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.
Christine Chisholm
Made this into a layer cake and wasn't all that impressed with the flavor. For some reason my sister and I kept thinking it tasted like cereal, but couldn't put our finger on what kind. :-\ The butter cream was by far the best part of this recipe.
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm sorry to hear you didn't like the flavor. You might like it better made with a chocolate cake...I have done that with coffee in place of the water/mocha mix, and I think that tastes great. Isn't that frosting the best though? One of my favs too 🙂
sally @ sallys baking addiction
Love these, Jocelyn! Pinned!
Angi
They look soooo yummy! I want to try this recipe for sure:) I found you over on LambAround,
Tony and Kimra
Stopping by from LambAround! My husband would looove those cupcakes. I was just about to show him this post and decided against it cause then he'd MAKE me make them! Saving the post for future use, though :)Kimra
Jennifer
Found your link from the Lamb around blog. If those cupcakes are even half as good as they look I have got to try making some!
Mrs. Fine
These look delicious...I think I've found my next baking project!
scrambledhenfruit
These cupcakes look so delicious! Mocha Frappuccino is my favorite drink at Starbucks. I can't wait to try them.
Thanks!
AUDRA
Looks so good!
Thanks for sharing!!
Kat @ Black Kats Design
Oh yum! These look and sound delicious. I love just about anything Starbucks.Thanks for linking up to the “Cheap Thrills Thursday” party at Black Kats Design. I hope you had fun and will join in again next Thursday!Kat
Tere
I'll have one now! Thanks for sharing your yummy creation at It's Party Time Thursday at PonyTails&FishScales!
Nestled In Rosenberg
Ahhhhh! You had me at 'Starbucks'!!! These look so tasty!
Pati @ A Crafty Escape
These look amazing! Can't wait to make them, thanks for sharing 🙂
Terrell
OHHH YUMMM!! Thank you so much for sharing these! I'm so going to have to whip some up!! I love this idea! I am happy to be your newest follower of your delightful blog and would love to have you as a friend at FFD!! Happy Monday to you and yours!
~Terrell @ FrouFrouDecor~
Dee
Yummmm, my two favorite things Starbucks and cupcakes! Delicious!!
Lisa
Wow, these looks amazing! The straws are the cutest little accessory!
LambAround
This is so clever! I'm a fan of anything Starbucks and am now looking forward to making these for my hubby's upcoming birthday 🙂
*Crystal*
Hey I'm just stopping by from SS! Now I'm your newest follower! You had me at the words Starbucks and Cupcakes! I'm going to have to try and make these. That is my Hubbies favorite latte!
Rachelle @ Adventures in Creating
OMG all I have to say is YUM!!!
Lisa
Hi! I'm your newest follower from Spotlight Saturday! Those cupcakes look amazing! You could start you own line and sell them.Would love it if you'd come visit and follow back too. :)Lisa xoxo
Organic Girl
I am Glad To have found your great blog!