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    Home » Recipes » Desserts (Baked) » Honey Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream Frosting

    PUBLISHED: July 7, 2023 • By Toni Dash 7 Comments

    Honey Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream Frosting

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    honey cupcakes with honey buttercream and text overlay.

    Honey Cupcakes with luscious honey buttercream frosting make a delicious unexpected dessert treat. Beautiful pale yellow fluffy cupcakes highlight honey as the star ingredient!

    honey cupcakes with honey buttercream and text overlay.
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    honey cupcakes with honey buttercream and text overlay.

    Honey cupcakes with honey buttercream frosting have the rich and sweet flavors of honey. These cupcakes are moist, fluffy, and infused with the distinct taste of honey, making them perfect for honey lovers.

    Once the cupcakes are baked to golden perfection, they are topped with a luxurious  honey buttercream frosting. The honey buttercream can be piped or spread generously onto the cooled cupcakes.

    The cupcakes have a soft and moist crumb with a subtle honey flavor, while the honey buttercream frosting adds a rich, creamy sweetness that complements the cupcakes perfectly.

    If desired you can add edible flowers, lemon zest or a drizzle of honey as a final topping to this honey cupcake recipe!

    drizzling honey on honey cupcakes.
    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredient Notes
    • How to Make it
    • Pro Tips
    •  How to Store
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More recipes you’ll love!
    • Recipe

    Recipe Ingredient Notes

    honey cupcakes labelled ingredients.
    • Whole Milk. We’ve used whole dairy milk for the higher fat content which keeps the cupcakes moist. Any milk should work (though we have not tested lower fat dairy milk or plant milks in the recipe).
    • Vegetable oil. This is used in the cupcakes and adds moistness to the cupcakes. 
    • Honey. You’ll use honey both in the cupcake batter and the buttercream frosting. Choose a neutral honey flavor unless you have a particular flavor of honey you love then use that! Using fresh local honey is a great choice.
    • Eggs. You’ll need two large eggs. Eggs bind the ingredients and create structure for the cupcakes.
    • Granulated sugar. Though honey is used for sweetening and flavor the granulated sugar adds the depth of sweetness you’ll want for the cupcakes.
    • All purpose flour. Regular all-purpose flour or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend can be used. For gluten-free baking we use and recommend Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 flour blend. Be sure to spoon the flour into a measuring cup instead of scooping it with the measuring cup. This ensures not adding more flour which will make the cupcakes dense.
    • Unsalted butter. A half cup of unsalted butter is used in the frosting. Start with softened or room temperature butter for the best blending results and no lumps in the buttercream frosting. See the caption under the ingredient photo below about salted vs unsalted butter.
    • Powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar). This will be used to make the honey buttercream frosting.
    honey buttercream frosting labelled ingredients.
    Unsalted or salted butter for buttercream frosting? Either can be used depending on your preference. A little bit of salt can boost the sweetness of the frosting. Our general preference is to use unsalted butter though especially for the lighter sweetness from honey.

    How to Make it

    STEP 1. Preparation

    Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line 12 muffin cups with paper cupcake liners. 

    STEP 2. Make the batter

    In a large bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: milk, vegetable oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla (photo 1). Add the granulated sugar and whisk to combine. 

    Add the dry ingredients: flour and baking powder (photo 2). Mix just until no large lumps of flour remain. 

    honey cupcakes recipe steps 1-4.

    STEP 3. Fill and bake

    Divide the cake batter between the muffin tins, filling each paper liners ⅔ of the way full (photo 3). 

    Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 

    STEP 4. Cool

    Remove the cupcakes from the oven and place on a wire rack and cool completely before making the buttercream frosting. 

    STEP 5. Make the honey frosting and frost

    Combine the softened butter and honey in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (photo 4). Beat on medium speed until well combined (about 30 seconds) (photo 5). 

    With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

    When mixed in turn the mixer to high speed and beat for 1-2 minutes, or until the frosting is light and fluffy (photo 6). 

    honey cupcakes recipe steps 5-6.

    Transfer the buttercream to a pastry bag (piping bag) fitted with your choice of tip and frost the cupcakes as desired. 

    NOTE: the amount of frosting will allow piping a small swirl of frosting which is really all these cupcakes need. If you want lots of frosting, double the frosting portion of the recipe.

    honey cupcakes with honey buttercream frosting.

