Root Beer Float Cupcakes with Root Beer Buttercream Frosting take cupcakes to a whole new level. Easy to make and packed with flavor this recipe will have you and your guests grabbing seconds!

 

 

Cupcake season is right around the corner so it’s about time I get a new cupcake up on Num’s the Word!

By cupcake season I mean the summer months.  My children run a cupcake and lemonade stand in our front yard every Wednesday night during the summer.

This goes on for 12 weeks and every week they offer a new flavor of cupcake.  All the money they earn goes into a college fund and they do not get to spend any of it.

At first the concept was really hard for my daughter.  However, now that we’ve been doing it for a few years, she doesn’t think twice about asking to keep some of it.  Instead she knows that it is all going into an account and that one day she’ll be able to use it for her education.

 

 

Our goal every year is to come up with new and exciting flavors that our customers will love.  This easy root beer float cupcake was featured last year and a huge hit.  It was such a hit that my son has requested these cupcakes for his birthday party today.

Yep, you read that right. Today.  Meaning I’m making a batch of these cupcakes with frosting and can’t wait to sink my teeth into them.  

I’m not sure what the other 5 year olds will think of root beer flavored cupcakes, but fingers crossed they are a hit.

When it comes to the cupcakes we sell, we always try to do homemade gourmet. We do our best to make sure our presentation is just as great as our flavors.  

So for this easy Root Beer Float Cupcake Recipe, we top our cupcakes with root beer barrels.  Do you remember those candies from when you were a child?  We love them.  However they are a little hard to find.  I can only find them at our local grocery store or online.  

 

 

They are worth the search though.  I’ve seen where others use Maraschino cherries.  To me this seems like such an odd topping as I don’t add a cherry on top of my root beer float, so why would I on my root beer float cupcake?

Instead we choose the root beer barrel.  However you can use whatever you have on hand. If that is maraschino cherries, then go for it.  Perhaps you use sprinkles or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to find the root beer barrels.

These Easy Root Beer Float Cupcakes are a must have for any party or gathering.  Root Beer lovers will be excited to see, taste and smell their cupcakes.  

To top off these Root Beer Float Cupcakes, I pipe on a creamy smooth Root Beer Buttercream Frosting.  My buttercream frosting is top notch and all the variations I’ve created over the years really gives variety to any cake or cupcake you make. The root beer frosting on these cupcakes will have you licking the bowl.

 

 

My favorite part to these cupcake is that they start with a cake mix. Yep these are root beer float cupcakes with cake mix.  Why?  Because cake mix makes for a great, cheap and easy base.  Then we add additional flour, sugar, salt, oil, sour cream and eggs to create a bakery style cupcake.

I have been asked by many people how I get my cupcakes to taste either just like a bakery or better than a bakery cupcake.  The secret is I start with a cake mix and add to it!  GASP!  Meaning this is not the root beer cupcake from scratch recipe.  I call them semi-scratch. 

Trust me, these cupcakes will taste 100% better than the standard cake mix cupcakes you’re used to.  

Root Beer Cupcakes aren’t a new invention.  However, this recipe is unlike any other out there.  When it comes to cupcakes, I am very confident in my recipes.  They’ve been made multiple times and each recipe has been tested on over 100 people before it makes it onto this website. 

So when it comes to this Root Beer Cupcake Recipe, I’m going to just have to tell you to trust me.  If you love root beer, then these cupcakes are about to rock your world!

 

 

WHAT INGREDIENTS WILL I NEED?

• white cake mix
• flour
• sugar
• salt
• root beer
• vegetable oil
• root beer extract
• sour cream
• eggs
• heavy whipping cream
• powdered sugar

 

 

I DON’T HAVE ROOT BEER POP, CAN I USE ANOTHER LIQUID?

Of course.  If you do not have root beer pop on hand, then use 1 1/3 cup water.  Then adjust your extract to 1 1/4 teaspoon extract, instead of 1 teaspoon.  

 

 

THERE ARE SEVERAL CHOICES FOR EXTRACTS, IS ONE BETTER THAN ANOTHER?

Most fancy pants bloggers out there will tell you yes.  And it’s true.  Some are better than others.  However my cupboard is full of several bottles of both McCormick brand root beer extract and Watkins root beer extract.

And I use both of them for various recipes.  

The McCormick brand adds a caramel coloring to their extract.  Watkins keeps theirs clear.  

I have a recipe for Root Beer Float Whoopie Pies on Num’s and for that recipe I use the clear Watkins extract.  

For this delicious Root Beer Float Cupcakes recipe, I prefer to use the McCormick’s brand as I want that extra coloring in both my cupcake and my frosting.  

 

 

Imagine if these cupcakes were white with white frosting.  You’d never be able to tell that they were Root Beer.  Well, aside from the smell.  The frosting SMELLS like root beer.  However this isn’t April Fools and I really wanted my customers to know these weren’t a typical white cupcake and white buttercream frosting.

So for this recipe I prefer the McCormick’s brand root beer flavor for the extra caramel coloring.

If all you have is clear extract, then add a drop or two of brown food coloring to your cupcakes and frosting.

OTHER CUPCAKES YOU’LL LOVE: 

• Banana Pudding Cupcakes
• Banana Cupcakes
• Chocolate Andes Mint Cupcakes
• Lemon Lovers Cupcakes
• Black Forest Cupcakes
• Pumpkin Cupcakes
• Cookies & Cream Cupcakes
• Cupcake Ice Cream Cones
• Apple Pie Cupcakes
• German Chocolate Cupcakes
• White Cupcakes with Raspberry Curd
• Oreo Cupcakes with Cream Filling
• Rolo Cupcakes

 

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