Cheers to Boozy Champagne Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting!
Here’s a fun adult dessert idea to bake for New Year’s Eve!
Consider upgrading a box of white cake mix with bubbly champagne as a fun 2-ingredient baking hack. We’ve heard of pairing cake mixes with your favorite flavor of soda to create different flavors, but this idea of simply adding champagne to store-bought cake mix to celebrate the new year is genius!
You can even whip up an easy homemade buttercream frosting using champagne to complete this festive NYE cupcake experience. This idea is not just limited to New Year’s, however! It could even be a fun idea to celebrate other occasions too such as a bridal shower, wedding, special birthday, or retirement.
The result is a light and airy cupcake with a distinct champagne tangy/sweet tasting frosting that’s a creative treat for making a special toast! I honestly was not prepared for how much I’d love these delicious cupcakes!
Tips for baking the BEST champagne cupcakes:
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- You definitely don’t have to use expensive champagne as the less expensive stuff works just as well! The added step of boiling down the champagne intensifies the flavor of the frosting.
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- For a non-alcoholic experience, feel free to use either non-alcoholic champagne or a 12 oz. can of clear soda like Sprite or 7Up. If you’re looking for a yummy buttercream recipe without alcohol, check out this easy one!
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- I used a white box mix for convenience, but feel free to make this with a homemade white cake if desired.
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- I made my frosting pink with a couple of drops of food coloring, but you could obviously leave as is, or tint it with a different color, and/or decorate with sprinkles as desired.
Champagne Cupcakes Using Boxed Cake Mix
yield: 24 SERVINGS
prep time: 25 MINUTES
cook time: 19 MINUTES
total time: 44 MINUTES
Simple and sweet champagne cupcakes with a rich buttercream frosting!
Ingredients
For the champagne cupcakes:
For the champagne frosting:
- 3/4 cup champagne
- 2 sticks (1 cup) butter, softened
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pink food coloring (optional)
Directions
1
For the cupcakes:
Preheat the oven to 350° and prepare your muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2
Pour the champagne in with the cake mix and mix until smooth using a hand mixer.
3
Use an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter to a cupcake tray with liners, filling 2/3 of the way full with the batter. I had enough for 24 cupcakes. Bake according to package instructions (mine were done in 19 minutes).
4
Let the cupcakes cool.
5
For the frosting:
Add the champagne to a pot on the stove and boil for about 10 minutes until it reduces to 1/4 cup. Let it cool completely.
6
To a mixing bowl, add butter and 2 cups of powdered sugar, and mix using a hand mixer. Then add and mix in the vanilla extract and the cooled champagne. Add the other 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar and mix all for about 30 seconds or so until smooth and peaks are formed. Mix in a couple of drops of food coloring (optional).
7
Decorate cupcakes as desired with frosting and sprinkles. Enjoy!
Additional Notes
This recipe idea is adapted from Delish.com.
My boxed cake mix received a major adult “glow up” with these champagne cupcakes – YUM!
This idea is so tasty and was easy to accomplish, too. I love the sweet taste with the tangy champagne flavor. It’s pretty amazing how these do taste like champagne. If you’re a bubbly fan, definitely give these festive champagne cupcakes a try! I’m sure Prosecco or sparkling wine would be awesome, too.
My Hip sidekick Jenna tried out this recipe and here’s what she thought:
“WOW! Who knew you could mix boxed cake mix with champagne and end up with CUPCAKES? That is way too cool! It was so easy, fun, and impressive that I had to call my mom and sister about this recipe. This is perfect for a celebratory cupcake — think New Year’s party, bridal showers, even grown-up birthday parties! Even the frosting certainly had a champagne flavor to it. Loved this recipe!”
Happy New Year’s everyone, and THANK YOU for being here with us this year. May your troubles be less and your blessings be more- CHEERS! 🎉
Print our FREE New Year’s bucket list to fill out while enjoying your cupcakes!
These look (and sound) fun!
YES!! Enjoy Lisa!
Do you just mix the boxed mix with the champagne? Or do you follow the preparation instructions and add the champagne?
Nope just the box mix and the Champage! So easy.
Making these tonight—thanks for sharing! 🙂
Awesome! Enjoy and Happy NY! 🙂
I’m out of vanilla extract! Could I use peppermint or almond instead?
You can skip the vanilla, but if you really want to replace it use the almond extract.