Delicious + Unique Cupcake recipes for birthdays and baby showers!

No matter the occasion or the reason, baking cupcakes always brings a smile!  If you are tired of the same old cupcakes, here are some of the most delicious, most unique and frankly BEST cupcake recipes around. 

If you are desiring to bake some delectable goodies, check out these fantastic cupcakes!

The Best Cupcake Recipes

Whether you are an experienced baker or just trying out your first stand mixer, these amazing classic and unique cupcake recipes are just what you need to wow your party guests, celebrate a birthday or just surprise your kids on a random Saturday.

Let’s take a look at the best cupcake recipes around:

 

Cupcake Recipes: Chocolate

Chocolate is a tried a true favorite.  You can’t go wrong with a delicious, rich and moist chocolate cupcake. From chocolate hazelnut to Mint Chocolate Chip, these chocolate cupcake recipes will blow your mind!

These super simple (and not from scratch) Chocolate Cupcakes are always moist and perfect.  Easy to make, even on a time crunch.  You will love these chocolate cupcakes!

Mint Chocolate Cupcakes. Mint and chocolate are always a delicious combination and these cupcakes use fresh mint from the garden for a full and natural mint flavor that is sure to please. 

Classic Crazy Cake Chocolate Cupcakes. Make these fluffy, moist, and delicious chocolate cupcakes with our favorite easy chocolate crazy cake recipe. These foolproof (and magically egg-free and dairy-free) cupcakes are perfect for your next party!

If you like chocolate and mint, you are going to LOVE these Thin Mint Cupcakes. These chocolate mint cupcakes are seriously the best ever! 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes. Two of the best flavors come together in these chocolate cupcakes topped with peanut butter frosting! 

Nutella cupcakes are a must for anyone who loves chocolate and hazelnut. Soft chocolate cupcakes, filled with Nutella and topped with Nutella frosting—how could you go wrong? 

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes. Hot chocolate in a cupcake? Yes, please? Everyone will rave over this one!

Dark Chocolate Devil’s Food Cupcakes topped with a generous spoonful of rich, caramel German Chocolate topping packed with toasted pecans and coconut, and covered in a drizzle of chocolate ganache. 

When you need a mind-blowing treat for any cookie dough lover, YOU MUST make these Cookie Dough Cupcakes. Stuffed with cookie dough and topped with an indulgent chocolate chip cookie dough frosting they are the ultimate treat for any occasion.

These chocolate cupcakes are moist and light, dome wonderfully, and have an amazing, strong chocolate taste. Most people think that this recipe is better than any cake mix and makes cupcakes that are just as good, if not better, than those at their favorite bakery.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Caramel Filling and Vanilla Buttercream Frosting are moist and decadent mini cakes that you can make from scratch. 

Rich, moist chocolate cupcakes are filled with raspberry jam and topped with an easy-to-make chocolate ganache frosting. These Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes are perfect for all occasions, especially Valentine’s Day.

 

Cupcake Recipes: Vanilla

Classic Vanilla is always a crowd pleaser.  It’s the most versatile of all the cake flavors.  It’s also the easiest to adapt to any color scheme.  You will love these vanilla cupcakes!

These Vanilla Cupcakes with Sprinkles are the best + most favorite cupcakes I’ve made. Soft, fluffy, + extra moist, these cupcakes are bursting with bold vanilla flavor in every bite. 

This recipe makes the best vanilla cupcakes! They’re moist, full of vanilla flavor and topped with fluffy buttercream frosting. 

Vanilla Cupcakes. This from-scratch cupcake recipe is used by bakeries all over the world as their go-to recipe – yet it is easy enough to make that beginners can bake a batch. This is the best vanilla cupcake you will ever try!

This is a homemade Moist Vanilla Cupcake recipe using oil instead of butter to produce a dense and sponge-like cupcake. The results are perfect cupcakes every time!

 

Cupcake Recipes: Fruit

Why stick with a classic flavor when you can get a little fruity with your cupcakes?  From tart lemon to sweet blackberry, fancy up your menu with some fruit perfection!  These are definite crowd pleasers!

