Vanilla Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

4.94 from 47 votes

This simple vanilla cupcake recipe with cream cheese frosting is easy to make and only needs 15 minutes to bake, and you can make the frosting during that time.

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Homemade vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting
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My Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting are So Good!

I make these vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for all sorts of occasions. The cupcake batter is really simple, just basic pantry stuff, and the cream cheese frosting isn’t too sweet, which I actually prefer.

I like that they’re light, a little tangy from the frosting, and not overloaded with sugar.

Happy Cooking!
– Yumna

Vanilla Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

Ingredients to make the recipe and the frosting
  • Flour: Use all purpose flour for this recipe or cake flour for a lighter texture.
  • Baking powder: Use aluminum-free if you can to avoid any off-taste.
  • Salt: Just a little makes all the difference.
  • Eggs: Use room temperature eggs is you can, they mix easier.
  • Sugar: Any type of granulated sugar works here for the cupcakes; for example cane sugar.
  • Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract is best.
  • Vegetable oil: This cupcake recipe replaces butter with oil so that the cupcakes are super light rather than dense.
  • Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds moisture to the cakes as well as a little extra protein, but you can substitute it with equal parts butter if you prefer.
  • Cream cheese frosting: Cream cheese, honey, heavy cream and vanilla extract or use store-bought to make it easier.

How to Make Vanilla Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

Sugar and eggs in a bowl before mixing.
Step 1: Place the sugar and eggs into a bowl.
Oil and vanilla added to wet mixture.
Step 2: Whisk to combine and add in the vanilla and oil.
Yogurt added to mixture.
Step 3: Add the yogurt and combine.
Cupcake batter after mixing.
Step 4: Fold in the dry ingredients until well blended.
Batter divided into a 12 cup cupcake pan with paper liners.
Step 5: Divide the batter in a muffin pan.
Recipe after baking.
Step 6: Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
Mixing cream cheese with honey and vanilla in bowl.
Step 7: Beat the cream cheese, then add in the honey and vanilla before whipping in the cream. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature to make it easier.
Topping cupcakes with homemade cream cheese frosting.
Step 8:When the cupcakes are cooled, pipe on the cream cheese frosting. You don’t even need a piping bag though and can simply use a ziplock bag for this step.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

This simple vanilla cupcake recipe with cream cheese frosting is easy to make and only needs 15 minutes to bake, and you can make the frosting during that time.
4.9 from 47 votes
Servings 12 servings
Course Dessert
Calories 294
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes

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Ingredients
  

Cupcakes

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese softened.
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with paper liners.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the sugar until well blended. Add the vanilla and vegetable oil, beating until incorporated. Add the yogurt and whisk until everything is smooth.
  • Fold in the dry ingredients until just combined and no lumps remain.
  • Scoop or pour batter into lined muffin pan, filling the cups about ¾ full.
  • Bake for 14 -16 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool for a few minutes in the pan, then remove and cool completely on a rack.

Make the frosting:

  • With a stand mixer or hand beaters, beat the cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.
  • Add the honey and vanilla and beat until smooth and light.
  • Add the cream, beating until the frosting is light and fluffy and completely smooth, 2-3 minutes more on high.
  • Cover the frosting and chill in the fridge until ready to pipe.
  • When the cupcakes are cooled, pipe on the cream cheese frosting using a large tipped piping nozzle or a Ziploc bag with a hole cut from one corner.

Notes

Storage: The cupcakes will keep for 3 days in an airtight container. If frosted, they need to be kept refrigerated.
Freezing Instructions: Both the cupcakes and the frosting are freezer friendly. The cooled cupcakes should be wrapped individually before being placed in a freezer bag, and the frosting can be frozen in an airtight container. Both can be kept for up to 3 months.

Frosting should be thawed in the fridge overnight and cupcakes can defrost at room temperature for a couple of hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 67mg, Sodium: 178mg, Potassium: 104mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 369IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Cuisine American
Course: Dessert

If you try this Recipe Name recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe.

Recipe Tips

  1. Adjust the frosting ingredients depending on how sweet you like it. If you like a tangier frosting, start with ¼ cup of honey and add more honey to taste. This will also depend on the type of honey you use since some are sweeter and more flavorful. I also have an easy buttercream frosting recipe you could add instead!
  2. Don’t over mix the batter when you add the flour. Over mixing can cause the gluten to over develop and the cupcakes won’t rise much.
  3. Use a hand mixer for the quickest and easiest way to make these cupcakes. You can mix the batter by hand or with an electric mixer, but be sure to get everything well combined and keep in mind it will take a little longer.
  4. Use room temperature ingredients. This will help everything to combine more easily and your cupcakes will have a more even texture. This goes for the batter and the frosting.
Vanilla cupcakes with bite taken out of one to show consistency
4.94 from 47 votes (42 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Julie says:

    These are so good! full of flavor and moist.

