Scrumptious Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream

This brown sugar cupcakes recipe takes the basic vanilla cupcake to a whole new level. The molasses in the brown sugar add a unique flavor and gorgeous color to the cupcakes and buttercream. They are so versatile, you can add a  little cinnamon to make them cinnamon brown sugar cupcakes or add a little cocoa powder to make them chocolate brown sugar cupcakes.

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

Recently Aadi had a few friends over on a play date and he said ‘mama make cupcakes’ which is normally what I do. If he goes to friends on a play date then he usually takes cookies with him. And if they come over then it’s “mama make cupcakes”.

I’m a big fan of brown sugar; so instead of my white sugar, I added brown sugar to my favorite cupcake recipe.

And guess what? A big hit!! The kids loved it so much that I had one of the kid’s mothers calling me to check if the recipe was on my blog. So, I promised her I will make them again and share the recipe. I had not taken any pictures then, so I made them again last weekend just so I can share them with you all.

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

About these cupcakes 

This is an absolutely delicious cupcake recipe. The molasses in the brown sugar adds so much depth and flavor to this cupcake and buttercream. You will see how gorgeous this batter is. The subtle aroma you get from the brown sugar is sweet and very inviting. I love that color of the buttercream from the brown sugar. 

The best part is these are so versatile. A little twist is all you need to give them a whole new dimension. 

• I’ve added 1 cup chocolate chips to them to make them Chocolate Chip twist 
• A hint of cinnamon in fall or winter is divine – Cinnamon twist
• Substitute some of the flour for Cocoa powder you have a Chocolate twist
• My Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream cheese frosting in fall are also a variation on these cupcakes. 

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

RECIPE – Scrumptious Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream

Useful Tips and Tools

• If you bake often, it would be a good idea to invest in a cake mixer. Because often we try to mix by hand and then we are too tired to give it enough creaming or mixing. So, if you are making this buttercream go head and remove that K-Mix or Kitchen Aid from your kitchen cabinet. And, you don’t have to buy an expensive stand mixer, a simple hand mixer works great too.
• Having said that, a simple Bowl, whisk and Spatula with a little extra elbow grease will do too.
• Personally, I believe in weighing ingredients by weight, which makes my kitchen scaleone of the most valuable items when baking. The same goes for mymeasuring cups and measuring spoons. It’s always a good idea to have these handy and use them when baking rather than trying to guess measurements.
• Also, it is important to buy cupcake linersfrom a trustworthy source to prevent peeling. There is nothing worse than to bake good cupcakes or muffins and then have all the liners peel off.
• Additionally, you can use a measuring cup to ensure you divide the batter evenly among all the cupcakes or muffins. That way all your cupcakes will be a similar size. Personally, I love using my cupcake scooper for that purpose.  
• A good baking tray is always important. Try using a light colored baking trayBaking tray. Another option is to line the baking tray with Parchment Paper for easy clean up just in case of spillage.
• Every oven works differently. So the baking times are just guidelines. In case of muffins and cupcakes, it’s often a good idea to rotate the baking tray mid-way the baking so they cook and rise evenly.

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

• Unsalted butter – 113 grams or 1 stick
• Light brown sugar – 100 grams (1/2 cup)
• Eggs – 2 large
• Fresh cream – 1/2 cup
• All-purpose flour – 175 grams
• Baking powder  – 1 1/2 tsp
• Salt  – 1/2 tsp
• Vanilla – 1 tsp

For the Buttercream 

• Unsalted Butter – 113 grams (1 stick)
• Light or Dark Brown sugar (powdered)- 100 grams (1/2 cup) (pulsed in the food processor)
• Powdered sugar/confectioners sugar  – 125 grams (1 cup)
• Fresh cream – 2 tbsp
• Vanilla – 1 tsp

Method

Prepare

• Preheat the oven to 160 C / 320 F.
• Prepare baking cups or cupcake wrappers in a muffin tray.
• Sift flour with salt and baking powder.

Make the Batter

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time scraping the sides of the bowl often.
• Next, add cream and flour mix in three batches.
• Lastly, add vanilla.
• Use an ice cream scoop to distribute the batter evenly between 12 cupcakes wraps or 10 baking cups.

Bake the Cupcakes

• Bake in a preheated oven for about 18 to 22 minutes or until the skewer inserted comes out clean.
• Chill cupcakes completely before you decorate.

