Moist, fluffy eggnog cupcakes topped with coffee frosting taste just like a Starbucks eggnog latte! Made with a box of cake mix, these eggnog latte cupcakes are an easy holiday dessert for Christmas parties.
I love baking with holiday flavors, don't you? You might also like these eggnog muffins, eggnog bundt cake, and my pumpkin spice latte cupcakes.
This post and recipe were first published in December 2011. It was updated and republished in December 2025.
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It's the most wonderful time of the year, and we're making sweet, fluffy eggnog latte cupcakes topped with swirls of fluffy coffee frosting.
One of my favorite drinks of the season is an eggnog latte. I look forward to that and a peppermint mocha every winter. Recreating those warm and festive latte flavors in a cupcake was so much fun.
Using eggnog in place of the liquid in a box cake mix adds the perfect eggnog flavor to a batch of vanilla cupcakes. These eggnog cupcakes bake up so light and fluffy!
What Makes This Eggnog Cupcakes Recipe So Good
- Semi-homemade. These Christmas cupcakes are easy to make from real eggnog, a box of cake mix, and a few extra ingredients that make them super moist and full of flavor.
- Made for holiday celebrations. Festive, flavorful eggnog cupcakes look great on any holiday dessert table, and they taste even better.
- Perfect for coffee lovers. A hint of coffee in the frosting gives these cupcakes delicious coffeehouse vibes.
I'm already thinking about freezing some eggnog so I can enjoy these cupcakes a little bit longer this year! Plus, I want to make more of these eggnog donuts for breakfast and another eggnog pie for dessert.
Ingredients Needed to Make These Cupcakes
Here are some quick notes to review before we get started. Scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full eggnog cupcake recipe, including ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions.
- Vanilla Cake Mix: Pick out your favorite standard-sized box of vanilla cake mix from the baking aisle.
- Eggs: If you think of it, bring these to room temperature.
- Eggnog: You can make these cupcakes with a carton of store-bought eggnog, or if you have a recipe that you love, feel free to use homemade.
- Oil and Sour Cream: Two ingredients that bring loads of moisture to these eggnog cupcakes. Choose a neutral oil, like vegetable or canola oil. If you don't have sour cream, Greek yogurt is a good substitute.
- Rum Extract and Nutmeg: To build on the eggnog-inspired flavors. You can replace rum extract with real rum if you'd like. I'd recommend a dark or spiced rum in this case. Use cinnamon in place of nutmeg if needed.
Homemade Coffee Frosting
Creamy coffee frosting on top of the cupcakes was the perfect way to add the flavors of the Starbucks drink to this easy holiday dessert. To make it from scratch, you will need:
- Instant Coffee: Freshly dissolved in hot water. This can be regular instant coffee or instant espresso powder, whichever you prefer.
- Butter: I use softened unsalted butter, but salted butter will work here, too.
- Shortening: Vegetable shortening, like Crisco, gives the frosting structure and makes it more stable at room temperature.
- Cream Cheese: Brought to room temperature. Be sure to use cream cheese in bricks, not the bagel smear in tubs.
- Rum Extract: Balanced out with a bit of salt to flavor the frosting. Again, you can use real rum here if you prefer.
- Powdered Sugar: Also called confectioners' sugar.
- Heavy Cream: You could use half-and-half or milk. Coffee creamer also makes a good substitute for heavy cream in frosting recipes.
If you'd prefer a more traditional eggnog cupcake or frosting without coffee, you could top yours with eggnog whipped cream or classic vanilla buttercream instead.
How to Make Eggnog Latte Cupcakes
If you loved my Starbucks-inspired frappuccino cupcakes, I can't wait for you to try this Christmas dessert version! Since we're using a box of cake mix, these eggnog latte cupcakes come together in three short steps:
- Combine the cupcake ingredients. Combine the cake mix and cupcake ingredients in a bowl, then mix slowly for 1 minute. Then, increase the speed and beat for 2 minutes until you have a smooth batter.
- Fill the pan. Next, portion the cupcake batter between the wells of a lined cupcake pan. I usually fill them about ⅔ full.
- Bake. Bake these eggnog cupcakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting. Beat the butter, shortening, and cream cheese. Once fluffy, mix in the coffee, rum extract, and salt. Slowly beat in the powdered sugar, then add the heavy cream and whip the frosting until it's light and creamy.
- Decorate the cupcakes. Use a piping bag fitted with a 1M piping tip, or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe swirls of coffee frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. Dust the tops with ground nutmeg, and enjoy!
BruCrew Tips
- Don't overmix the cupcake batter. The dry ingredients come combined in the cake mix, so all you need to do is stir in the wet ingredients to make the batter. However, take care when mixing so that you don't overdo it. Overmixing can deflate the air pockets and make the baked cupcakes too dense.
- Make sure the coffee fully dissolves. Stir the instant coffee into the hot water until completely dissolved, with no granules remaining. Let the coffee cool a bit afterward before combining it with the cupcake ingredients.
- Cool the cupcakes before frosting. Allow your eggnog cupcakes to cool to room temperature before you add the frosting. If you frost the cupcakes while they're still warm, the frosting will melt off.
