Dr. Pepper Cupcakes – A semi-homemade recipe that uses boxed yellow cake mix, cocoa powder, and real Dr. Pepper topped with a homemade Dr. Pepper buttercream that is so good, it will have you licking the piping bag clean!
Do you have a soft spot for Dr. Pepper and chocolate? If so, then these cupcakes are perfect for you!
This recipe is super easy to make and tastes delicious. These cupcakes, made with Dr. Pepper, are a chocolate bliss in every mouthful. They don’t taste exactly like Dr. Pepper, but the soda enhances chocolate, even more so than coffee! It also makes the cake light and fluffy due to the carbonation. It’s really unlike any cupcakes you’ve experienced.
Dr. Pepper is said to include 23 individual flavors, which is why it has such a distinctive and enticing flavor. Although it’s hard to pick out a single one of those flavors the combination of them all makes Dr. Pepper identifiable immediately! When it blends with the cake mix, it makes the chocolate the star of the show! Explanation? I don’t have any! All I know is it tastes great when combined with chocolate, which is why I include it in my chocolate cupcakes.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Dr. Pepper Cupcake Recipe
There are several reasons why you’ll love Dr. Pepper Cupcakes:
- Dr. Pepper elevates the cocoa powder and enchances the chocolate flavor in a unique way!
- The cupcakes are not overpowered by the flavor of Dr. Pepper, it’s just the right amount and if you’ve ever heard the term “note” in regards to food that is exactly what you get here, just a note of Dr. Pepper.
- Not only do these cupcakes taste amazing they have a fun, unique light a fluffy texture.
Ingredients For Your Dr. Pepper Cupcakes & Frosting
The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
How To Make A Dr. Pepper Cupcakes & Frosting
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.
Steps 1-2: Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, add in your oil, eggs, and soda, and mix on medium until well incorporated. Mix in 1 cup of cocoa powder.
Step 3: Add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow cooling completely before frosting.
Directions for Frosting:
Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
Step 5: Mix in the cocoa powder and chocolate syrup.
Step 6: Mix the half and half or milk and Dr. Pepper soda together. (If you don’t, the soda on its own will break your frosting)
Step 7: Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the liquid mixture from Step 6 in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until creamy, but don’t over mix!
Step 8: Prepare piping bag and fill a bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes. Add your red sanding sugar and straw if desired. Enjoy! Makes 24 cupcakes.
What to Serve/Pair with Your Dr. Pepper Cupcakes
On cold days, I like to serve Dr. Pepper Cupcakes alongside a cup of hot plain coffee. The bitterness of the coffee and the sweetness of the cupcake make for a great contrast, which I really like! This combination provides me with the extra zing I need to stay awake on cold evenings.
During the summer, I decorate the tops of these cupcakes with cherries. I frequently get salty chips since they pair exceptionally nicely with desserts. And, of course, an ice-cold Dr. Pepper is on the table!
Dr. Pepper Cupcakes & Frosting (Yellow Cake Mix!) FAQs
Yes, you most certainly can! Make sure, however, that the soda flavor matches the chocolate flavor. If the soda does not pair well with chocolate, you can leave out the cocoa. Almost any flavored soda drink will pair well with vanilla.
Cola, cherry, licorice, amaretto, almond, vanilla, blackberry, apricot, caramel, pepper, anise, sarsaparilla, ginger, molasses, lemon, plum, orange, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice, coriander juniper, birch, and prickly ash are among the 23 flavors in Dr. Pepper.
Combining a can of soda and a cake mix is magical. The end product is an unusually moist and soft cake that is more flavorful than usual due to the addition of your preferred soda. It makes the cake light and airy because of the carbonation.
Other Cupcake Recipes You’re Sure To Love
- CANDY CORN “FLAVORED” CUPCAKES FROM SCRATCH!
- SUGAR ICE CREAM CONE WITCH HAT CUPCAKES (DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE)
- SUPER EASY 5 INGREDIENT GHOST THEMED HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES: A SPOOKY TREAT
- 3 INGREDIENT JACK-O-LANTERN CUPCAKES: EASY RECIPE FOR HALLOWEEN
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Dr. Pepper Cupcakes & Frosting (Yellow Cake Mix!)
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients:
- 1 (1) yellow cake mix
- ⅓ cup (72 ⅔ g) vegetable oil
- 3 (3) large eggs
- 1 ¼-1 ¾ cups (295 g) Dr. Pepper
- 2 cups (172 g) cocoa powder divided
- Brown or black cupcake liners
Frosting Ingredients:
- 2 (2) sticks salted butter softened
- 4 cups (480 g) powdered sugar
- ½ tablespoon (½ tablespoon) chocolate syrup
- 1 cup (86 g) cocoa powder see above
- 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) half and half or whole milk not pictured
- 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) Dr. Pepper
- 1 (1) large piping bag 1 large round frosting tip
- Paper straws optional
- Red sanding sugar optional
Instructions
Directions for Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350℉ degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.
- Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, add in your oil, eggs, and soda, and mix on medium until well incorporated. Mix in 1 cup of cocoa powder.
- Add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
Directions for Frosting:
- In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Mix in the cocoa powder and chocolate syrup.
- Mix the half and half or milk and Dr. Pepper soda together. (If you don’t, the soda on its own will break your frosting)
- Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the liquid mixture from Step 6 in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until creamy, but don’t over mix!
- Prepare piping bag and fill bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes. Add your red sanding sugar and straw if desired. Enjoy! Makes 24 cupcakes.
Nutrition Information
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Unta says
They look soooo good. And the idea is very original.
Kim Schob says
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for coming by!
aisasami says
This is a really interesting recipe. I never thought that you could use Dr. Pepper in cake mix. I wonder what else you can mix it.
Kim Schob says
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for coming by!
Michele says
This sounds so good. I didn’t think it would, but I am gonna have to try it.
Kim Schob says
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by!
Lyosha says
I am a huge Dr Pepper fan. This sounds heavenly to me. I will make sure to try it too
Kim Schob says
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by!
Risa Lopez says
Thank you for sharing recipes, I would love to make this tomorrow 🙂
Kim Schob says
You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by!
Laura le Roux says
These sound super yummy!! And they look so cute.
Kim Schob says
They are so delicious. Thank you for stopping by!
MELANIE EDJOURIAN says
Ha, what a different idea. I think they’d make a great treat for the kids to enjoy.
Kim Schob says
Thank you. Agree kids and adults love this recipe. Thank you for coming by!