Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 21 Cupcake Recipes That'll Make Any Day Sweeter By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 10, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio We like to think of cupcakes as the sweetest little bites that turn our favorite layer cakes into an individualized moment that can be shared, transported, and snacked on little by little without making a mess by cutting slices. You can drop one or two off to neighbors and friends or let your family grab and go as they please—there are a lot of reasons why cupcakes are appealing for any baker, starting with being the cutest tiny treat and ending with offering everyone a bite of personalized joy just for them. Whether you're sweet on citrus, in love with all things chocolate, or fancy yourself a coconut fanatic, we've collected our most decadent and popular cupcake recipes for you to read through now and enjoy with friends and family later. Go ahead and take a big bite—you deserve it! 01 of 21 Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cupcakes Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cupcakes Go ahead and bake a second batch. These cupcakes take our favorite indulgent flavor duo to new heights, and we guarantee they'll be gone in a flash. 02 of 21 Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting We're bringing the classic cherry-flavored Southern soda to the baking zone with these Cheerwine-infused cupcakes made with boxed cake mix before being topped with a statement-making swirl frosting. 03 of 21 Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Strawberry-Lemonade Cupcakes It may start with a box of cake mix, but this sunny-day dessert is anything but ordinary. 04 of 21 German Chocolate Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: German Chocolate Cupcakes The most indulgent layer cake got a teeny-tiny makeover that somehow makes each bite taste that much more full of chocolatey, coconut-flavored indulgence. 05 of 21 Key Lime Cupcakes Photographer and props: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Key Lime Cupcakes Add a touch of sunshine to your dessert table. This twist on our favorite pie everything we love about the hallmark dessert, but without the extra cooling and chilling time. 06 of 21 Margarita Cupcakes Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Margarita Cupcakes Whether you serve it poolside or whip up a batch just because, this summery dessert will put you in a vacation state of mind in just one bite. 07 of 21 Sunflower Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: Sunflower Cupcakes Nothing could brighten up someone's day like a batch of sunflower-themed cupcakes that start with a box of cake mix. 08 of 21 Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes Photographer: Alison Miksch Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee Recipe: Mixed Berry Cheesecake Cupcakes Like miniature cheesecakes topped with fluffy whipped cream and mixed berries, these cupcakes make the most adorable centerpiece for a party or shower. 09 of 21 Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream Jennifer Causey Recipe: Lemon Cupcakes with Raspberry Buttercream Lemon and raspberry are two flavors that make a heavenly match, and this recipe is topped with fresh fruit for a charming finishing touch. 10 of 21 Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Hummingbird Cupcakes with Candied Pineapple Wedges Turns out, the Southern-favorite cake—typically flavored with pineapple, pecans, banana, and cinnamon—is even more delicious in cupcake form, and the candied pineapple wedges make them occasion-worthy in seconds. 11 of 21 Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes Victor Protasio Recipe: Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes You can forget all about the food dye with these beet-dyed red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting that don't even taste like there is a vegetable in the room. 12 of 21 Easter Birds' Nest Coconut Cupcakes Cedric Angeles; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Easter Birds' Nest Coconut Cupcakes Have you seen anything cuter to have at the egg hunt? Classic coconut cupcakes with a coconut-cream cheese frosting make a festive treat as it is, but these are topped with small candy eggs for extra cheer. 13 of 21 Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Micah Leal Recipe: Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes Don't expect any artificial flavoring or colors in this recipe, which features a super airy strawberry cupcake topped with frosting made with freeze-dried strawberries and cream cheese. 14 of 21 Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes Greg DuPree; Prop Stylist: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey Recipe: Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes Say hello to the birthday dessert that everyone will love. A mix between ice cream cones and cupcakes, this recipe starts with boxed cake mix baked into an ice cream cone and is topped with a chocolate-cream cheese frosting and festive rainbow sprinkles. 15 of 21 Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones Emily Mingledorff, Pie Crust & Pixie Dust Recipe: Dreamsicle Cupcakes with Lighthouse Ice Cream Cones Who doesn't love creamy, citrusy Dreamsicle? These patriotic cupcakes are packed with Dreamsicle flavor and topped with royal icing-decorated ice cream cone "lighthouses." 16 of 21 Chocolate-Key Lime Cupcake Pies Recipe: Chocolate-Key Lime Cupcake Pies This cupcake version of a chocolate-key lime pie is an ideal pick-up dessert for entertaining, featuring a crumb crust with chocolate wafers and cream cheese mixture with fresh Key lime juice. 17 of 21 Mini King Cake Cupcakes Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Lydia Degaris-Pursell; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Mini King Cake Cupcakes Mardi Gras made bite-sized. Spiced batter is baked into a yeasty roll-like cupcake that you finish with the quintessential vanilla glaze and tri-colored sprinkles. 18 of 21 Lane Cupcakes Southern Living Recipe: Lane Cupcakes Inspired by the iconic Southern layer cake that bears the same name, these Lane Cupcakes will take you on a nostalgic trip to vintage cake heaven. 19 of 21 Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting These citrus treats are too good to keep to yourself. Make an extra batch and bring to a friend for the sweetest surprise. 20 of 21 Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Vanessa McNeil Rocchio Recipe: Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting Make birds' nests with malted milk balls and a mouthwatering combination of pineapple and coconut flavors. 21 of 21 Fresh Citrus Cupcakes Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Fresh Citrus Cupcakes Sweet citrus flavor is packed into each bite of this orange buttercream-topped cake. These fruity cupcakes are refreshing to serve all spring and summer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit