• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Shop
  • Subscribe

My Darling Vegan logo

  • Recipes
  • Vegan Resources
  • eBooks
Home » Recipes » Vegan Desserts » Cakes & Cupcakes » Best-Ever Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes

Best-Ever Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes

by Sarah McMinn / Posted: April 9, 2018 / Updated: March 7, 2022 / Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Total Time: 50 mins

8.0K shares
  • 337
These vegan Vanilla Cupcakes are unbelievably delicate and moist with a touch of sweetness for an easy and delicious cupcake that everyone will love.
These vegan Vanilla Cupcakes are unbelievably delicate and moist with a touch of sweetness for an easy and delicious cupcake that everyone will love.

These vegan Vanilla Cupcakes are unbelievably delicate and moist. Made with applesauce for an easy and delicious cupcake that everyone will love and NO ONE will believe is vegan. Fail-proof and a total crowd pleaser.

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with sprinkles

This post was originally published on 4/9/2018. Last updated 6/15/2020

Who's ready to celebrate with me? What's the occasion, you ask. Oh, just another beautiful day in April. Spring is here. The sun is out. And I'm making vegan cupcakes for work.

Life is pretty good.

Ever since sharing my vegan chocolate cupcakes, I've been getting requests to make vegan vanilla cupcakes. And so, I delivered.

This is one of the most tested recipes I've ever shared on the blog. I worked hard to get these cupcakes just perfect before sharing them with you. And I'm so glad I did.

They are tender, moist, perfectly sweet, and so good that you will fool vegans and omnivores alike. In fact, these have been called the BEST vegan cupcakes on the internet! You do not want to miss out on these delicate bites of dairy free delight!

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes on cake stand
Table of Contents show
Recipe Video
Ingredients & Substitutions
Step-by-Step Instructions
Serving and Storing
Tips and Tricks
Frequently Asked Questions
More Vegan Cake Recipes
Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
Vanilla Cupcakes
Vanilla Buttercream
To make the vanilla cupcakes
To make vanilla buttercream

Recipe Video


Ingredients & Substitutions

These easy, fool-proof vanilla cupcakes are made with simple, straight-forward ingredients for a fluffy and delicate cupcake that is lightly sweetened and filled with delicious vanilla flavor.

Here is everything you need.

  • All-Purpose Flour - This recipe can be made with a gluten-free 1:1 flour blend.
  • Powdered & Granulated Sugar - Check out my guide to vegan sugars and alternative sugar replacements. For a healthier sugar alternative, I recommend coconut sugar.
  • Oil – This recipe calls for canola oil because it creates the best texture without added flavor. If you want to avoid hydrogenated oils, try avocado or melted coconut oil. Olive oil also works but adds a slightly savory flavor. If you want to eliminate the oil altogether, swap it out for the same amount of applesauce.
  • Non-Dairy Milk - I recommend choosing a thick neutral flavored milk such as soy, almond, or cashew milk but any non-dairy milk will do.
  • Applesauce - This is the binder of the recipe. Applesauce works the best but if you don't have access to it, check out my guide on replacing eggs. I also recommend trying a chickpea egg (equivalent to one egg) or equal amounts of non-dairy yogurt.
  • Vegan Butter - Look for a high-quality non-hydrogenated vegan butter. I recommend either Earth Balance or Miyoko’s.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step One - Mix the Batter

In one bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. That’s the flour, vegan sugar, baking powder, and salt.

Batter for Vanilla Cupcakes

Pro Tip: The most accurate way to measure flour is to spoon it into your measuring cup, leveling it off with the back of a knife.

In a separate bowl, combine the non-dairy milk (I use soy milk but any milk should do), oil, water, applesauce, and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix together until you have a smooth, evenly hydrated batter.

Step Two - Bake the Cupcakes

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

With a large ice cream scoop or piping bag fill a muffin tin with batter so that each muffin mold is ¾th the way full. Place it in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

When the cupcakes are done, you’ll notice that it has begun to pull away from the edges slightly. At that point, you can insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, then it’s all ready to go!

Step Three - Make the Buttercream

Since buttercream is primarily made up of butter, it is important to use the highest quality vegan butter you can find. I recommend either Earth Balance or Miyoko’s. You can also make your own vegan butter.

Pro Tip: Make sure your butter is at room temperature when you add it to the mixer. If the butter is too cold, it won't incorporate into the powdered sugar and your buttercream will be lumpy.

In a stand-up mixer, using your paddle attachment, cream the vegan butter on high for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides as necessary. Turn mixer to low and slowly add powdered sugar. Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, turn the mixer back up to high and beat for another 3-5 minutes until thick and creamy.

Turn down mixer, add non-dairy milk and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

Step Four - Decorate the Cupcakes

Once the cupcakes are ready, remove from the oven and let it cool at least 20 minutes in the cake pan before flipping it out onto a wire cooling rack.

Frosting two vegan vanilla cupcakes

This is very important as the structure of the cake is still firming up. If you flip it over too early, it may fall apart or stick to the pan. Let the cupcakes continue cooling on a wire cooling rack until it is completely cool.

Once the cupcakes are COMPLETELY cool, pipe buttercream onto the cupcakes. If the cupcakes aren't cool, the buttercream will melt off.

Vegan Vanilla Cupcake with bite

Serving and Storing

Serving - Serve the cupcakes immediately or place them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Storing - Store the cupcakes for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These cupcakes can also be store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, simply pull out and let thaw at room temperature.

Tips and Tricks

  1. The most accurate way to measure flour is to spoon it into your measuring cup, leveling it off with the back of a knife.
  2. Do not overmix. Overmixing allows the gluten strands to develop making the cake gummy. Mix until just combined to ensure a light, delicate crumb.
  3. Fill cupcake tins about ¾″ of the way full. Any fuller than that and they will overflow.
  4. Do not open the oven door while the cupcakes are baking. This causes the structure to fall leaving you with a dent in the middle of your cakes. You can check for doneness after 20 minutes.
  5. To prevent the cupcake from sticking, use baking cups and generously spray the cups before filling them with batter.
  6. Bring your butter to room temperature before making the buttercream. If the butter is too cold, it won't incorporate into the powdered sugar and your buttercream will be lumpy.
  7. Let the cupcakes sit for at least 20 minutes in the pan before flipping out. If you try and flip it out too early, the cake structure may not have fully set and will fall apart.
  8. Let the cake completely before decorating to prevent the buttercream from melting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this vanilla cupcake recipe be made into a cake?

Yes! This recipe will fill one 8 or 9" cake pan. When making a cake, generously spray the pan with cooking oil. Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the cake pan before adding the batter.

Follow these instructions and bake this vegan cake for about 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Can these vegan cupcakes be gluten-free?

Yes. I have had a lot of luck with Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour (<<affiliate link). That is the only gluten-free flour I've tried for these cupcakes but I'm sure other 1:1 ratio flours would work as well.

Why did my cupcakes sink?

There are a few reasons your cupcakes might have fallen. (1) You opened the oven door before the cake was set. (2) You over mixed the batter allowing too much air to get in. (3) Your baking powder was expired. (4) Your oven was set too high causing it to rise too rapidly before baking in the middle.

Can I make vegan cupcakes from cake mix?

Yes! If you are short on time and want to make vegan cupcakes from a boxed cake mix, simply substitute each egg with ¼ cup of applesauce. Additionally, add an extra ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to help the cupcakes rise.

Can I make this recipe in advance?

If you want to make this recipe in advance, make the cupcakes and buttercream separately. Store the cupcakes according to the instructions above. Buttercream should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. When ready to use, pull it out of the fridge and let it come back to room temperature. Whip it for 2-3 minutes before piping it onto the cupcakes.


More Vegan Cake Recipes

  • Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
  • Gluten-free Carrot Cake
  • Lemon Pound Cake
  • Vegan Lemon Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting
  • Vegan Chocolate Cake
  • Flourless Chocolate Cake

Check out all my vegan cakes and cupcake recipes for more inspiration!

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with sprinkles

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

These vegan Vanilla Cupcakes are unbelievably delicate and moist with a touch of sweetness for an easy and delicious cupcake that everyone will love.
4.87 from 46 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Servings: 12 cupcakes
Calories: 287kcal
Author: Sarah McMinn

Ingredients

Vanilla Cupcakes

  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup non-dairy milk, I use almond
  • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup apple sauce
  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Buttercream

  • 6 tbsp. vegan butter, at room temperature
  • 2 ¼ cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp. non-dairy milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To make the vanilla cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line a muffin tin with 12 baking cups and spray with cooking oil. Set aside. 
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl combine the non-dairy milk, oil, apple sauce, water, and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and gently whisk together until the batter is evenly hydrated and fairly smooth.
  • Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin tin so that they are ⅔rds of the way full, filling all 12 muffin molds evenly. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. 

To make vanilla buttercream

  • In a stand-up mixer, using your paddle attachment, cream the vegan butter on high for 3 minutes, scraping down the sides as necessary. Turn mixer to low and slowly add powdered sugar with motor running, again scraping down the sides as necessary. Once the powdered sugar is incorporated, turn the mixer back up to high and beat for another 3-5 minutes until thick and creamy. Turn down mixer, add non-dairy milk and vanilla extract and beat until combined. 
  • Once the cupcakes are COMPLETELY cool, pipe buttercream onto the cupcakes. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. 

