25 Fun Cupcake Recipes
Whether you love red velvet cupcakes, chocolate cupcakes, or good old vanilla cupcakes, here are our tastiest recipes to try at home.
Cupcakes are great for any special occasion - from a birthday party to celebrations like Halloween and Valentine's Day.
They're easy to make and there's a cupcake for every taste from a simple chocolate cupcake to something more decadent like a lemon meringue cupcake.
If you're new to baking and want tips on how to get started, follow our expert guide on how to make cupcakes.
Rhubarb and Rose Cupcakes
Making the most of seasonal rhubarb, these pretty cupcakes look as delicious as they taste. The rhubarb spirals are completely optional, but make a wonderful finishing touch to the cakes.
Recipe: Rhubarb and Rose Cupcakes
Black Forest Cupcakes
It doesn’t get much better than this classic flavour combination. We’ve topped each cupcake with a miniature forest scene, edible moss and all!
Recipe: Black Forest Cupcakes
Cyclops Cupcakes
Oreos are covered in white chocolate and an eye is iced on to each to represent the cyclops. A delicious way to celebrate Halloween.
Recipe: Cyclops Cupcakes
Kraken Cupcakes
Release the Kraken! These rum and raisin cupcakes are inspired by every pirate’s favourite tipple.
Recipe: Kraken Cupcakes
Mr and Mrs Frankenstein Cupcakes
These chocolate cupcakes are so simple to decorate, but so effective – perfect for a Halloween party! If you want to achieve the jet-black icing (and darker cake), it’s important to use black cocoa powder. Ordinary brown cocoa powder will turn the icing grey.
Recipe: Mr and Mrs Frankenstein Cupcakes
Venus Fly Trap Cupcakes
These cupcakes are the perfect spooky treat to celebrate Halloween with! Kids will love decorating these biting plants.
Recipe: Venus Fly Trap Cupcakes
Lemon Meringue Cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
With a citrussy sponge, curd filling and towering meringue topping, these sweet treats are lemon meringue pie in cupcake form. Making meringue with a hot sugar syrup makes it more stable, so these can be made well in advance.
Recipe: Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
Walnut Whip cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
We’ve turned the classic British confectionary into a cupcake for adults and kids alike to enjoy.
Recipe: Walnut Whip cupcakes
Harry Potter sorting hat cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Kids and adults alike will love these Sorting Hat cupcakes. Bite into these novel cakes to reveal which house you belong to. Perfect for Halloween!
Gin and Prosecco lemon drizzle cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Treat your guests to a bite of luxury with these decadent cupcakes.
Jaffa cake cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Topped with a layer of jaffa jelly and a swirl of rich chocolate buttercream, these fun chocolate Jaffa cake cupcakes will be a hit with kids and grown-ups alike.
Recipe: Jaffa cake cupcakes
Hot chocolate cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Evoking a decadent cup of hot chocolate, topped with Baileys-spiked whipped cream, these hot chocolate cupcakes have a surprise gooey centre and a rich creamy frosting that is guaranteed to please!
Recipe: Hot chocolate cupcakes
Pimm's cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
With a citrusy tender sponge, minty cream cheese icing and sticky Pimm's syrup, this Pimm's cupcake recipes is a perfect summer afternoon tea treat.
Recipe: Pimm's cupcakes
Guinness chocolate cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Stout brings a depth of flavour to these cakes, as well as keeping them beautifully light and moist
Recipe: Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes
Blackberry gin cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Sweet, sharp and juicy blackberries marry beautifully with gin and a twist of lime in these striking cupcakes.
Recipe: Blackberry gin cupcakes
Speckled egg cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
You'll turn to this fail-safe chocolate cupcake recipe again and again.
Recipe: Speckled Egg Cupcakes
Gin and tonic cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
Red velvet cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
These American cakes aren't just delicious, they're easy on the eye too thanks to their gorgeous red shade. They're perfect for a Valentine's Day treat, though we're happy to have them all year round!
Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcake
Forest fruit cupcakes - best cupcake recipes 2021
You can't have an afternoon tea without cupcakes. Fact. These cupcakes hide a delicious jam centre.
Recipe: Forest Fruit Cupcake
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