Make the Buttercream

• Place the brown sugar in a food processor and pulse a few times.
• Cream the butter, cream, and sugar until light, and fluffy.
• When all the brown sugar has dissolved.
• Add the powdered sugar.
• Lastly, add vanilla.

Pipe the Buttercream

• Place buttercream into a piping bag with your favorite piping tip and pipe a swirl.
• Alternatively, use a spatula to create a dome on the cupcake.
• I like to sprinkle them with some brown sugar as well.

Storage

• These cupcakes will keep well at room temperature for three days, in the fridge for five days if wrapped well. 
• Having said that – cupcakes are always at their best on the first two days. 

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

For Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcakes or Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcakes. 

• Add 1/2 a tsp of cinnamon to the flour mixture to give them a cinnamon flavor. These are great in fall as the warm spices combine beautifully with the molasses in the brown sugar. 
• Substitute 2 tbsp flour in the recipe with 2 tbsp cocoa powder to make these chocolate brown sugar cupcakes. You can also add 50 grams (3 oz) melted cooled chocolate to the frosting to make it a chocolate brown sugar frosting. 

Best Ever Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream, Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcake, Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcake

Scrumptious Brown Sugar Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream

This brown sugar cupcakes recipe takes the basic vanilla cupcake to a whole new level. The molasses in the brown sugar add a unique flavor and gorgeous color to the cupcakes and buttercream.

4.78 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: baking, Best Frosting Recipe, Cupcakes

Adjust Servings Here: 12 Cupcakes

Calories: 324kcal

Author: Veena Azmanov

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes

• 113 grams Butter unsalted
• 100 grams Light brown sugar
• 2 large Eggs
• 120 ml Fresh cream
• 175 grams All-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking powder
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Vanilla

For the Buttercream 

• 113 grams Unsalted butter
• 100 grams Light or Dark Brown sugar (powdered in a Food Processor)
• 125 grams Powdered sugar/confectioners sugar
• 2 tbsp Fresh cream
• 1 tsp Vanilla

Metric - US customary

Instructions

Prepare

• Preheat the oven to 160 C / 320 F.
• Prepare baking cups or cupcake wrappers in a muffin tray.
• Sift flour with salt and baking powder.

Make the Batter

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs one at a time scraping the sides of the bowl often.
• Next, add cream and flour mix in three batches.
• Lastly, add vanilla.
• Use an ice cream scoop to distribute the batter evenly between 12 cupcakes wraps or 10 baking cups.

Bake the Cupcakes

• Bake in a preheated oven for about 18 to 22 minutes or until the skewer inserted comes out clean.
• Chill cupcakes completely before you decorate.

Make the Buttercream

• Place the brown sugar in a food processor and pulse a few times.
• Cream the butter, cream, and sugar until light and fluffy.
• When all the brown sugar has dissolved.
• Add the powder sugar.
• Lastly, add vanilla.

Pipe the Buttercream

• Place buttercream into a piping bag with your favorite piping tip and pipe a swirl.
• Alternatively, use a spatula to create a dome on the cupcake.
• I like to sprinkle them with some brown sugar as well.

Chef's Tips

For Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cupcakes or Chocolate Brown Sugar Cupcakes. 

• Add 1/2 a tsp of cinnamon to the flour mixture to give them a cinnamon flavor. These are great in fall as the warm spices combine beautifully with the molasses in the brown sugar. 
• Substitute 2 tbsp flour in the recipe with 2 tbsp cocoa powder to make these chocolate brown sugar cupcakes. You can also add 50 grams (3 oz) melted cooled chocolate to the frosting to make it a chocolate brown sugar frosting. 

Storage

• These cupcakes will keep well at room temperature for three days, in the fridge for five days if wrapped well. 
• Having said that - cupcakes are always at their best on the first two days. 

Nutrition Information

Serving: 76g | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 36.3g | Protein: 2.9g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0.6g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 24.5g | Vitamin A: 0% | Vitamin C: 0% | Calcium: 0% | Iron: 0%

The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you

Tried this recipe?Mention @veenaazmanov or tag #veenaazmanov!

 Do you love Cupcakes?

Try my tried and tested cupcake recipes. Here listed are just a few…. 

• Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes
• Eggnog Cupcakes with eggnog buttercream
• Pumpkin Cupcakes and Cream Cheese Frosting
• Strawberry Cupcakes or eggless Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream
• Eggless Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting 
• Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Buttercream 
• Butterscotch Cupcakes 
• Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes or White Chocolate Cupcakes

A Collection of Cupcake Recipes by Veena Azmanov