Video

Notes

Serving and Storing - Serve the cupcakes immediately or place in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Store the cupcakes for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These cupcakes can also be store in the freezer for up to 2 months. When ready to serve, simply pull out and let thaw at room temperature.
Make in Advance – If you want to make this recipe in advance, make the cupcakes and buttercream separately. Store the cupcakes according to the instructions above. Buttercream should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. When ready to use, pull it out of the fridge and let it come back to room temperature. Whip it for 2-3 minutes before piping it onto the cupcakes.
Recipe Tips
  1. The most accurate way to measure flour is to spoon it into your measuring cup, leveling it off with the back of a knife.
  2. Do not overmix. Overmixing allows the gluten strands to develop making the cake gummy. Mix until just combined to ensure a light, delicate crumb.
  3. Do not open the oven door while the cupcakes are baking. This causes the structure to fall leaving you with a dent in the middle of your cakes. You can check for doneness after 20 minutes.
  4. Bring your butter to room temperature before making the buttercream. If the butter is too cold, it won’t incorporate into the powdered sugar and your buttercream will be lumpy.
  5. Let the cupcakes sit for at least 20 minutes in the pan before flipping out. If you try and flip it out too early, the cake structure may not have fully set and will fall apart.
  6. Let the cake completely before decorating to prevent the buttercream from melting.
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Can this recipe be made into a cake? Yes! This recipe will fill one 8 or 9″ cake pan. When making a cake, generously spray the pan with cooking oil. Place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the cake pan before adding the batter. Bake this vegan cake for about 45-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • Can I make this recipe gluten-free? Yes. I have had a lot of luck with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour. That is the only gluten-free flour I’ve tried for these cupcakes but I’m sure other 1:1 ratio flours would work as well.
Troubleshooting
Why did my cupcakes fall? There are a few reasons your cupcakes might have fallen.
  • You opened the oven door before the cake was set.
  • You over mixed the batter allowing too much air to get in.
  • Your baking powder was expired.
  • Your oven was set too high causing it to rise too rapidly before baking in the middle.

Nutrition

Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 155mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

@mydarlingvegan on Instagram
If you give this recipe recipe a try, snap a photo and share it on Instagram. Make sure to tag @mydarlingvegan so I can see your creations!
« Vegan Carrot Muffins
Vegan Breakfast Casserole (Eggless) »

Hi, I’m Sarah. I’m a 14-year (and counting) vegan, professionally trained photographer, former pastry chef, founder of My Darling Vegan, and author of the 4-Week Vegan Meal Plan.

Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest and read more about me here.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Aimee B. says

    October 12, 2020 at 4:30 pm

    4 stars
    These were pretty good. It's one of the better vegan vanilla cupcake recipes I've tried. I ended up making mini ones and using chocolate frosting and Halloween sprinkles. Super cute. 🙂

    Reply
  2. Annelle Prefontaine says

    September 25, 2020 at 11:11 am

    Can I substitute using coconut cream and pumpkin in this recipe -to make pumpkin cup cakes?

    Reply
  3. Katie L. says

    September 21, 2020 at 9:24 am

    5 stars
    I just want to say, first time making these and they turned out so well! I have done other vegan or vegan+GF, but they were not this good, I always had to tweak the recipes so they would work. This is a fantastic recipe. Thank you, as these are for a baby shower and I am sure they will be a hit.

    Reply
  4. Andrea Connolly says

    September 19, 2020 at 6:27 am

    5 stars
    Just wonderful. Thanks for the recipe, they turn out wonderful every time!

    Reply
  5. Linda H says

    September 15, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    5 stars
    I made these for my daughter's bridal shower wedding dress pull apart cupcakes. These were a big hit for vegans and non vegans alike.
    I will make these again. Super light and fluffy!

    Reply
  6. Izabel says

    September 01, 2020 at 1:46 pm

    5 stars
    These where really good! I decreased the sugar to 3/4 cups, and added chocolate chips. I will definitely use this receptive again!

    Reply
  7. Ashley Burkett says

    August 13, 2020 at 6:00 pm

    5 stars
    This is the best recipe I’ve found for vegan and gluten free cupcakes. The texture is lovely. It’s light and fluffy just as promised. Thanks for a stellar recipe.

    Reply
  8. V says

    August 10, 2020 at 1:42 am

    Hi
    I was thinking of making these into strawberry cupcakes 🙂 I have some fresh strawberry puree, how would I use that ? Do you think that would work ? Any changes to the recipe ?

