Simply the best Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes! Tender, fluffy and perfect for birthdays and other celebrations. Easy to make in 1 bowl. If you love these, you will also love my Vegan Vanilla Cake.
This is my favorite recipe for vegan cupcakes. They are the fluffiest cupcakes, not to mention soft, buttery and sweet with the perfect vanilla flavor. You definitely don’t need eggs, butter or milk to make delicious cupcakes, I promise!
Top with swirly Vegan Buttercream, Vegan Chocolate Frosting, Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting or Vegan Swiss Meringue Buttercream.
What I love about this recipe
- The cupcakes are made in 1 bowl, with a minimal list of simple ingredients.
- You don’t need a hand mixer (except for the frosting!)
- Cake flour makes the cupcakes incredibly fluffy, soft and moist. I made a batch with all purpose flour and the cupcakes were fine but drier and not nearly as fluffy and light.
- They are so easy to make; you will be eating cupcakes in no time!
How to make vegan cupcakes in 1 bowl
- In a measuring cup, combine soy milk (or another non-dairy milk) and apple cider vinegar. Set aside to curdle (this is vegan buttermilk).
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
- Pour in milk/vinegar mixture, melted vegan butter and vanilla extract.
- Whisk until smooth and well combined.
Fill cupcake liners 1/2 full and bake for 18-20 minutes. You will get 24 cupcakes out of this recipe, so either bake one pan at a time, or both at the same time if you have two pans.
Let them cool a few minutes in the pan before carefully transferring to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely before frosting.
Frosting for vegan cupcakes
To truly make these cupcakes in 1 bowl, simply wipe or rinse out the cupcake batter bowl and use it for the frosting. OR if you are feeling really lazy, you could pick up a container of Duncan Hines Vanilla Frosting, which happens to be vegan. I recommend making your own, it tastes way better! But I’m not here to judge. ?
Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting with Vegan Buttercream or other frosting you desire. I use this simple piping kit for decorating cupcakes, but you could simply spread the frosting on with a butter knife.
Check out my little tutorial for how to pipe cupcakes nice and tall in my Vegan Frosting Recipe. I also love to decorate them with sprinkles. Sweetapolita has the prettiest vegan sprinkles, and I always keep some on hand!
Gluten free vegan cupcakes
To make these cupcakes gluten free, you can substitute a quality gluten free flour mix, such as King Arthur’s Measure for Measure. They won’t be quite as light or moist as using cake flour, but it works pretty well!
Want more vegan cupcakes?
- The Best Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
- Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes
- 1 Bowl Vegan Lemon Cupcakes
- Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes
- Vegan Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Pecan Frosting
Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk (or use another non-dairy milk)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 3/4 cups cake flour*
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup melted vegan butter or neutral oil
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 Recipe Vegan Buttercream Frosting
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 12-cup muffin pan (2 if you have them, if not bake one tray at a time) with paper liners. I usually spray the liners with a little oil as well to prevent sticking.
- Combine the soy milk and apple cider vinegar in a measuring cup or bowl, give a little stir and set aside for a few minutes to curdle.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt until combined.
- Now pour in the milk/vinegar mixture, melted vegan butter or oil and vanilla. Whisk until well combined. There may be a few small lumps, but you don't want any large lumps in the batter.
- Fill the liners 1/2 full and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Carefully transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack, then place new liners in the pan and bake the rest of the cupcakes until you have used all the batter.
- Cool completely, then pipe on Vegan Buttercream Frosting or another frosting of your choosing. Decorate with sprinkles or sliced strawberries. Enjoy!
- Store cupcakes on the counter, covered for up to 4 days (they stay moist!). They also freeze perfectly for up to 3 months, with or without frosting.
Video
Notes
- I tested a batch with all purpose flour, and cake flour definitely produced fluffier, softer cupcakes. But in a pinch, you can use regular flour.
- Gluten free – Use a gluten free flour mix.
- One batch of vanilla frosting was enough for me to frost all 24 cupcakes, but if you want a LOT of frosting on each one, you may want to double the frosting recipe.
- Funfetti cupcakes – Add 1/2-3/4 cup sprinkles to the batter, folding them in at the end.
Nutrition
*This recipe was originally published in March 2020 and has been updated with a slightly improved recipe (less salt, vegan butter instead of oil) March 2022. I’m always working on improving my recipes, thank you!
Amazing and simple to follow recipe- having tried many other recipes (and never trying them again)- this is our firm favourite for ever now as the cupcakes come out so tasty, fluffy and moist- perfect!
Having a child with anaphylactic allergies- it’s always a struggle to find recipes that can be quick and easy to make- I would recommend this to anyone!
We used melted Vitalite (vegan butter substitute) and caster sugar rather than granulated- just delicious! 🤤
I am really glad to hear you love the cupcakes and your child can enjoy them! It is very challenging to prepare allergy friendly foods. Thank you for sharing your terrific review and feedback! Wishing you happy cooking!
If I was to reduce the sugar to one cup will that change the structure of the cake?
