27 Cupcake Situations That Do Not Include Box Mix

Hello and welcome to this thing we’re trying out where we help you figure out what you’re gonna put in your mouth this week. Some of these are recipes we’ve tried, some of these are recipes we’re looking forward to trying, all of them are fucking delicious. Tell us what you want to put in your piehole or suggest your own recipes, and next week we’ll check in and talk about which things we made, which things we loved, and which things have changed us irreversibly as people. Last week, we ate things that come in our CSA boxes.

Why hello there, party people. This weekend was my 27th birthday, and to celebrate my fleeting youth and my ever-increasing amount of wisdom, I ate approximately two million funfetti cupcakes. I love funfetti because it’s clearly the best cupcake in the entire world (source: duh), and they’re so easy to make, but they’re also kind of… plain. Don’t let the sprinkles fool you. They’re just for color.

Every once in awhile I get the urge to be a little bit fancy and make fancy cupcakes that take more than a box mix. Cupcakes are the perfect vessel for fun and surprising flavor combinations. They’re quick to bake, take way less effort than a cake and are exactly what every party needs because you don’t have to get fussy with serving them.

Here’s a list of 27 of those for the next time you’re feeling a little fancy, too:

1. Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing

via Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

2. Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream

via Joy the Baker

3. Gluten-free Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

via Gluten-Free on a Shoestring

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Vegan Cupcakes

via Cocktails with Mom

5. Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes

via Kara’s Party Ideas

6. Sugar Cookie Cupcakes

via Le Creme de la Crumb

7. Apple Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream

via Baked Perfection

8. Peaches and Cream Cupcakes

via Java Cupcake

9. Peanut Butter Chocolate Vegan Cupcakes

via Lunchbox Lunch

10. Coconut Lime Cupcakes

via Two Peas and Their Pod

This flavor combination in a cupcake: my personal dream.

11. Gluten-Free Strawberry Cupcakes

via Joy the Baker

12. Samoas Cupcakes

via Sweet Pea’s Kitchen

13. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough S’more Cupcakes

via Autostraddle

14. Strawberry Margarita Cupcake

via A Helicopter Mom

15. Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

via Get Sweet Smart

16. Creamsicle Cupcakes

via The Cake Blog

With washi tape flags! My heart melts.

17. Honey Chamomile Cupcakes

via Joy the Baker

18. Nutella Cupcakes

via Canella Vita

19. Ginger Zucchini Cupcakes with an Orange-Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

via Daily Crave

20. Root Beer Cupcakes with Cream Soda Frosting

via Will Cook For Smiles

Root beer is my favorite thing in the world, so these look extra delicious to me.

21. Cookies and Cream Cupcakes

via A Helicopter Mom

22. Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

via Brown-Eyed Baker

23. Vegan Fall Acorn Cupcakes

via Easy Baked

24. Mocha Cupcake Recipe

via Sugar and Snapshots

25. Red Velvet Cupcakes

via First Look Then Cook

26. Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Buttercream Icing

via Caitlin Boite

27. Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

via Lick the Bowl Good

I have an intense soft spot in my heart for ice cream cone cupcakes because my sorority used to make them at retreats. They’re soooo yummy. The cone adds that extra bit of crunch and sweetness. Yum!

What’s your favorite cupcake recipe?