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      August 11, 2020 at 8:34 am

      I would use 1/2 cup strawberry puree and omit the applesauce and water. You may need to do some trial and error for the perfect texture, that that is a good starting place.

      Reply
  9. Nessa says

    August 07, 2020 at 11:46 pm

    I don't have apple sauce what else can I use?

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      August 08, 2020 at 7:31 am

      You could use another fruit or vegetable puree like banana or make a chickpea flour egg. Here's my complete guide to replacing eggs.

      Reply
  10. Kate says

    July 17, 2020 at 9:46 pm

    Hi can I replace the apple sauce with a vegan yogurt?

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      July 18, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      Yes, that should be fine.

      Reply
  11. Kat says

    July 14, 2020 at 7:10 pm

    Do you think spelt flour would be ok in this recipe?

    Reply
  12. Jonathan says

    July 06, 2020 at 3:29 pm

    5 stars
    I made these cupcakes this past weekend, and they were, by far, the BEST cupcakes I have ever had. Guests at the party were blown away as well, and they were shocked to discover they were vegan. The vanilla cupcake recipe I normally used is from Minimalist Baker, but I found they were far too oily, which led me here. This recipe replaces some of the oil with applesauce, and what a big difference it makes in terms of texture and moistness. The applesauce does not alter the vanilla flavour at all, so rest assured. This is the third recipe I have tried from My Darling Vegan, and they are always mind-blowingly delicious and the results are always consistent. My Darling Vegan will now be my go-to website for vegan recipes. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Pascale says

    July 03, 2020 at 12:13 am

    Hi,

    What could I use besides granulated sugar?

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      July 05, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      The best option would be coconut sugar. This guide might help you.

      Reply
      • Nancy Tigress says

        August 13, 2020 at 5:45 pm

        5 stars
        I just saw your reply about omitting water for adding another thing. I added maple syrup for sugar. Less then the cup had no vanilla also. now I'm stressed... I also added organic, Vegan, gluten free sprinkles. I hope this cakes turns out well. ??

  14. v says

    June 30, 2020 at 7:03 am

    Hi
    I have baked these twice now. Once a double layer 8" cake and once a dozen cupcakes. Both were super !!!
    But I failed terribly on the buttercream. Followed every detail of the recipe. Both times my buttercream curdled 🙁
    Could you please share a foolproof recipe for the same !

    Reply
    • Sarah McMinn says

      July 01, 2020 at 7:03 am

      Hmm...it probably has to do with the kind of vegan butter you are using. It might be worth trying to get your butter to room temperature before mixing it.

      Reply
  15. Lindsay says

    June 29, 2020 at 4:57 pm

    5 stars
    These cupcakes were THE BEST I've ever tasted. And I've tried a TON of vegan cupcakes. Thanks so much for sharing this simple and delicious recipe. I think the applesauce is the secret ingredient. SO soft and fluffy. 🙂

    Reply
  16. Michal Paniry says

    June 27, 2020 at 9:34 am

    these muffins were unbelievable! devoured them in 10 minutes!

    Reply
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »
4.87 from 46 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to My Darling Vegan. I am a classically trained chef and professional photographer. With 14 years of vegan experience, my goal is to make vegan eating easy, fun, and accessible for all.

More about me →

As Featured In...

Most Popular

  • Stack of three vegan blueberry muffins
    The BEST Vegan Blueberry Muffins
  • Stack of vegan chocolate crinkle cookies
    Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
  • Finished bread cut into slices on a cutting board
    Best-Ever Vegan Zucchini Bread
  • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffin with bite
    Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
  • Raw carrot cake bites on a cutting board
    Raw Carrot Cake Bites
  • Healthy Vegan Cookies - 4 Ingredients!

See more recipes →

Healthy Vegan Recipes

You must use the category name, not a URL, in the category field.

See more Healthy Vegan Recipes →

Vegan Recipe Roundups

  • 12 Classic Vegan Cheese Recipes
  • 20 Best Ever Vegan Cookie Recipes
  • 11 of the BEST Vegan Muffin Recipes
  • Get ready to cross the incredible world of cauliflower with these 11 mouthwatering vegan recipes.
    11 DELICIOUS Vegan Cauliflower Recipes

View more recipe roundups →

Footer

↑ back to top

List of places MDV has been featured in.
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Work With Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Press
  • Accessibility Statement






THIS SITE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS     © 2022 My Darling Vegan — All Rights Reserved

×

Wanna learn how to bake like a pro? Check out Vegan Baking for Everyone for recipes, tips, vegan how-to guides, and much more!

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.