Cinnamon Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Start with a box cake mix and end up with soft, fluffy, custom cinnamon cupcakes swirled with homemade cinnamon buttercream. Simple ingredients with an amazing flavor.

cinnamon-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-buttercream-recipe

Cinnamon Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting. This simple cupcake recipe was actually inspired by the cinnamon Teddy Grahams, which are my favorite flavor.  I love cinnamon almost as much as I love chocolate and peanut butter.

And just when I thought I couldn’t love buttercream frosting any more than I do, I find homemade cinnamon buttercream.  Perfection, I say. I’m not exaggerating when I say that this homemade buttercream frosting melts in your mouth. If you like cinnamon, you’ll love these cinnamon cupcakes. And if you top it with a cinnamon Teddy Graham?  You’re kids will love it, too.

cinnamon-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-buttercream-recipe

Ok…if they’re like my kids, it wouldn’t have to have the Teddy Graham on top for them to love it, but it definitely adds to the “cute” factor.

cinnamon-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-buttercream-recipe

 You’re going to love these cinnamon cupcakes because they start with a boxed cake mix.  Homemade cake is a classic, but you can never go wrong with doctoring up boxed cake mixes. Add a little bit of cinnamon and vanilla, eggs, oil, and vanilla pudding mix. And use milk in place of the water.  Using milk in a cake mix makes for a richer cake that tastes like it is from the bakery.

Bake as directed on the back of the box.  Every box mix is slightly different so just follow the baking times on the back of the brand that you have.

cinnamon-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-buttercream-recipe

Then you’ll frost them with the cinnamon buttercream that you whip up.  Don’t be afraid of homemade frosting…buttercream is easy.  The most important tip when making the buttercream is to first whip the butter until it is light and fluffy.  It will take about 2 minutes using a stand mixer (or hand mixer) and the butter will turn almost white.  Then you’ll add your other ingredients and whip for about another 2 minutes using the whisk attachment. Don’t get impatient.  The several minutes of whipping is what beats air into your frosting and makes your buttercream light and fluffy!

We shared these with the teens in our church Sunday School and with Matt’s coworkers and they loved them.  We got thumbs up all around:)

I hope you enjoy them, too!

cinnamon-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-buttercream-recipe

Cinnamon Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream
Cinnamon Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

Cinnamon Buttercream Cupcakes

4.34 from 15 votes
Cinnamon cupcakes made from a boxed cake mix with melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon buttercream!
Servings 24 servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Email Me This Recipe!
Enter your email and get the recipe sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week.

Ingredients
 

  • 1 package yellow cake mix 18 ¼ ounces
  • 1 package vanilla instant pudding mix 4-serving size
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cinnamon Buttercream:

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.. Lightly grease or line 24 muffin cups with paper baking cups. Set aside. Beat cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, eggs, cinnamon and vanilla in bowl of electric mixer on low speed just to moisten, scraping sides as needed. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes.
  • Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each cup 2/3 full. We like to use an ice cream scoop!
  • Bake 15-17 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely.

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting:

  • Beat 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened, in large bowl of an electric mixer (whisk attachment) on medium speed until light, fluffy, and almost white in appearance.
  • Add 1 teaspoon vanilla; mix until blended.
  • Add in 1 tablespoon cinnamon and 2 cups powdered sugar. Beat until well blended.
  • Add 3 tablespoons of heavy cream and beat until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add more powdered sugar to stiffen the buttercream, or more heavy cream to make it more spreadable, as you desire.
  • Use a decorating bag and Wilton tip 1M to pipe swirls on top of the cupcakes, or simply spread on the frosting with a knife.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 266mg | Potassium: 37mg | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 0.6mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Calories 270

Recipe from McCormick.com

About Julie Clark

I'm Julie Clark, CEO and recipe developer of Tastes of Lizzy T. With my B.A. in Education and over 30 years of cooking and baking, I want to teach YOU the best of our family recipes.

Get 5 Classic Recipes with a Deliciously Secret Twist

You might also like

Join the Discussion

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

40 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

r
5 years ago

Does this need to be kept refrigerated because of the buttercream?

samra
7 years ago

When you say ‘heavy cream’ could you expand on which one you mean? First time baker, pretty hesitant to try this.

Thanks

samra
7 years ago

I am thinking of making this recipe but what would be the equivalent for the pudding mix in the UK, would Dr. Oetker Original Pudding Mix be okay.

Thanks

Lori
7 years ago

Hi…LOVE the look and sound of these!! Dumb question tho…what kind of sugar is that on top in the picture? Is it special brown sugar? Thanks so much…cant wait to try!!!

Dawn
7 years ago

Do you have an updated recipe since the cake boxes are no longer made 18 1/4 ounces? 🙂

Kitty
7 years ago

Cinnamon is one of my favorite ingredients and your buttercream looks like perfection!

Julie
7 years ago

These are gorgeous! I could lick that frosting right off the top, wait I usually do!

Juli
9 years ago

Hi! I’m going to make these for a competition! Do you think I could dye half red and half green to use on Christmas cupcakes? Or does the cinnamon make it too brown?

Lynn
10 years ago

I love cupcakes, I dream of cupcakes…this recipe is going to be amazing. I make cupcakes and other desserts for special events for clients, this recipe will surely be a keeper. I am going to kick it up a notch (as Emerald Lagassi would say, lol) I loved your recipe for the cinnamon cheesecake roll…so since this is a cinnamon cupcake I am going to add a cheesecake filling that you will bake inside the cupcake. I do this with many of my cupcakes, and people rave about them. This one is perfect to do it to…can’t wait to make… Read more »

Vera Zecevic – Cupcakes Garden
10 years ago

I’ve featured this recipe on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best

Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
10 years ago

Oh my! Cinnamon would probably rank right up there behind PB and Chocolate for me, too! Pinning this – Thanks for linking up to All My Bloggy Friends – I can’t wait to see what you share this week!

Tumbleweed Contessa
10 years ago

The cinnamon butter cream are my favorite ones but they all look delicious! Thanks for sharing at What’d You Do This Weekend!

Kayla
10 years ago

This sounds wonderful!! A cupcake after my own heart! Following you from What’s in your kitchen

Jenn
10 years ago

These look amazing, can’t wait to make them. Do you use unsalted or salted butter for the your butter cream frosting?

Janine | sugarkissed.net
10 years ago

I can’t wait to try this recipe! The cinnamon teddy grahams are my favorite too. What a great idea for a cupcake flavor!