Cocktail Cupcakes Are the Perfect Adults-Only Sweet Treat — 7 Fun & Easy Recipes

Cocktails and cupcakes are some of our favorite ways to celebrate any occasion, so what better way to make a day even more festive than by combining them in one sweet boozy treat? That’s why we’re getting the party started with recipes for cocktail cupcakes. Whether you fancy an Irish coffee, strawberry margarita or tequila sunrise, we’ve got the fun flavors that are sure to delight your crowd from first sight to last bite. So keep scrolling for our best-ever cocktail cupcakes. Cheers!

3 tricks for perfectly baked cupcakes

Before you start mixing up our alcohol-infused cupcakes, here’s a few tips from the First for Women test kitchen that guarantee delicious results every time:

1. Start with room-temperature ingredients.

If your butter and eggs are straight from the fridge, they’ll be too cold to properly emulsify into the batter, creating chunks that yield a not-so-tender cupcake. When we need to soften butter fast in our test kitchen, we use this trick: Pour boiling water into a glass measuring cup, then discard the water and place the glass upside down over the butter for 5 minutes. The residual heat will soften it fast without melting it. To bring eggs to room temp, simply place however many you need into a bowl and submerge them in warm tap water. Let them sit 10-15 minutes, then they’re ready to use.

2. Avoid over-beating your batter.

When making cupcakes, it’s best to stop beating your batter once all ingredients are combined. The more you whip it, the more the gluten in the flour develops, which can turn your cupcake from tender and light to tough and chewy.

3. Try this for big boozy flavor.

If you want your cocktail cupcakes to taste more like a cocktail, it’s best to include a splash of alcohol in the frosting. Because the frosting isn’t exposed to heat, the alcohol won’t get cooked out, so you get to enjoy all its flavors.

7 recipes for boozy cupcakes

Ready to get baking? Here are our favorite cheers-worthy cocktail cupcakes. And for ideas about how to turn them into a full-on party, click through for luau party planning tips.

1. Spiked Lemonade Cupcakes

Top these limoncello treats with umbrella picks to make your party a touch tropical.

2. Chocolate Cupcakes with Baileys Frosting

The luck o’ the Irish is guaranteed with these cupcakes made healthier with zucchini.

3. Strawberry Colada Cupcakes

Sweet berries and tropical coconut combine for the ultimate treat — and a punch of dark rum makes it extra fun.

4. Bananas Foster Cupcakes

These delights get a surprise kick from salted caramel vodka — you can substitute rum if you’d prefer.

5. Key Lime Margarita Cupcakes

Perfect for serving up at a backyard barbecue, these confections are almost too pretty to eat!

6. Tequila Sunrise Cupcakes

This orange-infused treat will be the cherry on top of any celebration! Want to give the drink a try too? Click through to learn how to make a tequila sunrise.

7. Watermelon Mojito Cupcakes

We doctored up a box of white cake mix using watermelon puree and flavored vodka to take it to the next level. For more classic flavors, click through for our shortcut mojito cupcakes.

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Want cocktails to pair with your sweets? Check out these fun drink ideas:

Lemon Cocktails Are Like a Sip of Sunshine — 10 Tasty Recipes to Brighten Any Day

Pineapple Margaritas Are So Easy to Make at Home — Mixologist Reveals the Secret

Cool off with Refreshing Watermelon Slushie Cocktails & Mocktails