    Pro Tips

    • Spoon don’t scoop the flour. Spooning flour into a measuring cup prevents it from being over measured which can happen when scooping. Adding too much flour through scooping will create a dense cupcake.
    • Don’t overmix the cupcake batter. This will make the batter dense instead of light and fluffy.
    • Start with room temperature butter. If not the buttercream frosting will have lumps and not fully combine smoothly.
    • Don’t overfill the cupcake tins (muffin pan). Only fill the cavities 2/3’s full.
    • Fully cool the cupcakes before frosting. If not the frosting will melt.
    frosted honey cupcakes inside.

     How to Store

    Store any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator 3-4 days. The flavor will be best if the cupcakes warm at room temperature before serving.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use raw honey?

    Raw honey usually turns solid. It may be used but would need to be liquified first. This can be done by placing the glass bottle in some warm water or removing some of the honey into a microwaveable bowl and microwaving it briefly.

    honey cupcakes with honey buttercream frosting on wire rack close up.

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    Recipe

    Honey Cupcakes with Honey Buttercream Frosting

    Light fluffy cupcakes with creamy buttercream frosting all with the taste of honey! It's a fun delicious sweet treat.
    5 from 49 votes
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegetarian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Cooling and frosting time (estimated): 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 cupcakes
    Calories: 423kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    Honey Cupcakes

    • ½ cup whole milk
    • ½ cup vegetable oil
    • ¼ cup honey
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour regular or gluten-free measure-for-measure flour blend
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder

    Honey Buttercream Frosting

    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • ¼ cup honey
    • 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    Instructions

    Honey Cupcakes

    • Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line 12 muffin cavities with paper baking liners.
    • In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, honey, eggs, and vanilla extract.
      ½ cup whole milk, ½ cup vegetable oil, ¼ cup honey, 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • Add the sugar and whisk to combine.
      ¾ cup granulated sugar
    • Add the flour and baking powder. Mix just until no large lumps of flour remain.
      1 ¾ cups all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • Divide the cake batter evenly between the prepared muffin cavities, filling each one ⅔ of the way full. DO NOT OVERFILL.
    • Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
    • Remove the cupcakes from the oven. Place on a wire rack and cool completely before making the buttercream frosting.

    Honey Buttercream Frosting

    • Place the softened butter and honey in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until well combined (about 30 seconds).
      1/2 cup unsalted butter, ¼ cup honey
    • With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
      2 ½ cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • Turn the mixer to high speed and beat for 1-2 minutes, or until the frosting is light and fluffy.
    • Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with your choice of tip and frost the cupcakes as desired. Or spread the frosting on top of the cooled cupcakes.

    Notes

    Ingredient Notes
    Butter. Either salted or unsalted butter can be used for the buttercream frosting. A little bit of salt can boost the sweetness of the frosting however salted butter can be too salty. Our recommendation is to use unsalted butter.
    Frosting amount
    This frosting recipe makes enough to pipe a swirl on top of the cupcakes or to spread the frosting. If you prefer a large amount of frosting on top (we don’t think these cupcakes need a lot) or want to use it other cupcakes, you can make 1 1/2 to double the amount of frosting.
    How to Store
    Store any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator 3-4 days. The flavor will be best if the cupcakes warm at room temperature before serving.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 91mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 49g | Vitamin A: 298IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!

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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natasha says

      July 11, 2023 at 11:02 am

      5 stars
      These cupcakes were moist, fluffy and not super sweet! We all enjoyed the cupcakes!

      Reply
    2. April says

      July 07, 2023 at 10:25 am

      5 stars
      These were amazing! Not overly sweet, but perfectly flavored and the buttercream was to die for.

      Reply
    3. Ned says

      July 07, 2023 at 8:40 am

      5 stars
      These were pure delicious! My family ate them so fast I’m gonna need to make a second batch soon. 🙂

      Reply
    4. Elizabeth says

      July 07, 2023 at 8:23 am

      5 stars
      I put honey in everything I possibly can. I just love the flavor so much. These cupcakes and frosting have that same delicious flavor without being too much.

      Reply
    5. Sharina says

      July 07, 2023 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      Kids love the rich flavors of these honey cupcakes! They even love topping them with some sprinkles. Must-try!

      Reply
    6. Lori says

      July 07, 2023 at 7:44 am

      5 stars
      I surprised my girls with these cupcake and they went totally crazy. So delicious. I’m never using a box mix again.

      Reply
    7. Sam says

      July 07, 2023 at 7:41 am

      5 stars
      I love how versatile this recipe is! It’s a perfect fit for my family! So delicious!

      Reply

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    About Toni Dash

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    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

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