- If you don't have a piping bag or icing tip, transfer the coffee frosting to a ziplock bag instead. Then, snip off one corner of the bag (don't make the hole too big) and squeeze the frosting out onto your cupcakes. It makes a great makeshift piping bag!
- Add garnishes. In addition to a sprinkle of nutmeg, I love topping these cupcakes with festive decorations, like mini gingerbread men.
How to Store Eggnog Cupcakes
- Refrigerate. Keep the frosted eggnog cupcakes covered in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Take the cupcakes out ahead of time so they can be served at room temperature.
- Freeze. You can freeze the unfrosted cupcakes for up to 2 months. Store them airtight, in either a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Thaw the cupcakes at room temperature before frosting.
More Eggnog Recipes
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Recipe
Eggnog Latte Cupcakes
Sweet, fluffy eggnog cupcakes topped with coffee frosting are filled with all the flavors of a Starbucks eggnog latte! They're a fun and festive Christmas dessert, and so easy to make.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 vanilla cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup eggnog
- ⅓ cup oil
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon rum extract
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
For the Coffee Frosting
- 1 Tablespoon hot water
- 2 tablespoons instant coffee
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¼ cup shortening
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ½ teaspoon rum extract
- ¼ teaspoon table salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pan with 24 cupcake liners.
- Beat the cupcake ingredients on low for 1 minute and then on medium for 2 minutes.
- Fill liners ⅔ of the way full. Bake for 22 minutes. Remove and cool on a wire rack completely.
- Dissolve the coffee in hot water and set aside.
- Beat the butter, shortening and cream cheese until fluffy.
- Add coffee water, extract, and salt. Beat in sugar slowly. After all the sugar has been mixed in, beat in whipping cream to thin it slightly.
- Swirl on top of the cooled cupcakes using a piping bag and icing tip 1M. Dust with nutmeg, if desired.
- Store frosted cupcakes in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
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blkenigma888 says
Come to A Themed Baker's Sunday for this next week's theme: Christmas! Actually, this theme will continue until Christmas weekend! Hope to see you there!
ellianasmommy says
Is there a substitute for the shortening? Maybe more butter? 😉 I'd love to try these!
Kim McCallie says
These look gorgeous! My husband would absolutely love these. I'd like to invite you to share your recipe on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.
Tami says
I cannot wait to make these. My husband is an eggnog fanatic and I love all things latte so these are sure to be a hit!
Loveforfood says
Awwwww I love it. Absolutely amazing!!
Chels says
Oh man, do those look good. My sister in law would spazz for one of these! Beautiful pictures!
Beth (www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com) says
Those look DELICOIUS!! YUM! I am your newest follower. I would love for you to follow me back! I also wanted to invite you to my Christmnas Cookie Link Up - />Beth =-)
The Answer Is Chocolate says
You have captured this perfectly! But I'm not at all surprised. You continue to amaze me with your creations and innovations. I always love checking out what you've been up to. Thanks for sharing at this week's BFF Open House!
Betsy says
Oh wow...I want one right now...for breakfast! 🙂
Miz Helen says
I noticed your Eggnog Latte Cupcakes when you brought them in and I could hardly wait to get over to see them. This is an awesome recipe that we will just love and perfect for holiday entertaining. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great week and come back soon!
Miz Helen
Run DMT says
Those look and sound FABULOUS! I'm totally going to try my hand at these. Pinning your recipe now!
I co-host a weekly foodie meme, Friday Food Fight. I would love for you to link up and share your Eggnog cupcakes. Hope to see you in the ring!
MrsFoxsSweets says
Can I be your BFF? These looks delicious! I love Eggnog Lattes and Cupcakes, this is perfect! Thank you for sharing at Mrs Fox's Sweet Party 🙂
Donna says
Found you on Miz Helen's! Your blog is ABSOLUTLY ADORABLE and these cupcakes are SUCHHHHH a must make! CAN NOT WAIT TO TRY THEM!!! Thanks for sharing:)
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Totally awesome cupcakes! I LOVE eggnog and eggnog lattes. LOVE them. And the skinny peppermint mocha. I think I get a little skip in my step every year when the red cups appear. 🙂
Tina says
I completely understand why making these special treats are an every year thing, they look delicious. Coffee and eggnog together is hard to not like-yum!
Jennifurla says
Oh yes please, I bet the flavor is awesome.
Julia says
We just decorated our mini Charlie brown tree last night and I think I'm FINALLY REALLY in the Christmas spirit. Which means I want eggnog in everything! Cupcakes, perfect! I'll take 6 please 🙂
Rachel says
Oh boy, do I love eggnog and these look amazing! you always make the most creative things!!
Carolina HeartStrings says
Those looks just delicious. Nothing better than eggnog anything this time of year. Come visit us. We would love to have you. We have a great appetizer for the holiday season today.
Aimee says
Have you ever frozen eggnog? I had a reader tell me she does it every year, it might separate a little, but she stirs it up and uses it in her baking.
Not sure if I would enjoy it and look forward to it if it was available to me all year.
Oh, and have I told you lately I love you and your baking? Oh em gee these are so right up my alley. I mean seriously, you think like I think....and I think that's quite scary 🙂