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French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes

French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes are light, fluffy cupcakes with a sweet French vanilla cappuccino buttercream that is out of this world! Made with a doctored-up boxed cake mix!

  • Prep20 min
  • Cook18 min
  • Total1 hr 8 min
  • Yield24 Cupcakes
  • Calories270

Ingredients Steps Notes

French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes

Check out these Oreo Cupcakes or Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes to bake up another batch of cupcakes made with a boxed cake mix!

Close up photo of a french vanilla cupcake on a white cake stand with other cupcakes.

We love pretty much any cupcake recipe, but these French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes are at the top of our favorites list! Between the French vanilla cupcakes and frosting made with French vanilla cappuccino powder, the flavoring in these is spot on!

These cupcakes take me back to getting a cappuccino from the machine at the convenience store growing up; it was a special treat at the time that always made me feel more grown up. The quality of the store-bought cappuccino may have been low, but the quality of flavor in these cupcakes is high, just like those childhood memories!

French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes on a white cake stand.

Ingredients For

  • Box of Vanilla cake Mix
  • French Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
  • Salt
  • Large Eggs
  • Sour Cream
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Whole Milk
  • Coffee Extract
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Unsalted Butter
  • Powdered sugar
  • Hills Bros. French Vanilla Cappuccino Powder
  • Coffee Extract
  • Heavy Cream
  • Sprinkles if desired

Ingredient Notes

These delicious cupcakes have a few key ingredients that the recipe is built around. First is the vanilla boxed cake mix. This can be any brand you prefer; just make sure it’s a 15 to 16-oz boxed mix.

The second key ingredient is added to it, French vanilla instant pudding mix. This will complete these cupcakes’ standout French vanilla flavoring before moving on to the frosting.

The remaining key ingredients are coffee extract and French vanilla cappuccino powder (affiliate link). These will bring that cozy, smooth cappuccino flavoring to your taste buds, ultimately bringing these cupcakes to life!

The cappuccino powder is typically found in the aisle by the coffee. If it’s not there, try checking by the hot chocolate mix. You can also order it from Amazon!

Key ingredients to make French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes.

How To Make French Vanilla Cappuccino Cupcakes

  1. Prepare the cupcakes by whisking a box vanilla cake mix with a box of French vanilla instant pudding mix and salt together.
  2. Beat in large eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, whole milk, coffee extract, and vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth.
  3. Pour the cupcake batter into cupcake pan that’s lined with cupcake liners.
  4. Bake the cupcakes at the preheated oven temperature and then reduce the heat after 5 minutes to finish baking them.
  5. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
  6. Prepare the frosting by creaming unsalted butter in a large bowl or stand mixer that’s fitted with a paddle attachment.
  7. Mix powdered sugar into the creamed butter a little to a time, mixing after each addition.
  8. Add Hills Bros. French Vanilla Cappuccino Powder and coffee extract, then mix until fully incorporated.
  9. Pour the heavy cream in slowly while mixing the frosting on low speed, then whip it until it becomes thick and fluffy.
  10. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes and top with sprinkles if desired.
Cupcake batter in liners in a pan ready to bake.
A French Vanilla Cupcake on a white plate.

Storage Instructions

Store these cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If cupcakes haven’t been frosted yet, they can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Make These Cupcakes Ahead Of Time!

The cupcakes themselves can be made ahead of time. To do so, bake them according to the recipe instructions and then wrap each individually in plastic wrap once completely cooled.

Afterward, place the wrapped cupcakes into an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you’re ready to serve, first allow them to thaw completely and then top them with freshly made frosting.

A French Vanilla Cupcake on a white plate with a bite missing.

More Yummy Cupcake Recipes:

This recipe was originally published in May 2014 and was retested and updated in March 2023.

Steps

Cupcake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.

  2. Whisk together , , and to a large bowl or stand mixer.

  3. Add , , , , , and to the cake mix and beat until fully combined and smooth. About 1 minute.

  4. Add 3 tablespoons of batter to each cupcake liner (about 2 medium cookie scoops worth).

  5. Bake for 5 minutes then reduce heat to 350°F and bake for another 13 to 16 minutes until the tops spring back when touched and a toothpick comes back clean from the center.

  6. Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool for a few minutes in the pan before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:

  1. In a large bowl or stand mixer fitter with a paddle attachment, cream for 1 minute.

  2. Add ½ cup at a time, mixing after each addition.

  3. Add and and mix until fully incorporated.

  4. Slowly add , while mixing on high speed, continue to whip for 1 to 2 minutes until the frosting is thick and fluffy. Add a little more heavy cream or powdered sugar as needed to reach your desired consistency.

  5. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and frost the cooled cupcakes. Top with if desired.

Notes

  • How To Store: Store these cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. If cupcakes haven't been frosted yet, they can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • Do I Make The Cake Mix According To The Instructions On The Cake Mix Box? You do not make the cake mix according to the box mix instructions. Instead, the dry cake mix is added to a bowl in its dry state. From there, the ingredients listed on the recipe card are added to it to create the cupcake batter.
  • Do I Prepare The Pudding Before Adding It To The Cupcake Batter? No, the pudding mix powder is added in as is. Therefore, you do not need to prepare the pudding mix according to the instructions on the box.
  • Where Do I Find French Vanilla Cappuccino Powder In The Grocery Store? The cappuccino powder is typically found in the aisle by the coffee. If it's not there, try checking by the hot chocolate mix. You can also order it from amazon!
  • Can I Make These Cupcakes Ahead Of Time? The cupcakes themselves can be made ahead of time. To do so, bake them according to the recipe instructions and then wrap each individually in plastic wrap once completely cooled. Afterward, place the wrapped cupcakes into an airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you're ready to serve first, allow them to thaw completely and then top them with freshly made frosting.

Nutrition

  • Calories270
  • Carbs42g
  • Protein2g
  • Fat11g
  • Saturated fat7g
  • Fiber1g
  • Sugar29g
  • Sodium216mg

Estimates per serving, when a serving size is listed.

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