Skip to content

Top Navigation

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ENTERTAINING
  • HOME
  • GARDENING
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING
  • WEDDINGS
  • SHOP
  • DIY
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS
  • LIFE
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Pin FB

Explore Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart Martha Stewart
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Tips on Organizing Your Home

      Tips on Organizing Your Home

      From the kitchen and bathroom to the bedroom and laundry room, here are 40 ways to simplify, streamline, and banish clutter throughout the house. Read More
    • These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      These Are the Paint Colors You'll See Everywhere in 2022

      Upgrade your spaces with new—and old—classics. Read More
    • 39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      39 Make-Ahead Holiday Dishes That Are Perfect for Festive Family Gatherings

      These classic recipes will help you get a head start on the festivities. Read More
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cooking How-Tos
    • Baking
    • Menu Planning
    • Food News & Trends
    • Wine
    • Mastering the Holiday Meal
    • What's for Dinner
    • All Recipes
  • HOLIDAYS

    HOLIDAYS

    See All HOLIDAYS
    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    All of Our Best Valentine's Day Crafts to Make from the Heart

    Express your love with handmade Valentine's crafts like paper cards, gift ideas, and decorations.
    • Valentine's Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Passover
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
    • Christmas
    • New Year's Eve
  • ENTERTAINING

    ENTERTAINING

    See All ENTERTAINING
    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Will We Entertain Differently in 2022? These Are the New Trends Hostesses Should Bookmark

    Secure your role as the host with the absolute most.
    • Seasonal Entertaining & Decorating
    • Baby Shower Ideas
    • Dinner Party Ideas
    • You're Invited
  • HOME

    HOME

    See All HOME
    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    How to Hang and Arrange Pictures

    Amp up your home décor with perfectly placed frames.
    • Home Design & Decor
    • Paint Colors & Palettes
    • DIY Home Projects
    • The Well-Kept Home
  • GARDENING

    GARDENING

    See All GARDENING
    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Six Houseplant Mistakes to Avoid This Winter

    Don't let your varieties fall victim to the perils of poor cold-weather maintenance.
    • Container Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Houseplants
    • Landscaping
    • Vegetable Gardens
  • CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    CLEANING & ORGANIZING

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    How to Deep Clean Your Oven with Baking Soda

    Our easy tips will make this cleaning task a lot less daunting.
    • Cleaning
    • Storage & Organization
    • Laundry & Linens
  • WEDDINGS

    WEDDINGS

    See All WEDDINGS
    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Your Ultimate Wedding-Planning Timeline

    Ready, set, go! Our no-nonsense guide will help you learn how to plan your wedding like a pro.
    • Real Weddings
    • Wedding Party
    • Wedding Planning & Advice
    • Wedding Ceremony & Reception
    • Wedding Jewelry
    • Dresses & Style
    • Wedding Beauty & Wellness
    • Wedding Registry
    • Wedding Showers & Parties
    • Love & Marriage
    • Wedding Travel
  • SHOP
  • DIY

    DIY

    See All DIY
    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    How to Knit: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

    Learn how to knit your own mittens, hats, scarves, and more. We'll take you through the step-by-step instructions and teach you how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off.
    • Dyeing
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Kids' Crafts
    • Knitting
    • Paper Crafts
    • Sewing
    • Rescue & Revamp
  • BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    BEAUTY & WELLNESS

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Your Complete Guide to Restoring Moisture Back Into Your Skin

    Take a multi-pronged approach if you're experiencing excess dryness.
    • Beauty
    • Health & Wellness
    • Live Well
  • LIFE

    LIFE

    See All LIFE
    • Family
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Net Worth
  • NEWS
  • MARTHA'S BLOG
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Martha's Blog
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Your Content
  • Logout

More

  • Enter to Win $10,000 to Makeover Your Home!
  • Martha's Blog
  • Weddings
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. marthastewart.com
  2. Food & Cooking
  3. Recipes
  4. Dessert & Treats Recipes
  5. Cupcake Recipes
  6. 17 Classic Cupcakes We Will Always Love