  2. Rebecca says:

    I made these cupcakes today and I love how they turned out! I tripled the batch and it made exactly 36. They are perfect and taste amazing!

    1. Yumna says:

      Yay, so happy you enjoyed them!

  3. May says:

    Hi! The cupcake turned out to be very dry and dense. I think next time I’ll add butter and some baking soda. The cream cheese frosting was a little bit runny, it was not as firm as whipping cream frosting. Anyway, thank you for sharing the recipe.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      So sorry to hear that the cupcakes didn’t turn out as expected. It sounds like they may have overbaked, by a minute or two.

  4. Mary says:

    These came out delish. Though wondering why the frosting didn’t have the thick consistency that regular ones have? Was it supposed to be that way? Followed the instructions to a tea. I did end up using some ready made cream cheese frosting just in case.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Hi Mary, can you elaborate a little on what you mean? Was it runny? If so, it might have gotten too warm.

  5. Marian says:

    Can I use almond flour in this?

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Hi Marian, I have not made this recipe with almond flour, but it should work. Let me know if you try it!

  6. Marian conkey says:

    Can I use almond flour in this?

    1. Yumna J. says:

      I haven’t made this recipe with almond flour, but I imagine you could!

  7. Maryam says:

    I love this cupcake recipe for a simple vanilla cupcake. I add things to it depending what I’m in the mood for. For example, if I’m baking with my kid we always do sprinkles or chocolate chips. It’s a simple and quick recipe and oh so delicious.

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Thank you so much! It’s definitely versatile in that way. So fun!!

  8. Meagan says:

    These cupcakes look delicious. I would love to make these for my class for the last day of school. Would it be okay if I substituted milk instead of heavy cream. Or what other substitute should I use?

    1. Yumna Jawad says:

      Thank you! I have yet to try a heavy cream substitute, but you can try milk if you want it to be on the lighter side or more cream cheese if you want it to be thicker.

  9. C says:

    Can I replace the vegetable oil with olive oil?

    1. Yumna J. says:

      I would not recommend it, as it may slightly change the taste and color of the cupcakes.

      1. Dani says:

        This recipe was awesome. Satisfied my pregnancy craving!
        I made a lot of substitutions only cause I didn’t have everything on hand.
        I substituted the Greek yogurt for buttermilk. And I used 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup oil. I also made a Russian buttercream instead of the cream cheese frosting (only cause I didn’t have cream cheese on hand lol.)

        1. Yumna Jawad says:

          Thank you! Happy to hear you enjoyed. Hope you’re pregnancy is going well!

  10. Hana says:

    I love this recipe. For a twist I mixed a passionfruit in the batter and it was oh so amazing!! gave a nice tangy flavor!

  11. Jumanah says:

    It looks really great.
    But Can I substitute the Greek yogurt with milk or normal yogurt?

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you! If you are going to make any substitute with the Greek yogurt, I’d recommend substituting it with equal parts butter.

  12. Hoda says:

    Loved this recipe! I made it into a cake and put it in the oven for 30 mins – came out pretty good! I also added chocolate chips.

    1. Yumna J. says:

      Thank you so much! That’s such a great idea!!

      1. Neha says:

        Thanks for your guidance, I would like to know the measurements of the ingredients in grams .

  13. Afora says:

    I made this. Taste absolutely delicious but my cake came out flat on top. What did I do wrong ?

    1. Yumna says:

      Hi Afora – So glad you tried the recipe, and that’s a bummer that the cake came out flat on top. It’s possible the baking powder you used may have expired or it’s possible the that the cake batter wasn’t blended enough. I’m super happy you tried it though and enjoyed the taste 🙂

    2. Neha says:

      Is there a substitute for egg ?

      1. Yumna J. says:

        You could give it a try with a flax egg, but I have yet to try that!

  14. Roxanne says:

    I haven’t tried the vanilla cupcakes yet, however they look good! Can I substitute cane sugar withv Stevia?

    1. Yumna says:

      Hi Roxanne, I haven’t tried Stevia with it, but I think it should be fine! Let me know how it turns out! 🙂

      1. Tania Vales says:

        Can you use coconut or granulated sugar instead?