These lemon cupcakes have a fresh flavor and are so delicious! They will be the hit of any gathering! 

These lemon cupcakes are light and delicious. Options for adding a lemon curd filling and a lemon buttercream frosting. 

Dreamy flavours of blackberry and lime come together in fun and delicious Blackberry Lime Cupcakes! Soft and moist cupcakes with whole blackberries, and lime juice and zest, and pillowy swiss meringue buttercream with blackberry purée and lime zest for massive flavour in each bite.

Strawberry Filled Cupcakes are soft and delicate white cupcakes filled with freshly made strawberry filling, topped with whipped buttercream frosting. A crowd-favorite cupcake recipe.

Strawberry Cupcakes. With strawberries being available all year now, you can make these anytime for the perfect dessert! 

Coconut Lemon Cupcakes: This easy cupcake recipe uses pudding mix along with shredded coconut to create a moist and delicious cupcake you will LOVE! Bright lemon flavor combines with the coconut for a one of a kind dessert 

With this simple formula, you can easily swap out sugar and use honey in any baking recipe, like these Blackberry and Honey Cupcakes.

These delicious and easy Lemoncello Almond Cupcakes are perfect to make for any occasion and bursting they’re with lemon flavor! 

Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes – these vegan cupcakes are super moist, soft and delicious! Top them with Dairy Free Strawberry Coconut Frosting for an indulgent, yet healthy, treat! 

These Best Banana Cupcakes + Maple Buttercream are a classic flavors that never get old, but together they are even more PERFECT! 

 

Cupcake Recipes: Gluten Free

Don’t let a gluten sensitivity keep you from enjoying your favorite flavors.  These gluten free cupcake recipes are the perfect way to stay on your dietary plan and still have a fantastic dessert!  No need to sacrifice flavor with these gluten free recipes!

These Gluten Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes are loaded with shredded carrots and warming cinnamon. Topped with the lightest cream cheese frosting, you are going to love them!

These Gluten Free Cupcakes are hands down the best, moist, fluffy gluten free cupcakes ever. The vanilla buttercream is not too sweet and uses all natural food coloring.

These gluten-free chocolate cupcakes are incredibly moist and just as delicious as traditional cupcakes! With vegan and dairy-free options.

Grain and gluten free black forest cupcakes, made with coconut flour, are a great alternative to normal black forest cake. Dairy free, made with coconut milk and olive oil, these are a healthier alternative to the classic cake.

 

Cupcake Recipes: Vegan

If Vegan is your preference, these amazing vegan cupcake recipes are just for you.  Substitute ingredients, not taste with these super yummy and animal friendly treats.  Vegan flavors from red velvet to chocolate peanut butter will make your day!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting – they’re rich, decadent, and fluffy, with the perfect crumb. Dairy free and vegan! 

These Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes are perfectly moist and fluffy with a subtle note of chocolate flavor. They are easy to make and downright delicious!

Everyone loves a classic sweet treat and these Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes fit the bill! They’re tender, fluffy and simply irresistible! Make them for parties, potlucks or when you just want something sweet and simple. They are so easy to whip up and they bake in just 20 minutes! 

These strawberry cupcakes use fresh strawberries for a strikingly scrumptious strawberry flavor. Best of all, they are completely vegan.

These vegan chocolate matcha cupcakes are low in refined sugar, high in fiber, yet taste really good. The matcha frosting is made from a base of raw cashews and sweetened solely with maple syrup.

 Vegan Earl Grey Cupcakes are a great way to have a delicious treat and the sophistication of your favorite tea.

These vegan red velvet cupcakes are light, fluffy and topped with dairy-free cream cheese frosting. Super easy to make with simple ingredients.

 

Cupcake Recipes: Keto

Did you know you could be on a Keto diet and still enjoy some absolutely scrumptious cupcakes?  These keto cupcake recipes are here to help you reach ketosis without sacrificing your favorite flavors!

These nut-free Keto Lime Green Cupcakes have a luscious and satin-y, dairy-free lime “butter”cream frosting (hint: no butter!) and are the perfect healthy treat for St. Patrick’s Day class parties and celebrations!

