Our Favorite Showstopping Cupcakes

By Southern Living

Whether you're sweet on citrus, a chocolate lover, coffee addict or you're crazy about bacon, we've collected our most decadent and showstopping cupcake recipes for you to enjoy. Go ahead and take an indulgent bite—you deserve it!

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Old-Fashioned Caramel Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Caramel Cupcakes

Old-Fashioned Caramel is a cupcake that can't be rushed. It's a true labor of love. The caramel has to cool for a while before you can make the frosting, and then you need to use the frosting right away. If the frosting gets too thick to spread, add just a little cream or milk to make it spreadable. But rest assured—It is definitely worth the effort.

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Lemon Sherbet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Photo: Hector 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. 

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Bite-Size Sour Cream-Pound Cake Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

This basic cake batter makes a tasty vanilla cupcake or can serve as the base for citrus, caramel, and mocha latte cupcake flavors. We like these cupcakes spread with rich Vanilla Buttercream on top. Serve them in decorative liners, such as these colorful fluted flower cups from bakeitpretty.com.

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First Kiss Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: First Kiss Cupcakes

As sweet as love's first kiss, our chocolate and cherry cupcake is special. One bite and you'll fall in love, all with a cherry on top!

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Cupcakes With Browned Butter Frosting

Recipe: Cupcakes With Browned Butter Frosting

These beautiful treats start out with a pound cake mix, so they are a snap to prepare! For a cheerful, bakery-like touch, garnish the cakes with fresh mint leaves and edible violas.

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Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Caramel Apple Cupcakes

Apple and caramel are simple ingredients, but when combined they form a delectable treat. Top off these cupcakes with toasted pecans to create a traditional fall favorite. We love to add the tiny crab apples as a garnish for extra-special occasions.

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Pecan Pie Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Pecan Pie Cupcakes

Pecan pie is the quintessential dessert of fall. Crunchy toasted pecans and buttery Piecrust Leaves enhance the rich, creamy frosting for a cupcake you'll make again and again.

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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 yet rich.

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Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Recipe: Maple Bacon Cupcakes

This cupcake is without a doubt most men's favorite. Bite into these cupcakes and you'll taste the flavor you get when bacon mingles with syrup while eating pancakes. It's a wonderful salty-sweet combination you won't want to miss.

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Chocolate-Key Lime Cupcake Pies

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chocolate-Key Lime Cupcake Pies

This cupcake version of a chocolate-key lime pie is an ideal pick-up dessert for entertaining. Make a crumb crust with chocolate wafers and top with a sweet cream cheese mixture with fresh key lime juice. Try cupcake pies with sweetened whipped cream, fresh cherries, blackberries, and mint leaves.

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Cappuccino Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Cappuccino Cupcakes

Double Shot Latte Buttercream dresses up this vanilla cupcake recipe with its creamy coffee flavor. To create a full-out coffee shop delicacy, sprinkle the icing with instant espresso and ground cinnamon and top it off with a chocolate-covered coffee bean.

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Lemon Curd-Filled Angel Food Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Lemon Curd-Filled Angel Food Cupcakes

These citrus-flavored cupcakes are filled with a light and creamy Lemon Curd Filling and topped with Cream Cheese Frosting. Garnish with lemon slices and lavender sprigs.

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Salted Caramel-Chocolate Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Salted Caramel-Chocolate Cupcakes

These cupcakes may well be the ultimate in cupcake decadence with cream cheese and butter in the cake batter, a chocolate toppping, and then a caramel-cream cheese frosting with flaked salt. You'll see that salt really does bring out the flavor of the sweet.

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Mocha Latte Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Mocha Latte Cupcakes

Espresso-infused buttercream combines forces with dark chocolate cake for a perfect coffee-chocolate flavor. Garnish with chocolate shavings for a top-to-bottom chocolate experience in each bite.

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Sweet Potato-Pecan Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Van Chaplin

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Pecan Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Keep this family favorite around for the holiday season. Mashed sweet potatoes give the cupcakes extra moistness, while a myriad of spices including cinnamon and nutmeg, spice up the traditionally sweet dessert. A simple Cream Cheese Frosting and a sprinkle of chopped pecans is all that's needed on top.

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Mississippi Mud Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cupcakes

Here's a cupcake version of the classic Southern chocolate sheet cake that's filled with marshmallows and chopped pecans and topped with a rich chocolate frosting.

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Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting

Make birds' nests with malted milk balls and edible paper; wilton.com

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Vanilla-Stuffed Strawberry Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Vanilla-Stuffed Strawberry Cupcakes

Angel food cake mix is easy to prepare for these cupcakes and leaves plenty of time to make the Vanilla Bean Custard filling from scratch (the delicate flavor is well worth the little bit of effort!). The cake and custard are the perfect complement to juicy summer strawberries. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

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Coconut Cupcakes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Coconut Cupcakes

Dress up basic white cupcakes with a Coconut Buttercream and sweetened flaked coconut. So simple, but so delicious too!

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Chocolate-Peppermint Candy Cupcakes

Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Candy Cupcakes

Dress up classic cupcakes by adding chopped pieces of homemade white chocolate-peppermint bark. The combination of chocolate, vanilla, and peppermint is always a crowd pleaser.

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Lemonade Cupcakes

Recipe: Lemonade Cupcakes

Kids (and kids at heart) will love these simple-to-prepare lemon cupcakes. Decorate them with colorful candies, sugars, and sprinkles to add to their spring-like flair.

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