Mini Cupcakes

mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.These Mini Cupcakes are my favorite traditional cupcake recipe but bite size! The classic vanilla cupcakes with any frosting (especially chocolate) are great for parties of any kind – little 2-bite cupcakes that taste amazing. Mini Vanilla Cupcakes Who doesn’t love a mini version of something great? I make my favorite cupcakes mini by using…

mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

These Mini Cupcakes are my favorite traditional cupcake recipe but bite size! The classic vanilla cupcakes with any frosting (especially chocolate) are great for parties of any kind – little 2-bite cupcakes that taste amazing.

stacked mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes

Who doesn’t love a mini version of something great? I make my favorite cupcakes mini by using a mini muffin pan and mini cupcake liners. These soft cupcakes are traditional and delicious, but tiny! Made from my vanilla cupcakes, I love serving these are large gatherings because they make more and people feel like they can eat a few since they’re small. They’re so good with the perfect tender crumb and sweet flavor.

ingredients in mini cupcakes laid out on a white counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Flour: All-purpose flour is the main base of most desserts, like cupcakes!
  • Sugar: This recipe calls for granulated sugar. If you are making frosting, you may need powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar).
  • Buttermilk: Check the recipe card to learn how to make buttermilk at home! But you can also use any kind of milk (or nondairy milk).
  • Vanilla: I love using vanilla bean extract but liquid vanilla extract works great too.
  • Butter: I always start my yellow cake batter with melted unsalted butter – it keeps the cupcakes nice and moist.

How to make Mini Cupcakes

  • Make your cake batter in a large mixing bowl following the instructions.
  • Divide batter among mini cupcake liners, filling 2/3 full. I like using a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to divide the batter.
  • Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

Variations

mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

Expert Tips

  • If you do not want to use buttermilk, you can substitute for any other kind of milk, even nondairy.
  • You can even make these into funfetti cupcakes by adding some sprinkles.
  • To get good mini piping on the cupcakes, I used Wilton 1M open star tip for the piping bags.

FAQs

Can you freeze these cupcakes?

You can! Freeze these cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

stacked mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.
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Mini Cupcakes Recipe

These are a classic cupcake recipe, but MINI! You can make double the cupcakes and they are so fun. Add any frosting of choice on top!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 24 minutes
Servings 48 servings
Calories 70kcal
Cost $10

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter , melted
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • ¾ cup (178ml) buttermilk (or combine 3/4 cup milk + 1 teaspoon white vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line mini cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
  • Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Add melted butter to a large bowl and mix in sugar with a hand mixer for 30 seconds until thick and yellow. Add eggs one at at time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
  • Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Don’t over mix!
  • Divide batter among liners, filling 2/3 full. Bake for 9-14 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
  • Frost cupcakes as desired (chocolate frosting shown piped using a Wilton 1M open star tip).

Notes

  • You can substitute any kind of milk (or nondairy milk) for the buttermilk.
  • You can substitute gluten-free 1:1 AP flour
  • You can substitute oil or melted vegan butter sticks for a dairy-free cupcake.
  • Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature (if it’s very warm, refrigerate but serve at room temp).
  • Cupcakes can be frozen with or without frosting

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 70kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 83IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Other Cupcake Recipes

Birthday Cupcakes

vanilla cupcake with sprinkles baked in an chocolate frosting on top.These Birthday Cupcakes are the best birthday treat! They are soft vanilla cupcakes with sweet sprinkles all throughout and my favorite chocolate frosting. You can pick any frosting you want but don’t forget the sprinkles! Birthday Cupcake Recipe Instead of making a classic birthday cake, why not make your life easier and make birthday cupcakes?…

vanilla cupcake with sprinkles baked in an chocolate frosting on top.

These Birthday Cupcakes are the best birthday treat! They are soft vanilla cupcakes with sweet sprinkles all throughout and my favorite chocolate frosting. You can pick any frosting you want but don’t forget the sprinkles!

vanilla cupcake with sprinkles baked in an chocolate frosting on top.

Birthday Cupcake Recipe

Instead of making a classic birthday cake, why not make your life easier and make birthday cupcakes? This is my perfect vanilla cake recipe full of sprinkles and I used a classic whipped chocolate buttercream frosting – but you can personalize these with your favorite flavor frosting! Whether you make this recipe for a birthday celebration or not, it is still a great choice for the perfect dessert!

ingredients in birthday cupcakes laid out on a white counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Sugar: This recipe calls for granulated sugar. If you make a frosting to go with the cupcakes, they might call for powdered sugar (or confectioners’ sugar).
  • Butter: I used melted unsalted butter. I find that melting the butter makes for a moister cupcake.
  • Buttermilk: You can substitute this with any kind of milk (or nondairy milk), or you can make your own buttermilk.
  • Sprinkles: Use jimmies sprinkles, not nonpareils. Nonpareils could dissolve while the cupcakes bake.

How to make Birthday Cupcakes

  • Add melted butter to a large mixing bowl and mix in sugar with a hand mixer until thick and yellow. Add eggs one at at time then mix in vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and buttermilk alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Don’t over mix!
  • Stir in sprinkles on low speed.
  • Divide batter among paper liners in a cupcake tin, filling 2/3 full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
  • Frost cupcakes as desired (chocolate frosting shown piped using a Wilton 1M open star tip in a piping bag). Sprinkle with additional sprinkles.
vanilla cupcake with sprinkles baked in an chocolate frosting on top.

Expert Tips

Storage & Making Ahead

Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container. They do not need to be refrigerated but will last longer if they are (about 3-4 days tops). You can also freeze cupcakes after frosting. You can make the cupcakes and frosting 24 hours ahead and store in the refrigerator or up to a month ahead and store in the freezer. Thaw on the counter.

FAQs

Can you use cake flour?

This recipe is written specifically for all-purpose flour.

vanilla cupcake with sprinkles baked in an chocolate frosting on top.
Print

Birthday Cupcakes Recipe

These Vanilla Birthday Cupcakes are the perfect recipe for any occasion, but especially birthdays! They are soft and delicious with the best options for frosting!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 14 cupcakes
Calories 4116kcal
Cost $10

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter , melted
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • ¾ cup (178ml) buttermilk (or combine 3/4 cup milk + 1 teaspoon white vinegar and let sit for 5 minutes)
  • ¾ cup (132g) rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°. Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
  • Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • Add melted butter to a large bowl and mix in sugar with a hand mixer for 30 seconds until thick and yellow. Add eggs one at at time, beating after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
  • Add the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Don’t over mix!
  • Divide batter among liners, filling 2/3 full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
  • Frost cupcakes as desired (chocolate frosting shown piped using a Wilton 1M open star tip). Sprinkle with additional sprinkles.

Notes

  • You can substitute any kind of milk (or nondairy milk) for the buttermilk.
  • You can substitute gluten-free 1:1 AP flour
  • You can substitute oil or melted vegan butter sticks for a dairy-free cupcake.
  • Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature (if it’s very warm, refrigerate but serve at room temp).
  • Cupcakes can be frozen with or without frosting
  • I recommend using jimmie type sprinkles – the long rod kind

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 4116kcal | Carbohydrates: 685g | Protein: 60g | Fat: 128g | Saturated Fat: 77g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 31g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 765mg | Sodium: 1563mg | Potassium: 1245mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 408g | Vitamin A: 3962IU | Calcium: 536mg | Iron: 19mg

Other Cupcakes Recipes