These super fun Keto Chocolate Chip Cupcakes taste just like the cupcake form of a chocolate chip cookie! And topped with a sugar-free, dairy-free Chocolate-Vanilla Swirl Frosting? Swoon! You’ll definitely want to serve these healthy cupcakes at your next special celebration!

These keto zucchini cupcakes with vanilla frosting are the perfect combination of flavor and freshness. With only 5g per cupcake, you can have a bunch of these without worrying about your blood sugar levels rising! It’s a beautiful addition to a holiday dinner table. 

Raspberry Coconut Cupcakes. A combination of coconut and raspberry creates a wonderful palette of flavors you couldn’t imagine existed. These cupcakes are simple to make, they look extra special and are just so delicious! A small secret: kids will love them! 

These rich Keto Brownie Cupcakes are a chocolate lover’s treat. You get to enjoy everything you love about brownies but in a portable cupcake!

Vanilla Funfetti Cupcakes. Beautiful and delicious low carb and sugar-free funfetti birthday cupcakes. These are perfect for a Spring birthday party…

 

Cupcake Recipes: Themed

Sometimes you just need a really good treat that fits your theme.  Here are some fun themed cupcakes to help you party in style and still enjoy a delicious cupcake or five!  From princess to piñata themed, these cupcakes can’t be beat!

Here’s an easy Pinata Cupcake Tutorial. This fun treat isn’t just easy to make but has a fun surprise inside.

These Halloween Jack o’lantern Bucket Cupcakes are chocolate pinata cupcakes (filled with candies) with more candies on top! They are great for kids and adults alike and perfect for your next Halloween party or potluck! 

These Cupcake Flower Pots are an edible DIY Mother’s Day Gift that kids can make! They also make a great spring craft. This tutorial and recipe uses a simple mini vanilla cupcake, store-bought icing and pre-made pudding and cookies, with the result being a beautiful gift for Mom or DIY craft treat for the kids!

Homemade Root Beer Float Cupcakes topped with vanilla ice cream frosting that’s made with real vanilla ice cream and then drizzled with a root beer icing!

Samoa Cupcakes. The decadent flavors of Samoa cookies are now in a cupcake, too! So rich and delicious, your friends will ask you to bring this to every party! 

These Pinata Cupcakes are the perfect way to surprise your guests! Make these for a birthday party, a gender reveal or any other holiday where you want to add a little extra fun!

Create a little warm weather any time of year with these Flower Cupcakes! Pretty and fun, everyone will love them!

These Irish Inspired Cupcakes are loaded with your favorite Irish stout beer. Topped with homemade Irish cream frosting, everyone is sure to love these treats! 

Why not make these colourful Creme Egg Cupcakes for Easter? They are as lovely to eat as to look at! 

Banana cupcakes with fluffy peanut butter frosting topped with bits of bacon, “you can’t help falling in love” with these Elvis Cupcakes!

Beautiful Princess Cupcakes topped with your favourite Disney characters. These easy chocolate cupcakes with silky smooth swiss meringue buttercream icing are almost too pretty to eat!

 

Cupcake Recipes: Other Flavors

Sometimes a cupcake is so unique it just needs its own category.  Here are the blow your mind awesome cupcakes that don’t fit the classic flavors.  You won’t regret trying out these little bites of goodness. 

Coconut cupcakes are a beautiful and delicious Easter dessert, and these coconut cupcakes are adorned with toasted coconut bird’s nests, making them perfect for any spring brunch. 

Beer and Sauerkraut Cupcakes. Sounds weird, tastes great!! This unusual chocolate cupcake is so, so good. The cocoa, beer, and sauerkraut combination makes for an exquisite pairing you have simply must try! Easy to make, this beer cupcake recipe is unique and fabulous.

The only pumpkin cupcake recipe you need! Moist and fluffy marbled cupcakes topped off with a delectable, creamy Spiced Pumpkin Frosting. So good!

Sky High Salted Caramel Cupcakes. Fun cupcakes with a decadent surprise on the inside! 

