Crazy for Cupcakes

We simply adore these apple streusel cupcakes -- and judging by all the five-star ratings, so do our users!  The homemade cinnamon-flavored streusel perfectly accents the apples' sweetness, while the simple glaze pulls it all together.  If you love amaretto, try adding a splash of liqueur to the glaze as well.Recipe: Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

These chocolate strawberry shortcake cupcakes are not only super creative, gorgeous, and delicious - they were also the first vegan recipe to win a Food Network competition (the 2010 "Cupcake Wars").  Sandwich strawberry slices and vegan frosting (made with nondairy milk) between the cupcake bottom and the cupcake top, then finish it all off with another layer of frosting, sliced strawberries, and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.Recipe: Chloe's Vegan Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes 

Dense coconut milk, added right into the batter, gives these cupcakes all the flavor of the full-sized concoction, but with the added cuteness of individual servings. Top with traditional cream cheese icing and toasted coconut.Recipe: Coconut Cupcakes

When you need "tastes like homemade" in minutes, use this recipe. Top cupcakes, made with packaged pound cake mix, with a creamy, buttery frosting that's sure to have everyone begging for more. For added appeal, garnish with mint leaves and edible violas.Recipe: Cupcakes with Browned Butter Frosting

Update the idea of ice cream cakes with these frozen treats. Layer crushed lemon cookies with blueberry filling and a creamy milk-and-frozen lemonade mixture. Dollop whipped topping on last, and freeze overnight then add sprinkles, jelly beans, and anything else sweet you can find.Recipe: Lemon-Blueberry Ice-cream Cupcakes

Bake chocolate cupcakes with a surprise inside. With a knife, hollow out the center of the baked cakes and fill with marshmallow cream. Top with a gooey chocolate cream cheese frosting for a sure-fire winner among kids and adults.Recipe: Devil's Food Cupcakes with Marshmallow Filling

Boxed cake mix is the only routine ingredient in these creative confections. Orange juice, ricotta cheese, and orange marmalade add tons of rich flavor and keep the cupcakes moist. Top with Marmalade Buttercream Frosting for an event-worthy dessert.Recipe: Orange Marmalade-Ricotta Cupcakes with Marmalade Buttercream Frosting

Keep this family favorite around for the holiday season. Mashed sweet potatoes give the cakes extra moistness, while a myriad of spices including cinnamon and nutmeg, spice up the traditionally sweet dessert. A simple cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of chopped pecans is all that's needed on top.Recipe: Sweet Potato-Pecan Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting

The chocoholic in your family will swoon for these s'more like treats. Chocolate cupcakes are topped with mini marshmallows and a thick chocolate frosting drizzle.Recipe: Mississippi Mud Cupcakes

Perfect for the Junior's bake sale, this recipe dresses up store-bought iced cupcakes. Simply pick up coarse sugar and lollipops in your school's colors. Add a ribbon around the stem of the sucker for extra color and package them individually.Recipe: Team Spirit Cupcakes

Update the classic recipe with a few of our favorite shortcuts. Start with boxed cake mix and add a few tablespoons of cocoa. The red food coloring is optional, but adds great contrast between the cake and the frosting. Serve in muffin cups, or unwrap for pretty presentation.Recipe: Easy Red Velvet Cupcakes

Perfect for summer, these cakes get their name–and great flavor–from frozen lemonade concentrate. Balance the tart flavor with a smooth cream cheese frosting. Don't forget the sour gummies on top.Recipe: Lemonade Cupcakes

Chocolate lovers everywhere will swoon over the super-rich chocolatey flavor of these luscious cupcakes.Recipe: Double-Chocolate Cupcakes

If you love light, fluffy, bright desserts, check out this cupcake concoction. Lemon rind and fresh lemon juice punch up the flavor and give your cupcakes true zing!Recipe: Lemon Angel Food Cupcakes

If you love fruit-flavored cupcakes, check out these banana cupcakes, which call for adding 2 mashed ripe bananas to the batter.  The homemade chocolate frosting really pairs well with the cupcakes' delicate banana flavor.  Recipe: Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

Jazz up basic vanilla cupcakes with a layer of creamy semisweet chocolate, then crown it all with Salted Caramel Buttercream frosting.  The frosting calls for adding kosher salt to the cream cheese-and-caramel mixture, which gives it incredible salty-sweet appeal.   Recipe: Salted Caramel-Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolatey cupcakes paired with a peppermint-flavored frosting and chopped peppermint candies are perfect for Christmas parties.  Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes with Peppermint Frosting 

Decorate store-bought cupakes for Easter by making cute bunny faces with marshmallows, coconut, pretzels, and an assortment of candy.Recipe: Bunny Face Cupcakes  

Flavor basic buttermilk cupcake batter with grated lemon rind and fold in fresh or thawed blueberries for these sweet-and-tart cupcakes.  Spread a dollop of cream cheese frosting on top and serve with extra blueberries.Recipe: Lemon-Scented Blueberry Cupcakes 

Kids will love decorating these simple bunny cupcakes. Start with boxed or grocery store cupcakes then decorate each with vanilla frosting, green coconut, and bunnie cookies. Kneading together refrigerated sugar cookie dough and flour make it easer to cut out the bunny shapes.Recipe: Bunny Cookie Cupcakes

A hint of orange juice and chopped fresh strawberries give these cupcakes their wonderfully fruity flavor.  Top with a glaze made from orange juice and confectioner's sugar, and garnish with a strawberry half for pretty presentation. Recipe: Orange-Glazed Strawberry Cupcakes  

Perfect for Easter or a spring-themed birthday party for a bunny lover, these cupcakes are (almost!) too cute to eat. Look for bunny candies in kitchen stores or by special order.Recipe: Sweet Li'l Bunny Cupcakes  

The center of each cupcake is filled with a sweet pineapple mixture that highlights the homemade buttermilk-cream cheese frosting. Make birds' nests on the top of each cupcake with malted milk balls and edible paper.Recipe: Pineapple-Coconut Cupcakes with Buttermilk-Cream Cheese Frosting

These delicious cupcakes are a homemade twist on store-bought ice cream cake.  Mix coffee-flavored ice cream with Heath Bar bits and sandwich between circles of frozen pound cake and a layer of sweetened, whipped heavy cream.  Top the ice cream cupcakes with more Heath Bar bits and freeze for at least 2 hours before serving.   Recipe: Coffee-Toffee Ice Cream Cupcakes