Make fluffy cream soda cupcakes with just 2 ingredients — a box of cake mix and a can of cream soda for a fun, easy dessert.

2-Ingredient Cream Soda Cupcakes Recipe

One thing about me is I’m always going to have desserts at the ready.

I live in a busy neighborhood where friends often stop by without planning and my daughter usually ends up showing up after school a couple days a week with a gaggle of teenage girls in tow.

While I could just stock the cupboards with store-bought treats, I love having easy desserts like today’s 2-ingredient cream soda cupcakes that end up usually being cheaper to whip up than it costs to buy most pre-made treats – not to mention, they feel more special to serve up!

These cream soda cupcakes are also great for busy party planning when you have decorations, cleaning and other dishes to prepare.

The cupcakes have a light cream soda flavor, with the homemade cream soda frosting carrying the majority of the cream soda flavor.

They are perfect for birthdays, BBQs or just a sweet treat to tuck into lunchboxes.

You can also use the below recipe to make a variety of soda-inspired cupcakes, like root beer, creamsicle, Dr Pepper, Cherry Coke, etc.

— Jennifer

Ingredients

For your convenience, I’ve provided ad links to supplies used to make this recipe; see our disclosure policy here.

For the cupcakes:

• 1 cup cream soda
• 1 box white cake mix

For the buttercream:

• 2 cups cream soda
• 1 cup butter
• 3-4 cups powdered icing sugar

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.

Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful

• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Muffin Tin
• Mixing Bowl
• Saucepan
• Piping Bag (or Offset Spatula if you don’t want to pipe on the frosting)
• Electric Mixer

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375F.

Line two muffin pans with cupcake liners.

Place the 2 cups of cream soda for the buttercream in a saucepan and set over high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium to simmer until the cream soda is reduced to approximately 1/2 cup. Pour into a mason jar and place in the fridge to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream soda and white cake mix for 2 minutes, until light and completely combined.

Use a cookie scoop to portion out the cupcake batter into the prepared liners.

Bake the cupcakes for 18-22 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Cool the cupcakes completely as you prepare the buttercream.

Place the butter and icing sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat together for 2 minutes until completely combined.

Add 2 Tablespoons of the reduced cream soda syrup, then taste and adjust with more cream soda syrup. This will make the frosting softer and more flavourful.

Scoop the frosting into a piping bag and twist the end to secure.

Snip 1” off the bottom of the piping bag and then swirl the buttercream onto of each cupcake.

Use an offset spatula to smooth down the frosting.

Place a maraschino cherry ontop of each cupcake.

Prep Tips

• Cool the syrup completely – even easier if you prep ahead. You can prep the cream soda syrup up to a week in advance. Store in a glass jar at room temperature or in the fridge until ready to use.
• Sift the powdered sugar for the frosting to prevent lumpy frosting.
• Beat the cupcake batter for the full 2 minutes to ensure that no lumps remain and the cupcakes rise adequately. Underbeating can result in dense cupcake, especially since we’re skipping other leavening ingredients.
• Check doneness visually and with a toothpick as ovens can vary; these cream soda cupcakes are done when lightly golden on top and an inserted toothpick comes out clean with just a few crumbs stuck to it.

More 2-Ingredient Recipes You’ll Love

• 2-Ingredient Nutella Brownie Bites
• 2-Ingredient Creamsicle Cake
• Strawberry Soda Cake
• 2-Ingredient Caramel Fudge
• 2-Ingredient Thin Mint Cookies

Cream Soda Cupcakes (Printable Recipe Card)

If you tried this recipe and loved it too, please rate it! We’d also love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

You might also like our BBQ Grilling Cupcakes or our Strawberry Sprite Cupcakes.