Think Coconut Cream Pie but in a cupcake form. These Coconut Cream Pie Cupcakes have a pie crust, sweet coconut cupcake filled with a coconut cream pie pudding and topped with a beautiful coconut buttercream frosting. 

These Cookies and Cream Oreo Cupcakes are a moist vanilla cupcake stuffed with Oreo cookies and topped with an Oreo buttercream frosting. This is the ultimate Oreo cupcake made from

Russian Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes: Tasty and adorable Russian yeast cupcakes with apples, cinnamon and apple pie spices. Great alternative to usual cupcakes!

Want to turn an ordinary event into a serious celebration? Funfetti Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes make any day more fun!

Spiced Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cinnamon Vanilla Buttercream Frosting bring a nostalgic, classic taste to the dessert table this holiday season! Moist, dense, and beautiful to display, they are sure to be a welcomed treat! 

Enjoy a delicious cocktail in cupcake form with this delicious Cherry Rum & Coke inspired cupcake

Delicious snickerdoodle cupcakes with a creamy cinnamon buttercream frosting.

Brownie Cupcake. Have a brownie AND a cupcake – all in one with this delicious cupcake recipe! Top it with an amazing buttercream for the perfect treat. 

Applesauce Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting are an easy fall dessert to make from scratch. These cupcakes are moist, filled with apple and cinnamon flavor, and topped with a rich browned butter frosting.

These coffee cupcakes are easy to make and they’re topped with espresso buttercream. They’re the perfect treat for any coffee lover! https://itsybitsykitchen.com/coffee-cupcakes/

Carrot cake cupcakes are moist, flavorful cakes topped with rich cream cheese frosting. Share this recipe with your friends and family for Easter or birthdays! 

Biscoff Cupcakes. Fluffy and light vanilla sponge cupcakes with a Biscoff spread centre, topped with Swiss meringue buttercream a Lotus biscuit and drizzled with warm Biscoff spread.

Easy healthy cupcakes recipe made with just a few simple ingredients – applesauce, fresh spinach, yellow cake mix and topped white frosting and sprinkles. Yes, you read that right! Spinach Cupcakes make for a sneaky way to include vegetables in your kids’ diet. 

These perfect little buttermilk caramel cupcakes are the kind of thing that you can have a hankering for at 3pm and be eating by 4pm. It’s one of those quick, no fail recipes that I find myself coming back to over and over again because the cupcakes are just so deliciously accessible. 

Cupcakes for breakfast! This breakfast gingerbread pupcake is a kid-friendly pancake cupcake hybrid recipe with strawberry Greek yogurt topping that is both healthy and fun!

Cannoli Cupcakes, delicious homemade cupcake recipe with quick and easy Italian cannoli cream frosting with mini chocolate chips.

Carrot cupcakes from scratch – couldn’t be easier – or tastier! Topped with homemade cream cheese frosting + a sprinkle of pecans.

 

Tips for baking cupcakes

Baking cupcakes is easy if you have the right tools and the patience to follow the recipe. 

To achieve the best cupcakes, don’t over bake.  If you are unsure of your oven, check your cupcakes shy of the time on the recipe to see if they are dry in the middle.  Sometimes, ovens cook hot and you don’t need the same amount of time.  

Allow cupcakes to fully cool before decorating to achieve the best appliance possible.

Cupcake Baking Tools

There are some kitchen tools that just make baking cupcakes easier and more efficient.  Here are my recommendations to supplies you should have to really get into cupcake baking:

I also recommend using colored cupcake wrappers after baking to display cupcakes when you are baking for a party or event.  This gives them a little extra wow!

 

Here are some helpful links for baking cupcakes:


 

Conclusion for Cupcake Recipes for Parties:

No matter your favorite flavor or dietary needs, these amazing recipes for the best cupcakes with definitely give you some delicious options for baking.  From classic vanilla cupcakes to unique fruit flavors and out of this world ideas, these cupcake recipes are perfect for every baker!

 

If you love these recipe ideas, please pin this image to your Party or Baking Pinterest Board:

Related posts for The Best Cupcake Recipe Ever:

Thank you for reading our favorite Cupcake Recipes!