If you enjoy the Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, these frappuccino cupcakes are a must-try. A sweet white chocolate frosting and chocolate drizzle transform the delicious coffee cupcakes into a coffee shop delight.
This cupcake recipe was originally published in August 2010. The photos and text were revised and republished in June 2025.
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Starbucks Cupcakes
I decided to start a cupcake challenge this summer just for fun! There are no pressures or rules, just me baking sweet treats that remind me of my favorite summer things.
The White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino from Starbucks inspired the creation of the first cupcake. Do you remember that drink?
I used to love having one on a hot day. It was creamy, chocolatey, and always hit the spot. Unfortunately, they discontinued it earlier this year, which makes me sad.
I did what any dessert-loving girl would do and turned it into a cupcake! This treat captures all the flavors I love from that drink. I even added a green straw because why not, right?
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It’s like sipping your favorite drink in cupcake form. This treat captures the flavor of the discontinued Starbucks drink we all miss.
- This treat is topped with white chocolate icing, a drizzle of chocolate, and a cute little green straw. Honestly, it's so adorable that you might hesitate to eat it!
- It's giving summer vibes. The light, sweet coffee flavor makes it just right for warm days.
Main Ingredients
- White Cake Mix: To make this recipe, you will need one boxed cake mix, eggs, and vegetable oil. You can also use a yellow cake mix.
- Instant White Chocolate Pudding Mix: Adding dry pudding mix to the batter makes the moistest cupcakes. Make sure you purchase instant pudding!
- Starbucks Frappuccino Drink: These ready-made coffee drinks are an excellent substitute for water in the cake mix. You can also use strong, brewed coffee that has cooled.
- Instant Coffee Granules: I wanted a stronger coffee flavor, so I added instant coffee to the ready-made drink. You can also use an instant espresso powder.
- White Chocolate Frosting
How To Make Frappuccino Cupcakes
These fun and easy coffee cupcakes have all the flavors of your favorite coffee shop drink.
Make the batter. In a large mixing bowl, beat all the ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth and well combined. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl.
Fill the liners. Spoon the cake batter into 24 regular-sized cupcake liners.
Bake and cool. Place the cupcake pan into a preheated oven. Bake until the tops spring back and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Cool on a wire rack.
Decorate and serve. Use a piping bag fitted with a large cupcake tip to add a swirl of white chocolate frosting to the top of each cupcake.
BruCrew Tip: Drizzle chocolate syrup on each cupcake and add green Starbucks straws right before serving. This gives them a fun whipped cream frappuccino look.
Storage Recommendations
In the Refrigerator - Store the frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in your fridge for 4-5 days.
In the Freezer - Wrap unfrosted cupcakes in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw before frosting and serving.
BruCrew Tips and Variations
- Do not overmix the batter. Beat it just until the ingredients are combined to avoid dense or tough cupcakes.
- Use an ice cream scoop to divide the batter evenly among the liners.
- Add mini chocolate chips to the batter before baking to make Java Chip Frappuccino cupcakes.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
- Use a piping bag and a 1M large star tip to pipe big swirls of frosting on top of the cupcakes.
- Add a fun twist to your frappe cupcakes with coconut frosting, dark chocolate buttercream, or marshmallow buttercream.
FAQs
You can use milk or water as alternatives. If you want the flavor without caffeine, add coffee extract.
Yes, you can! A chocolate cake mix works great if you want a richer, more chocolatey flavor.
More Starbucks-Inspired Cupcakes
- S'mores Cupcakes
- Mocha Cookie Crumble Cupcakes
- Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes
- Strawberries and Cream Cupcakes
- Eggnog Latte Cupcakes
Do you love a recipe you tried from Inside BruCrew Life?
Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating and a review in the comments section below.
Recipe
White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino Cupcakes
If you enjoy the Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, these frappuccino cupcakes are a must-try. A sweet white chocolate frosting and chocolate drizzle transform the delicious coffee cupcakes into a coffee shop delight.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 white cake mix
- 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant white chocolate pudding mix
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup canola oil
- 1 cup Starbucks Frappuccino drink
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
For the White Chocolate Frosting
- 6 ounces white baking chocolate (chopped up)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Place 24 cupcake liners in pans.
