Description
Soft, fluffy **Quick Festive Cupcakes** with a one-bowl vanilla batter, 10-minute buttercream, and lots of holiday sprinkles. Ready fast and party-perfect.
Ingredients
Scale
- Cupcakes
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (180 g)
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (150 g)
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder (6 g)
- 1/4 tsp fine salt (1 g)
- 3/4 cup milk, dairy or plant milk (180 ml)
- 1/3 cup neutral oil (80 ml)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp alcohol-free vanilla
- 1/2 cup holiday sprinkles, plus more for topping (70 g)
- Quick Buttercream
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter or dairy-free butter, room temp (113 g)
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted (240 g)
- 2–3 tbsp milk, dairy or plant milk (30–45 ml)
- 1 tsp alcohol-free vanilla
- Pinch fine salt
- Optional: red & green gel food color
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla; whisk just until smooth. Fold in sprinkles. Divide batter among liners (about 2/3 full).
- Bake 18–20 minutes until tops spring back or center reads ~205°F (96°C). Cool 5 minutes in pan, then on a rack until room temp.
- Beat butter 1 minute. Add powdered sugar, salt, and 2 tbsp milk; beat until fluffy (add more milk if needed). Tint if desired. Pipe or spread onto cupcakes and finish with sprinkles.
Notes
Dairy-free: plant milk + dairy-free butter. Gluten-free: 1:1 GF flour, plus 1 tbsp extra milk if needed. No alcohol: use alcohol-free vanilla or vanilla paste. Make-ahead: freeze unfrosted cupcakes up to 2 months; thaw and frost. Tested twice; best texture at 18 minutes bake time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 260
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
Keywords: Quick Festive Cupcakes, easy holiday cupcakes, holiday party dessert, Christmas cupcakes, one-bowl cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes, buttercream frosting, dairy-free cupcakes option, gluten-free cupcakes option, sprinkle cupcakes