Grape Soda Cupcakes (Printable Version)
Fluffy cupcakes infused with grape soda and topped with tangy grape buttercream frosting.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
08 - 2/3 cup grape soda
→ Color and Flavor
09 - 1/4 tsp grape extract or flavoring (optional)
10 - Purple food coloring (optional)
→ Grape Buttercream
11 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
12 - 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
13 - 2-3 tbsp grape soda
14 - 1/4 tsp grape extract or flavoring (optional)
15 - Purple food coloring (optional)
16 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
05 - Add flour mixture to butter mixture in three parts, alternating with grape soda. Begin and end with dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
06 - Stir in grape extract if using and add purple food coloring drop by drop until desired color is achieved.
07 - Divide batter evenly among cupcake liners, filling each about 2/3 full.
08 - Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat butter in a large bowl until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition.
10 - Add 2 tbsp grape soda, grape extract if using, and pinch of salt. Beat until light and fluffy. Add more grape soda 1 tsp at a time if needed for piping consistency.
11 - Mix in purple food coloring until desired shade is reached.
12 - Frost cooled cupcakes with grape buttercream. Decorate with grape candies or sprinkles if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The grape soda creates an incredibly tender crumb that stays moist for days
- That unmistakable grape flavor hits exactly like childhood but elevated
- The vibrant purple color makes people smile before they even take a bite
02 -
- Room temperature ingredients make a huge difference in texture
- Overmixing the batter creates tough cupcakes so stop as soon as flour disappears
- Completely cooled cupcakes are mandatory or the buttercream will melt right off
03 -
- Let grape soda go flat before using to prevent air bubbles in the batter
- Chill frosted cupcakes for 15 minutes to set the buttercream before serving