- Add all the cake ingredients to a large bowl and beat on low for 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and mix for an additional 2 minutes.
- Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full and bake 22 minutes. Cool completely.
- Stir white chocolate and whipping cream in a small saucepan on low heat until melted and smooth. Remove and let cool to room temperature.
- Place the cooled chocolate, butter, salt, sugar, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix on low until combined, then increase the speed to high and continue mixing until light and fluffy. (about 4-5 minutes)
- Spoon frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1M icing tip and swirl on the cooled cupcakes. Drizzle with chocolate, if desired, before serving. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter. Beat it just until the ingredients are combined to avoid dense or tough cupcakes.
- Use an ice cream scoop to divide the batter evenly among the liners.
- Add mini chocolate chips to the batter before baking to make Java Chip Frappuccino cupcakes.
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting to prevent the icing from melting.
- Use a piping bag and a 1M large star tip to pipe big swirls of frosting on top of the cupcakes.
- Add a fun twist to your frappe cupcakes with coconut frosting, dark chocolate buttercream, or marshmallow buttercream.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 221Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 53mgSodium: 134mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Jamieanne
Wow, I love Starbucks and these cupcakes look just like a Starbucks drink in cupcake form! They're beautiful and I bet they taste amazing! Great job, and thanks for entering them into my Mystery Box Cupcake Challenge! 🙂
Hattie
Can you believe I've never been to a Starbucks, but I have bought their bagged coffee at Krogers. I would have no idea what to order. That drink and cupcake sound soooooo good! I might have to finally make a trip to a Starbucks!!! Ha! Hope y'all have a great weekend!
Kimberly
YUM!!!! I think I may have to try that cause white chocolate mocha latte is my FAVORITE.
Christy
Following you now from Life as a Wife's hop, and I see you are taking part it Hoosier's cupcake competetion as well! These look excellent, I'm adding it to my list 'to try.' :O)
Sarah
Those look good!
Sarah
Maggie
Oh my goodness, that looks amazing! I have a major chocolate/coffee craving coming on now! lol! I am going to be making this along with the Mocha Oreo Cheesecake. It should be a sin to post such amazing recipes back to back because it just makes you drool on your keyboard. 🙂
I am new to your blog and love it!
Brittany
Visiting from NFF!
I wanted to participate in the cupcake challenge but I didn't think I would be able to do very good, so I decided I would just observe. Your cupcake is really good! I might have to make it and taste it!!
Zig-Zags and Polka Dots
Ally
Happy Follow Friday, I'm your newest follower 🙂 Have to tell you these cupcakes look amazing! All of your goodies too. I envy you creative bakers! I'm lucky if a batch of "just add water" muffins come out okay.
Makeupthoughts
Hi
I'm a new follower...you have a lovely blog...come and follow me at makeupthoughts.blogspot.com
Dee
idesign
these came out so cute!! 🙂
-Jackie
HoosierHomemade
Oh my!! Those look so good! I could just eat that frosting by the spoonful!Yum!! Liz
BigBearswife
Yummy! My favorite!
Amber Zimmerman
Oh my gosh I love this! That's my drink of choice too! Hope your cuppycakes win. 🙂
Southern Belle
Oh yummy! This cupcake looks delicious.
Amber
These look so yummy! I'm your newest follower from Friday Follow!
Sourkraut
Mmm, these look good. I'll be printing out this recipe for sure. I'm entered in that contest too and there are lots of great entries there already. Since yours happen to use white chocolate I thought I'd point you in the direction of another cupcake challenge going on this month with the theme ingredient of, you guessed it, white chocolate. These would be a perfect entry there!
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Miss JLA
I think I've fallen in love with your blog! You are my new favorite!
This is awesome! SOOOO happy I found you from Frugal Free Gal!
I can't wait to read more!!!!
Mama Hen
I would love for you to come and join my new blog network! Come and visit Mama's Little Nestwork and join a great group of bloggers!
Mama Hen
Mommyto2
That looks so YUMMY!!
Abbey
These lovelies look and sound de-lish! 🙂