Who loves a little nostalgia? Grape Soda reminds me of summer time fun as a kid, so I made these delicious Grape Soda Cupcakes completely with buttercream frosting with a little grape soda added!
Do you remember riding your bike up to the little corner store in the summer time and getting your favorite soda as a kid? I always chose Grape Soda or Strawberry Soda.
This has been a popular recipe on the blog for years now, so I decided to give the photos an update! It was quite the treat for my kids, who always love this recipe.
What do you need to make Grape Soda Cupcakes?
You’ll definitely need Grape Soda and a couple packets of Grape Kool-Aid mix.
Now…if you want to make this a shortcut, you can use a White Box Cake Mix instead of this cake recipe from scratch. If you’re using a white cake mix, you’ll need to replace all the liquid in the cake mix with Grape Soda.
How do you make Grape Soda Cupcakes?
My favorite thing about these cupcakes is you make fresh whipped cream and fold it into the batter. It makes these cupcakes so light and fluffy.
First, we’ll make the whipped cream. Chill the mixing bowl in the freezer for 5 minutes, and then beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Scrape it into another bowl and set in the fridge until we’re ready for it.
Next, cream the butter and sugar on medium until it’s very creamy, about 5 minutes.
While that’s mixing sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium-sized bowl. I used to never sift flour until I learned that if you don’t, you can be adding up to 20% more flour than you intend. Can you believe it?
Beat the eggs. With the mixer still on medium, switch between adding the flour mixture and adding the eggs. Make sure you start and finish with the flour mixture.
Add the grape soda and Kool-Aid mix.
Continue mixing on medium for 2 minutes.
Lastly, using a rubber spatula and fold the whipped cream into the cake batter.
Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Don’t overfill or they will bubble over with batter. I have done this more times than I like to admit.
Bake the cupcakes for about 15-16 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs.
Allow the cupcakes to cool thoroughly before you frost them with the grape soda buttercream.
How do you make Grape Soda Buttercream Frosting?
Your buttercream will have just a hint of a grape soda flavor because we don’t use very much. However, the cupcakes will taste very much like Grape Soda, so it evens out nicely.
Beat butter until creamy.
Slowly add a cup of powdered sugar at a time. After about 2-3 cups, add the heavy cream and Grape Soda.
Add just a pinch from the Grape Kool-Aid mix. Don’t add more because it will make your frosting very sour.
Once all powdered sugar is added, beat for an additional 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
Frost once cupcakes are thoroughly cooled. I like to use the big star tips.
Finish with sprinkles or sanding sugar or sugar pearls.
More Cupcake Recipes
We love cupcakes around here, and these recipes are some of my personal favorites. I think you’ll love them, too!
- Pink Velvet Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Cupcakes
- Cheesecake Banana Cupcakes
- Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie Cupcakes
- Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Stuffed Cupcakes
Grape Soda Cupcakes
Ingredients
Grape Soda Cupcake Batter
- 1/2 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 1 stick of butter at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups of white sugar
- 2 1/2 cups of cake flour
- 1 tbs baking powder
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 whole egg at room temperature
- 2 egg white at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups of grape soda
- 1 package of Grape Kool-Aid mix.
Grape Soda Buttercream Frosting
- 1 1/2 cups butter at room temperature - 3 sticks of butter
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbs heavy cream
- 2-4 tbs grape soda
- a pinch of a packet of Kool-Aid Grape Flavor drink
Instructions
Cupcake Batter
- Chill the mixing bowl in the freezer for 5 minutes, and then beat whipping cream until soft peaks form. Scrape it into another bowl and set in the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 muffin/cupcake pans with standard cupcake liner. Rinse out the mixing bowl.
- Cream the butter and sugar on medium until it's very creamy, about 5 minutes.
- While that's mixing, sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium-sized bowl.
- Beat the eggs.
- With the mixer still on medium, switch between adding the flour mixture and eggs. Make sure you start and finish with the flour mixture.
- Add the grape soda and Kool-Aid mix.
- Then continue mixing on medium for 2 minutes.
- Lastly, using a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into the cake batter.
- Fill your cupcake liners about 2/3 full. Then, bake until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few crumbs. It's about 15-16 minutes.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool thoroughly.
- Beat butter until creamy.
- Slowly add a cup of powdered sugar at a time.
- After about 2-3 cups, add the heavy cream and grape soda
- Add an entire flavor packet of Koolaid grape drink mix.
- Once all powdered sugar is added, beat for an additional 5 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Frost once cupcakes are thoroughly cooled. I like to use the big star tips. Finish with sprinkles or sanding sugar or sugar pearls.
18 comments
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These cupcakes look delicious! I will have to try them with my girls. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
These look good!!!
I would love for you to link up to my TGIF Link Party!
http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/2013/05/a-peek-into-my-paradise-tgif-link-party.html
Cathy
wow what a color! would be pretty for a birthday or shower too!
Stopping by from weekend re-Treat~ Looks Great, or should I say Grape:) Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines
love it, will feature you on Monday. Thank you for sharing at the hop xo
Oooh – I’ve just got to try making some of these. They sound gorgeous (and look beautiful too)
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and I wanted to tell you that I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award. Please pop over to my blog http://everydayimstitchin.blogspot.co.uk/ when you get a free moment to find our more about the award.
Gemma x
Great idea!! I love the color!
Yum! Sounds really good! I’m visiting you today from Sugar Bee. I co-host a Linky Party Tuesdays and would LOVE for you to add this. I hope you get a chance to stop by my blog, leave a comment and Link Up, too!
~ Megin of VMG206
Join me each Tuesday for Brag About It Link Up Party
I love your bright and colorful creations! How could you not love a cupcake that tastes like Grape Soda? I don’t think it’s possible 🙂 Thanks for sharing a fabulous recipe! Krista @ A Handful of Everything
This is brilliant! I love grape soda! Thanks for linking up to Give Me The Goods Monday! We love having you party with us! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof
Yum! This sounds so good! I am new from southern charm! I would love for you to check out my blog and follow me back! Nicole
The frosting directions say to beat the butter & cream cheese until creamy, how much cream cheese? It’s not listed in the ingredient list.
I’m an idiot, sorry about that. I cut and pasted from another frosting recipe I make, but I forgot to fix that part of it. Just use 3 sticks of butter. HTH!
the baking soda is 1- Tablespoon correct?
no it’s 1 TBSP. baking powder
I made these, they really taste like grape pop. I put a Kool-Aid package in the batter too. I filled them with a jar of marshmallow fluff and a can of vanilla frosting. Really Great!
Oooo, marshmallow fluff sounds fantastic in the middle! Great idea!