Grape Soda Cupcakes (Printable)
Fluffy cupcakes infused with grape soda and topped with tangy grape buttercream frosting. A nostalgic treat perfect for any celebration.
# What You Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
08 - 2/3 cup grape soda
→ Color and Flavor
09 - 1/4 tsp 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 tbsp grape soda
14 - 1/4 tsp grape extract or flavoring (optional)
15 - Purple food coloring (optional)
16 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three parts, alternating with grape soda. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
06 - Stir in grape extract if using and a few drops of purple food coloring for desired color.
07 - Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
08 - Bake for 16-18 minutes until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well.
10 - Add 2 tbsp grape soda, grape extract if using, and pinch of salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add more grape soda 1 tsp at a time if needed for consistency.
11 - Mix in purple food coloring until desired shade is reached.
12 - Frost cooled cupcakes with grape buttercream. Decorate as desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cupcakes stay incredibly moist because the grape soda creates steam while baking, almost like a tiny chemistry experiment happening inside each paper liner
- Theyre the ultimate conversation starter at parties people literally light up when they realize what that familiar flavor is
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients are absolutely crucial cold butter or eggs will cause your batter to seize and not incorporate properly
- Let these cool completely before frosting or your buttercream will melt right off into a sad purple puddle
03 -
- Use an ice cream scoop to fill your cupcake liners for perfectly uniform portions every time
- Tap the filled muffin tin gently on the counter once to release any air bubbles before baking