Grape Soda Cupcakes (Printable)
Fluffy grape-infused cupcakes with tangy purple buttercream frosting
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - 2/3 cup grape soda
→ Color and Flavor
09 - 1/4 teaspoon grape extract or flavoring (optional)
10 - Purple food coloring (optional)
→ Grape Buttercream
11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2-3 tablespoons grape soda
14 - 1/4 teaspoon grape extract or flavoring (optional)
15 - Purple food coloring (optional)
16 - Pinch of salt
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla extract until incorporated.
05 - Add flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts, alternating with grape soda. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
06 - Stir in grape extract if using, along with a few drops of purple food coloring to achieve desired color intensity.
07 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
08 - Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - In a large bowl, beat butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated.
10 - Add 2 tablespoons grape soda, grape extract if using, and a pinch of salt. Beat until light and fluffy, approximately 2-3 minutes. Add more grape soda, 1 teaspoon at a time, if needed to achieve spreading consistency.
11 - Mix in purple food coloring gradually until desired shade is reached.
12 - Frost cooled cupcakes with grape buttercream using a spatula or piping bag. Decorate with grape candies or sprinkles as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cupcakes are incredibly moist with a subtle grape flavor that surprises and delights everyone who tries them
- They bake up fluffy and light, while the grape buttercream adds a tangy sweetness that perfectly balances the cake
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are crucial for properly incorporating everything and achieving the right texture
- Overmixing once the flour is added will make cupcakes tough, so mix only until just combined
03 -
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting or the buttercream will melt right off
- Sift the powdered sugar before making the frosting to avoid any lumpy spots in your buttercream