Have a Dr Pepper fan in your life? Then they're going to love these! Rich and moist chocolate buttermilk cupcakes with a hint of their favorite fizzy soda.
Using a stand mixer (or a hand mixer + large bowl), add in butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Beat on low until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Keeping mixer speed on low, add half of the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, then mix for 10-20 seconds. Pour in Dr Pepper, then mix for 10-20 seconds more. Add the other half of the dry ingredients, mix another 10-20 seconds, then pour in the buttermilk. Mix all ingredients until just combined. Batter should be thick and fluffy; be careful not to overmix.
1 cup Dr Pepper, 1/2 cup buttermilk
Pour cupcake batter into prepared muffin tin, filling cavities about 2/3 of the way full.
Bake cupcakes for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick tester comes out clean.
Let cupcakes cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
For the Dr Pepper Buttercream Frosting
Using a stand mixer (or hand mixer + large bowl), whip butter and vanilla extract on high speed until fluffy.
1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, 1/4 teaspoon salt
Drop mixer speed to medium and slowly add sugar to butter, mixing thoroughly in between.
4 cups powdered sugar
Keeping speed on low, slowly mix in the Dr Pepper, adding one tablespoon at a time. Be sure to watch the consistency so that the frosting does not spit. You should be able to add anywhere from 4 to 8 tablespoons of Dr Pepper.
1/4 cup Dr Pepper
Putting it all together
When ready to decorate, fill a pastry bag with prepared Dr Pepper buttercream frosting and a piping tip of your choice.
Frost each cupcake in a decorative pattern, then add a straw or fizzy sprinkles of your choice (optional).