by Katherine Kallinis Berman30/31Lemon and Fig Cupcakes
Earthy-sweet figs and lemon zest and juice give these cupcakes mellow flavor. If you’d like, take them one step further with a silky cream cheese frosting.
Alex Lau31/31Yellow Cupcakes
Of all the classic cupcake recipes on Epicurious, this may be one of the most essential. Frost these tender cupcakes however you like.
