Using just a few ingredients and ready in no time, our easy cupcake recipes always taste delicious. Explore all of our best cupcake recipes below, from basic vanilla cupcake recipes to decadent chocolate cupcake recipes.
In This Article
Whether beginners or pros, all bakers know that cupcakes are the easiest way to bake up a storm.
A basic cupcake recipe should be simple to follow but with a delicious result. For beginners, a classic vanilla cupcake recipe is a great place to start – it’s light, fluffy and a blank canvas for your decorating ideas. For those looking for something even more rich, we’ve got the best chocolate cupcake recipe here too. The choice is yours!
Whatever your tastebuds desire, we’ve selected nine easy cupcake recipes, featuring all your favourite Nestlé Confectionery treats.
Nine Easy cupcake recipes
1. The ultimate chocolate cupcakes
Our chocolate cupcake recipe is not only surprisingly easy to follow but creates super rich and decadent cupcakes. With a moist chocolate-flavoured base, and fluffy chocolate buttercream topping, these are the best chocolate cupcakes for anyone with a sweet tooth.
And if that’s not enough chocolate, take these easy chocolate cupcakes to the next level with your favourite toppings. Try 1–2 Aero® Bubbles, a piece of Milkybar® Sharing Block, a Rolo®, or even your favourite Quality Street® chocolate!
Get the recipe: Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
Similar recipes: The Best Chocolate Brownie Recipe to Bake Today, Mint Aero® Chocolate Brownies Recipe, Chocolate Brownie Sundae
2. Mini Vanilla Cupcakes with a smarties® topping
Easy cupcake recipes don’t get much simpler than our Smarties® Mini Vanilla Cupcakes.
The base is a classic vanilla-infused sponge cake that’s as tasty as it is versatile. No mini cupcake tray? No problem. Simply double the recipe and make regular-sized cupcakes instead – you can store the extras for another day.
Topped with a chocolate whipped cream and colourful Smarties®, these bite-sized treats are great for kids’ parties an the best vanilla cupcake recipe they will have tried in ages!
Add a sprinkle of edible glitter for extra sparkle or slices of strawberry for a fruity flair. Whatever your taste, these cupcakes are guaranteed to delight!
Get the recipe: Smarties® Mini Vanilla Cupcakes
Similar recipes: Smarties® Cupcakes Recipe, Smarties® Mini Chocolate Cakes Recipe, Milkybar® Mini Muffins
3. Carrot Cupcakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Icing
Carrot cakes are delicious, but making a full-size cake can be intimidating for a new baker. Will it rise evenly? Will you ice it neatly?
Instead, for a super easy cupcake recipe, check out our Carrot Cakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Icing. Grated carrots add moisture and a lovely natural sweetness to the sponge that complements the cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and walnuts. The cream cheese and Milkybar® icing adds a creamy sweetness that ties all the flavours together.
Get the recipe: Carrot Cakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Icing
4. Rainbow cupcakes with Smarties® buttons
For a colourful twist on a traditional vanilla cupcake recipe, try our rainbow Smarties® Buttons Cupcakes.
Don’t let the fancy look fool you – the icing is surprisingly simple to make and a perfect showstopper for parties. Just make sure all bakers are wearing aprons as even natural food colouring can stain little fingers and clothing. And keep a grown-up eye on the amounts of topping used!
Pipe your rainbow cupcakes in gorgeous swirls and top with white Smarties® Buttons for even more colour, crunch and chocolatey flavour. This is an easy cupcake recipe that kids will love to help out with.
Get the recipe: Smarties® Buttons Cupcakes.
5. Milkybar® Mini Muffins
If you're looking for a quick cupcake recipe that's big on flavour, our Milkybar® Mini Muffins are a brilliant choice. These bite-sized treats combine a light, fluffy sponge with chunks of creamy Milkybar®, creating little pockets of white chocolate goodness in every bite. Their miniature size makes them great for lunchboxes, picnics or sharing with friends and family.
For an extra-special finish, drizzle the cooled muffins with melted Milkybar® or top with a dusting of icing sugar. You could even add fresh berries for a fruity twist that complements the sweet white chocolate flavour. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, this quick cupcake recipe is sure to become a household favourite.
Get the recipe: Milkybar® Mini Muffins
Similar recipes: Carrot Cakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Icing
6. Birthday cupcakes sprinkled with Smarties®
No celebration is complete without cupcakes, and our birthday cupcakes sprinkled with Smarties® are guaranteed to bring colour and fun to any party.
While they look fancy, this a surprisingly basic cupcake recipe, featuring a soft vanilla sponge and a swirl of indulgence buttercream. You can finish off these cheerful cupcakes with a generous scattering of colourful Smarties® for a playful crunch.
