Skip to Content

Dr. Pepper Cupcakes

Making these Dr. Pepper cupcakes is so easy and fun. There’s nothing better than a tasty sweet treat like Dr. Pepper so why not include that in a cupcake?!

If you have never tried to make cupcakes or cakes with soda in them you are missing out! It’s such a fun way to add extra flavor to your tasty little treats.

Dr. Pepper cupcakes are not just simple to make they’re also very tasty. Everyone will rave about the flavor and beg for the recipe. Better make a double batch so there’s enough to share…I always want to keep them all for myself!

Pin showing the Dr. Pepper cupcakes ready to eat with title across the middle.

This post contains links to products we think are great! If you click through and make a purchase we make a small commission at no cost to you!

When it comes to making fun cupcakes you really can’t go wrong. Dr. Pepper cupcakes. These cupcakes use cocoa powder in both the frosting and the cake mix to compliment the Dr. Pepper flavor. Who doesn’t love a double dose of chocolatey goodness?!

If you like making baked goods using soda, you need to try this Easy Root Beer Float Cake. It’s all the flavors you love in a good soda float served cake style! My kids request all this for parties all of the time!

A side view of a finished dr. pepper cupcake ready to eat.

Ingredients needed to make cupcakes with soda:

For the cupcakes part of this recipe, you’ll need some pretty standard baking ingredients. I’ll lay them out for you here but you can always find the full amounts and ingredients in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

This recipe uses a yellow cake mix, vegetable oil, eggs, Dr. Pepper soda, cocoa powder, and some brown or black cupcake liners to complete the overall aesthetic of the recipe.

ingredients needed to make dr pepper cupcakes

Can I make this recipe gluten free?

You can absolutely swap out the cake mix for one that is conducive to any dietary restrictions you might have. There are a lot of great options out there these days for gluten free baking.

Use a cake mix (yellow or white is best) and follow the rest of the instructions. Apart from the cake mix itself you shouldn’t have too many issues with finding gluten in the other ingredients!

What do I need to make Dr. Pepper frosting?

To make the Dr. Pepper frosting for these easy cupcakes you will need a few more ingredients and supplies for piping the frosting onto the cupcakes. Check out the list here and get the full amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post!

The frosting recipe will require salted butter, powdered sugar, chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, half and half or whole milk, and Dr. Pepper soda. That’s all you’ll need for the icing itself.

To decorate the cupcakes you will need a piping bag and a large round frosting tip, paper straws, and red sanding sugar. Those last two things are optional if you don’t want to get too fancy with the decorating, it’s no big deal. It won’t impact the overall taste of the cupcakes!

a dr. pepper cupcake ready to eat.

Kitchen essentials for tasty baking recipes and desserts:

When you head into the kitchen to make some of these great cupcakes you’ll want to have the best tools on hand.

I like half sheet baking pans that are quality (hello no noisy pops or sloshed cookie dough from twisting), I line my cookie sheets with silicone baking mats. These are great for all kinds of baking and not just cookies! My husband loves them for making biscuits, pizzas, and more!

Of course mixing bowls, a mixerspatula, and some whisks should be on your list if you don’t have ones that you love. I also like to have a set of cooling racks so that my recipes can properly cool before they’re scarfed down by my family!

How to make these delicious soda cupcakes:

Making Dr. Pepper cupcakes is easier than you think. Even the tasty frosting is whipped up from scratch (more on that below) but for now let’s prep these easy and tasty cupcakes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.

cake mix being prepared.

Steps 1-2: Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, add in your oil, eggs, and soda, and mix on medium until well incorporated. Mix in 1 cup of cocoa powder.

batter being put into the cupcake pan

Step 3: Add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting. 

finished dr. pepper cupcakes on a cake stand.

How do I make the flavored icing for these cupcakes?

The icing for these cupcakes is homemade but don’t worry, it’s not super complicated. In just a few more simple steps you’ll have a flavorful and delicious frosting that is also Dr. Pepper flavored to really bump up the overall experience of your cupcakes.

Step 4:  In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).

butter in a mixing bowl with the mixer.

Step 5: Mix in the cocoa powder and chocolate syrup.

cocoa powder and chocolate syrup about to be added to the mixture.

Step 6:  Mix the half and half or milk and Dr. Pepper soda together. (If you don’t, the soda on its own will break your frosting)

Frosting ingredients being added.

Step 7: Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the liquid mixture from Step 6 in between each cup.  Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until creamy, but don’t over mix! 

Close up view of the dr. pepper cupcakes ready to eat

Step 8: Prepare a piping bag and fill the bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes. Add your red sanding sugar and straw if desired. Enjoy! Makes 24 cupcakes.

Finished dr. Pepper cupcakes ready to eat.

Looking for more delicious cupcake recipes?

If you like making cupcakes you will definitely want to try some of these other tasty treats. Cupcakes are the best because you can eat them on the go, share them, and include them in dessert trays.

For those of you looking for other delicious cupcake recipes be sure to let us know in the comments which are your favorites. These cupcakes are easy to make and perfect for sharing with coworkers, friends, family, and even classmates for your kids!

Printable Recipe For Cupcakes with Dr. Pepper Included:

Yield: 24 Cupcakes

Dr. Pepper Cupcakes

Featured image showing the finished Dr. Pepper cupcakes ready to eat.

Making these Dr. Pepper cupcakes is so easy and fun. There's nothing better than a tasty sweet treat like Dr. Pepper so why not include that in a cupcake?!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

  • Cupcake Ingredients:
  • 1 yellow cake mix
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ¼-1 ¾ cups Dr. Pepper soda
  • 2 cups cocoa powder, divided
  • Brown or black cupcake liners
  • Frosting Ingredients
  • 2 sticks salted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • ½ tablespoon chocolate syrup
  • 1 cup cocoa powder (see above)
  • 1 tablespoon half and half or whole milk (not pictured)
  • 2 tablespoons Dr. Pepper soda
  • 1 large piping bag, 1 large round frosting tip
  • Paper straws (optional)
  • Red sanding sugar (optional)

Instructions

Directions for Cupcakes:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray or line a standard muffin tin.
  2. Add cake mix to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand or stand mixer, add in your oil, eggs, and soda, and mix on medium until well incorporated. Mix in 1 cup of cocoa powder.
  3. Add batter into the muffin tin until each is about 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.

Directions for Frosting:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand or stand mixer, cream the butter, and beat until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  2. Mix in the cocoa powder and chocolate syrup.
  3. Mix the half and half or milk and Dr. Pepper soda together. (If you don’t, the soda on its own will break your frosting)
  4. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, while adding a bit of the liquid mixture from Step 6 in between each cup. Continue to mix for 1-2 minutes or until creamy, but don’t over mix!
  5. Prepare a piping bag and fill the bag with frosting and frost your cupcakes. Add your red sanding sugar and straw if desired. Enjoy! Makes 24 cupcakes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 350Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 263mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 2gSugar: 32gProtein: 4g

I am not a medical expert. These calculations are provided as a courtesy.

Gina

Friday 4th of November 2022

I just made these. I do not taste any Dr Pepper flavor. I used the entire 1 3/4 C. of Dr. Pepper, too. They're good, and they're moist, so, NO complaints with that! I just would have liked a Dr Pepper flavor!

Michele

Friday 4th of November 2022

The dr pepper taste should have been in the icing. If you want more dr pepper taste in cupcakes you will have to use white cake mix. The chocolate over powers the soda. Thanks

Skip to Recipe