17 Classic Cupcakes We Will Always Love

kelly-vaughan-headshot-0419
By Kelly Vaughan Updated May 01, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Assorted Cupcakes with Icing
Credit: Con Poulos
Batter up! Who wouldn't want to take a bite (or two) of these simple treats
Start Slideshow

1 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
Assorted Cupcakes with Icing
Credit: Con Poulos

Made with simple ingredients that you can find in your pantry, cupcakes are one of the easiest treats to bake, and they're sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. Whether you frost them with a rich buttercream, glaze with ganache, or pile toasted meringue high up to the sky, cupcakes are our go-to dessert for a crowd.

Perfect for birthday parties, bridal showers, and summer potluck parties, our cupcake recipes are sure to delight. Of course, you can make them anytime you're craving something sweet. No matter what cupcake recipe you're making, a couple of steps will help you achieve perfect treats. Always use room temperature milk, butter, and eggs, and sift all of your dry ingredients for both the batter and the frosting to ensure that everything is lump-free.

Start with two of our most basic recipes—Easy Chocolate Cupcakes and Yellow Cupcakes. You can decorate them however you please and we guarantee that all of the ingredients needed are already in your pantry.

Some of our recipes use cake flour, which has a lower protein count than all-purpose flour, thus creating a lighter, fluffier texture with a fine crumb. Try it out in our Parade Cupcakes, which are topped with a rich cream cheese frosting (yes, you can use this frosting beyond red velvet cupcakes!).

For more seasonal flavor, try baking a batch of our Pumpkin Cupcakes, which are made with pumpkin purée, spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, and equal parts brown sugar and granulated white sugar. They're topped with cream cheese frosting and handmade marzipan pumpkins—an extra-sweet detail.

Whether you keep your batter simple, mix in fruit such as strawberries and blueberries, or go wild with frosting, everyone will love unwrapping these adorable and classic cupcakes.

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Chocolate Cupcakes

easy chocolate cupcakes
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

From birthday parties to bake sales, these double chocolate treats are always a fan favorite. The key to keeping the batter super rich and moist is half a cup of sour cream, which is folded in right before baking.

2 of 18

3 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Yellow Cupcakes

edf_0906_des.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These classic cupcakes are simple, sweet, and so much better than the boxed mix. Swiss-Meringue Buttercream is our go-to frosting, but they can be decorated however you like, such as our favorite Cream Cheese Frosting or dipped in Chocolate Ganache Glaze.

3 of 18

Advertisement

4 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Neapolitan Cupcakes

neapolitan-cupcake-s06-0072-d112928.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Can't choose between chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry cupcakes? Now you don't have to! Inspired by the nostalgic ice cream trio, this fluffy cupcake recipe, complete with strawberry buttercream, aims to please one and all.

4 of 18

5 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

"Parade" Cupcakes

parade-cupcake-0798.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A few ingredients make these simple cupcakes stand out—cake flour, which gives them a delicate crumb and super fluffy texture. Buttermilk makes the batter rich and moist, and a combination of vanilla and almond extract creates a lovely flavor. The fruit garnish is just the "berry" on top.

5 of 18

6 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes

chocolate-cupcakes-coffee-076-d112571.jpg
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These fudgy, triple-chocolate cupcakes are a decadent treat. Each cupcake is filled with milk chocolate pudding (you heard that right!) and topped with ganache and chocolate curls.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

cookie-cupcakes-0237-d112594.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Raise your hand if you're an Oreo lover? Us too. That's why we've baked these cupcakes inspired by the classic sandwich cookie. After you fill the cupcake liners with batter, press a cookie into each cup until it's fully submerged. Trust us—it's the sweetest kind of surprise.