Personalise your easy vanilla cupcakes for the birthday boy or girl with candles, edible decorations or your favourite sweets to match the occasion. Bright, cheerful and wonderfully simple to make, this easy birthday cupcake recipe is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face – bakers and tasters alike!
Get the recipe: Birthday Cupcakes with Smarties®
Similar recipes: Smarties® Cupcakes Recipe, Smarties® Mini Vanilla Cupcakes, Smarties® Mini Chocolate Cakes Recipe
7. Decadent red velvet cupcakes with Milkybar® cream cheese frosting
Looking to impress? Our Decadent red velvet cupcakes deliver bakery-style results with surprisingly little effort. This quick cupcake recipe combines a soft, velvety sponge with a hint of cocoa and a striking red colour, all topped with a smooth and creamy frosting that perfectly balances the sweetness. Ideal for special occasions, afternoon tea or simply treating yourself, these elegant chocolatey cupcakes look every bit as good as they taste. Finish with red velvet crumbs, white chocolate shavings or a sprinkle of cocoa powder for a professional-looking presentation that's guaranteed to wow your guests.
Get the recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Frosting
Similar recipes: Carrot Cakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Icing, Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
8. Milkybar® Valentine’s Day cupcakes
Show someone you care with our romantic Valentine's Day cupcakes with a Milkybar® Buttercream. These charming cupcakes pair a simple vanilla cupcake recipe with a silky Milkybar® buttercream, creating a sweet treat that's perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Decorate with heart-shaped sprinkles, fresh strawberries or curls of Milkybar® chocolate to make them extra special. Whether you're planning a romantic dinner or simply having a movie night together, this one of the best vanilla cupcake recipes for showing your love through baking!
Get the recipe: Milkybar® Valentine's Day Cupcakes
Similar recipes: Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe , Valentines Day Recipes
9. KitKat® Bunny Carrot Cupcakes
Hop into the spirit of Easter with these cute KitKat® Bunny Carrot Cupcakes! The fluffy sponge is packed with a zesty mix of carrots, orange zest, ground ginger and cinnamon. The cream cheese icing is coloured green and piped to create a grassy home for our crunchy KitKat® Bunnies.
Each cupcake is finished with a mini fondant carrot. With a playful look and rich flavour, this easy cupcake recipe is a great ritual to add to your Easter celebrations.
If you’re here for the cream cheese desserts, our Easy Cheesecake Recipes have more fun ideas for you to try.
Get the recipe: KitKat® Bunny Carrot Cupcakes
Similar recipes: Carrot Cakes with Milkybar® Cream Cheese Icing , Easter Bunny Cake,
Looking for more recipes, tips and inspiration? Sign up to our newsletter and have it delivered straight to your inbox!
Questions?
It’s tempting to be generous with the mixture, but you should always fill your cupcake cases three-quarters of the way full. This gives them the space they need to expand in the oven as they rise.
Yes, paper and silicone cupcake cases can safely go into the oven.
Most cupcake recipes recommend baking at 180°C for an even bake.
If your oven is too hot, the outside of the cupcakes will cook faster than the inside. As the cake cooks, it forms a crust, and when the cake continues to rise after the crust has already set due to the high temperature, the cupcakes crack.
You can, but for the best results, store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them tender and fresh.
There are endless cupcake flavours to choose from, with new varieties being created in kitchens and bakeries all the time. The most popular existing types of cupcake are vanilla, chocolate, carrot cake, red velvet, Victoria sponge, salted caramel and lemon drizzle flavours.
Fairy cakes are smaller than cupcakes – halfway between a mini cupcake and a regular-sized cupcake. – and were the mainstay of parties until the American-style cupcakes took prominence in the early 2000s. Unlike cupcakes, fairy cakes often feature drizzles of icing and sprinkles instead of huge swirls of buttercream piled up on top. A classic fairy cake decoration is the butterfly cake, where a shallow scoop of cake is taken out of the top and cut in half. The hole is filled with a small swirl of buttercream, and the two cake pieces are arranged like butterfly wings on either side.
Once your cupcakes have completely cooled, you can decorate them however you’d like. The world is your oyster here – you could use buttercream, Milkybar® cream cheese frosting, ganache or icing.
If you’re feeling fancy, try using piping bag and nozzle to create professional-looking swirls, then finish with sprinkles, Smarties®, chocolate shavings, fresh fruit or edible decorations to match the occasion.
Yes, cupcakes freeze very well. For best results, freeze unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to three months. When you're ready to enjoy them, allow them to thaw at room temperature before decorating or serving.
Frosted cupcakes can also be frozen, although bear in mind some decorations may change texture after thawing.
