Description
Delight in these fun and flavorful Grape Soda Cupcakes, a unique twist on classic cupcakes using grape soda in both the batter and frosting for a sweet, fruity punch. Perfect for parties or a whimsical treat, these moist cupcakes are topped with creamy grape soda-infused frosting with an optional pop of purple color for extra charm.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup grape soda (like grape Fanta or any grape soda of choice)
- 1/4 cup milk
For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons grape soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Purple food coloring (optional, for a fun pop of color)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Add Dry Ingredients and Soda: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the grape soda and milk. Begin and end with the dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Evenly divide the batter among the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the Frosting: While cupcakes cool, beat the softened butter in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add Grape Soda and Vanilla: Stir in 2 tablespoons of grape soda and the vanilla extract, then beat the mixture until smooth. If the frosting feels too thick, add more grape soda in teaspoons until reaching desired consistency.
- Add Food Coloring (Optional): If you want a vibrant look, add a few drops of purple food coloring and mix until frosting is evenly colored.
- Frost the Cupcakes: Once cupcakes are completely cooled, frost them using a spatula or piping bag with the prepared grape soda frosting.
- Serve: Serve the cupcakes immediately for best flavor, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the batter to keep cupcakes tender and light.
- Using real grape soda imparts a unique fruity flavor and slight fizz to the cupcakes.
- Frosting consistency can be adjusted with grape soda to be thicker or more spreadable as preferred.
- These cupcakes are best enjoyed within 3 days when stored at room temperature.
- Adding purple food coloring is optional but adds a fun visual appeal fitting the grape theme.