7 of 18

8 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

vegan-cupcake-0342-d112420.jpg
Credit: Mike Krautter
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Dairy-free and delicious, that's these vegan treats! Almond milk and coconut oil are used in place of the usual milk, butter, and eggs to keep the batter super moist. Plus, the batter includes the secret to all great chocolate cake—instant espresso powder.

8 of 18

9 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Turn this totally classic treat into the cutest filled cupcakes. Fresh strawberries are used for the jam filling and as a garnish on top, just like the real deal.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes

one-bowl-cake-edfw2057-1.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This recipe for moist chocolate cupcakes is exactly the one to make when you want dessert in a flash. The prep work and clean-up are minimal because the cupcakes are made in one bowl, which makes this one of our absolute favorite recipes.

10 of 18

11 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blueberry Cupcakes

blueberry cupcakes
Credit: Jonathan Lovekin
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Enjoy a juicy version of everyone's favorite breakfast—blueberry muffins—for dessert! Before adding the blueberries to the cupcake batter, toss them in a tablespoon or two of flour to prevent them from sinking to the bottom. The icing is the most beautiful swirl of cream cheese frosting and blueberry jam that you've ever seen.

11 of 18

12 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes

cupcakes-334-0711md107295.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Combine two MVP desserts into one sweet package with these irresistible treats. Inside each vanilla cupcake is a big blob of cookie dough. And if that's not enough, a miniature chocolate chip cookie is tucked into the swirl of vanilla frosting on top.

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream

strawberry buttercream frosting
Credit: Con Poulos
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For these very berry cupcakes, chopped strawberries are added to the batter, puréed strawberries are whipped into the buttercream, and whole berries are used to garnish each cake. A combination of cake flour and all-purpose flour give these cupcakes a light, fluffy texture.

13 of 18

14 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pumpkin Cupcakes

pumpkin cupcakes on cakestand and plate
Credit: Bryan Gardner
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These spiced cupcakes are a delicious taste of fall. Made with pumpkin purée, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg, they're an autumnal twist on everyone's favorite pie.

14 of 18

15 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Red Velvet Cupcakes

red velvet cupcakes
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Have you ever met a more perfect pairing? Tinted red and rich with chocolate flavor, red velvet cupcakes are an absolute classic (don't forget about the luscious cream cheese frosting!).

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Devil's Food Cupcakes

devil's food cupcakes
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chocolate lovers, this one is for you! Fudgy chocolate cupcakes made with Dutch-processed cocoa powder are topped with chocolate ganache frosting and chocolate curls.

16 of 18

17 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Yellow Butter Cupcakes

mla104524_0209_pipedrose.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

One of our favorite tricks to making light and fluffy cupcakes—cake flour—is featured here. Buttermilk and five eggs (plus three additional egg yolks) make these simple vanilla cupcakes extra rich and moist.

17 of 18

18 of 18

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

cupcakes snickerdoodle
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Everyone's favorite cinnamon-sugar cookie is transformed into a spectacular cupcake. It's topped with a sweet, light frosting made with sugar, water, corn syrup, and egg whites.

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Kelly Vaughan

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18
    2 of 18 Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
    3 of 18 Yellow Cupcakes
    4 of 18 Neapolitan Cupcakes
    5 of 18 "Parade" Cupcakes
    6 of 18 Milk-Chocolate Pudding Cupcakes
    7 of 18 Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
    8 of 18 Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
    9 of 18 Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes
    10 of 18 Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes
    11 of 18 Blueberry Cupcakes
    12 of 18 Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes
    13 of 18 Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream
    14 of 18 Pumpkin Cupcakes
    15 of 18 Red Velvet Cupcakes
    16 of 18 Devil's Food Cupcakes
    17 of 18 Yellow Butter Cupcakes
    18 of 18 Snickerdoodle Cupcakes

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Martha Stewart

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Customer Service
    • Media Kit
    • Martha's Blog
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • FAQ
    • Corporate
    • International
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMartha Stewart is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Martha Stewart. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.marthastewart.com

    Sign in

    View image

    17 Classic Cupcakes We Will Always Love
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.