These Moscow Mule Cupcakes taste just like the cocktail! And cocktail cupcakes are delicious! Spiked with vodka, these cupcakes are easy to make and are perfect for your cocktail-loving sweet tooth. With lime, ginger beer and vodka, these alcohol-infused cupcakes are a must for your next girl's night in.
Moscow Mules are one of my favorite things to serve at a party. And now you can toast your special occasion with a Moscow Mule for dessert too with these super fun and slightly boozy alcohol-infused Moscow Mule Cupcakes.
These spiked Moscow Mule Cupcakes are great for summer! The citrus flavor makes them almost as refreshing as the cocktail.
Just picture these at a pool party! If that doesn't make you excited for warmer weather I don't know what will!
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Why I love this recipe
If you've never tried vodka-infused cupcakes, you must give these a try! I don't think the vodka gives off that much flavor but it seems to do something to the crumb that is just delightful!
The addition of ginger beer keeps these moist and the frosting zesty, made with lime and ginger powder, really brings out the flavor of this classic cocktail.
The flavor combination is refreshing in a cocktail and super flavorful in a cupcake. And because this recipe starts with a boxed cake mix, these are perfect for people who don't consider themselves bakers. Because cake-mix desserts are awesome!
Serve these Moscow Mule Cupcakes, alongside a Classic Moscow Mule, at your next party or girl's night. They'll definitely be a hit.
Not a fan of the mule? Try Fireball Cupcakes, Margarita Cupcakes, Sangria Cupcakes or decadent Southern Comfort Cupcakes!
Ingredients
Starting a dessert recipe with a boxed cake mix is always a time-saver. By just adding a few flavors to it, you can create all kinds of yummy cocktail cupcake flavors.
For the Cupcakes
Vanilla Cake Mix creates the perfect base for this recipe. While some desserts call for yellow cake mix (like in my favorite Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake), it can have too much flavor. If you can, use white cake mix, but in a pinch, yellow would work.
The addition of lime zest and ginger really kick up the flavor and help to bring in those cocktail-inspired flavors and are a must in this recipe.
Buttermilk, ginger beer and vodka do incredible things to make these cupcakes tender and delicious!
If you don't have buttermilk you can make your own with an easy swap of 2% milk and white vinegar or lemon juice.
Ultimately, you can leave the vodka (here's my favorite vodkas) out (replace with the same amount of water) but you're basically taking all the fun out of the recipe... (unless of course you plan to serve these at a party with kids about!) These cupcakes will still have the same citrus and ginger flavors you love though.
For the Frosting
I always start my flavored frostings with my basic vanilla buttercream recipe.
More ginger powder and lime zest jazz up the flavor to reinforce the cocktail flavors.
Adding the vodka to the cake mix, where it cooks and mellows a bit, keeps these cupcakes from tasting like a shot. But if you want to kick up the booze factor a little, you can add a little vodka to the buttercream too.
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and set it aside.
In a bowl combine boxed mix with egg, lime zest, ground ginger and butter.
With the help of a mixer combine all the ingredients until crumbly, it should resemble wet sand.
Mix in vodka. Slowly incorporate ginger beer and buttermilk mixing well until there are no lumps left.
Divide the batter between the cupcake liners and take to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack.
While the cupcakes are cooling prepare the frosting. Mix the vanilla buttercream with ginger powder and lime zest.
Frost the cupcakes and decorate them with lime wedges, mint, and lime zest. That's what gives these cupcakes their distinct Moscow Mule flavor and makes them look cute too.
Tips and Tricks
- Using silicone cupcake liners means these cupcakes are easy to remove and the liners can be reused.
- To make these look even more like a cocktail you can stick a paper straw out of the frosting! Cut them to size with scissors. It makes a fun garnish.
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature before making the buttercream. You'll get the best results that way!
- The focus of this recipe should be the ginger since that's really what makes this resemble a Moscow Mule! It may make your frosting an off-white color. It's not coming through in the photos but just know, it won't be a stark white!
Frequently Asked Questions
Any kind! While typically, in cocktails, you want to use something you like the flavor of, in these Moscow Mule Cupcakes, you won't get tons of flavor from it so you can use anything you have in your bar or something inexpensive. Or buy something nicer and make these vodka recipes with any leftovers.
Nope. I love the extra kick of flavor, but these cupcakes are great with or without the vodka added in. Just substitute with water instead.
No. Since we're adding the vodka to the batter, most of the alcohol is cooked off while baking. You'll get all of the flavor of vodka without the hangover tomorrow.
A few more easy recipes you might also enjoy!
- Wine Infused Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes
- Rose Wine Infused Cupcakes
- Box Mix Prosecco Cupcakes
- White Russian Cupcakes with Box Mix
- Coconut Rum Cupcakes using Cake Mix
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Moscow Mule Cupcakes
Equipment
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer
- measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Microplane or zester
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
Ingredients for Cupcakes
- 16.25 ounces White boxed cake mix
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- ⅓ Cup butter
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅓ Cup buttermilk
- ⅓ Cup ginger beer
- 3 tablespoon vodka
For the Frosting
- 1 Batch of my Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
Instructions
Make the Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
- In a bowl combine boxed mix with egg, lime zest, ground ginger and butter.
- With the help of a mixer (hand or stand) combine all the ingredients until crumbly, it should resemble wet sand.
- Mix in vodka. Slowly incorporate ginger beer and buttermilk mixing well until there are no lumps left.
- Divide the batter between the cupcake liners and take to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.
- Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack. Cool cupcakes completely before frosting.
Make the Frosting
- While the cupcakes are cooling prepare the frosting. Make the basic vanilla buttercream recipe.
- Add ground ginger and lime zest and mix well.
- Frost the cupcakes and decorate with lime wedges, peppermint and lime zest.
Notes
- Using silicone cupcake liners means these cupcakes are easy to remove and the liners can be reused.
- To make these look even more like a cocktail you can stick a straw out of the frosting! Cut them to size with scissors. It makes a fun garnish.
- Make sure the butter is at room temperature before making the buttercream. You'll get the best results that way!
- The focus of this recipe should be the ginger since that's really what makes this resemble a Moscow Mule! It may make your frosting an off-white color. It's not coming through in the photos but just know, it won't be a stark white!
Beverly Brown says
I have made this twice and the flavor is a hit!!! Just one problem is that they seem to get dry very quickly. I also wonder about the 400* temperature. Any adjustments to help with the dryness and would lowering the temperature help? Perhaps adding an extra egg?
Beverly Brown says
Meant to rate this a 5 sorry...
Amber says
For the cupcake ingredients, you mention 1 teaspoon of ground ginger. In the instructions there is no mention of when to use the ground ginger in the cupcake batter. I am in the middle of making these right now… Do I add the teaspoon of ground ginger to the cupcake batter