Hi Heather. You can cut back on the sugar by about 1/2 the amount and the cakes should still be fine. Enjoy!
If I wanted to make the cupcakes a “mini” size – how long should I bake them for?
Probably 12-15 minutes.
Love this recipe!! Could I use this recipe to make an actual cake instead? I’m assuming I would probably just have to adjust bake time?
Hi Michelle. I appreciate you using my recipes, and am glad you are loving them! I believe it will make a double 8 inch layer cake. Bake at the same temperature, for 30 minutes or so, until a toothpick comes out clean. Or you can make a 9×13 inch cake, and bake for 40 minutes or so. Thanks for your wonderful review! Happy baking!
Hi I’m using a cake flour that has b.soda can I still add the baking powder or reduce the quantity?
Thank you
I’m honestly not sure as I’ve never tried that. I’d have to test it to know for sure.
To make 24 cupcakes, how many tablespoons of batter would I use for this recipe?
I don’t really understand the tablespoons question… but the recipe as written makes 24 cupcakes.
When I make your chocolate cupcake recipe I use exactly two tablespoons of batter for 12 cupcakes. I just want to know the exact measurement of batter to put in each liner, if that makes more sense.
Oh I see. I don’t measure that way so I’m not totally sure. I just fill the liners half full, I’m guessing that’s somewhere around 2 tablespoons.
Sorry for the misunderstanding. Thank you!
Ok thanks
I have trusted nora with all things to do with baking and this time was no different!! These cupcakes turned out wonderfully and the only thing I’d change about the recipe is to add one teaspoon of vanilla extract instead of one tablespoon as it was a bit overpowering x
Hi Constance. I appreciate you using my recipes, and am glad you are having great success with them! Thank you for your great feedback on the vanilla cupcakes! Wishing you happy cooking!
Is there an easy way to make these chocolate ? In other words do the first half vanilla then somehow make the second half chocolate with cocoa powder or something ?
I’m not sure how they would turn out if you just added cocoa powder. It might work but I’ve never tried it! I love my vegan chocolate cupcakes though!
Made these so my daughter would have an option at a birthday party we attended. Only made half the recipe. I didn’t have cake flour, so made an alternate version with AP flour + cornstarch. They turned out perfect, fluffy, and moist. I attempted the buttercream frosting using the vegan butter I made using the recipe here, but it didn’t quite turn out right. Flavor was good, but not consistency. May need to try again using a store bought version. Regardless, I am happy overall with the end result!
I’m so glad the cupcakes turned out well for you. A few tips if you try the vegan buttercream again, if the consistency was not quite right. 9/10 this is because your vegan butter was way too soft when you started mixing. So make sure the butter is softened but not at all melty and falling apart. Other than that, it’s just about adding the right amount of powdered sugar and plant milk, not making it too wet or too thick. Hope that helps and thanks for your comment!
Nora, I’ve been using vegan cake recipes for my cupcakes, but they always turn out too short; my last batch pulled away from the liners after cooling. I was ready to completely quit cupcakes; LOL. I decided I need to try a cupcake-specific recipe. Does this recipe have any of these problems? I’d love to get nice, full (and flat) cupcakes. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful recipes. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into these.
I love these cupcakes! They don’t have a super dome on top; I like my cupcakes flatter, perfect for piping frosting on. They don’t turn out short. I hope you love them.
Hi Nora – I love these cupcakes, along with every recipe of yours that I’ve made!
Question about freezing unfrosted cupcakes – would I wrap each cupcake individually with plastic wrap, or put them all (unwrapped) in a container and put that in the freezer? I need to freeze for about 2 weeks. Thank you!
Thanks Christine, I’m so happy to hear that! I usually put them into a container with a lid, unwrapped, in the freezer. You could wrap each one if you want, but I don’t usually do that. Hope that helps!
Thank you! 😊
Excellent recipe! I was very impressed with how well it tasted being a non vegan. My vegan friend at work along with other non vegan coworkers and my non vegan adult children loved them! Thanks for sharing!😄
You are welcome, Deatra! Thank YOU for using my recipe, and for taking time to share your wonderful review and feedback! I’m thrilled everyone loved the cupcakes!
In my gluten free baking experience, I have never had a recipe work without baking soda. This recipe gave me gummy cupcakes as well. I am wondering if it worked for anyone else? I tried bobs red mill and yes I didn’t overmix.
Hi Nora
Made these last night and they are delicious. My question is about the nutrition facts, is the frosting included as part of the nutrition facts? Because I used a different product for the frosting so I’m curious as to the cupcakes nutrition values without frosting please?
Thank you!!
Can I do 1/4 butter and 1/4 oil to get a more moist cupcake for this recipe without messing it up? Have you tried this yet? Or any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for sharing your recipes.
You can try it and see which way you like it better. It will work but I haven’t noticed a difference personally. Thank you!
Hi Nora, I made your vanilla cake recently and wanted to know what is the difference in taste with this recipe for the cupcakes and the recipe for the cake? I know the cake recipe has chickpeas or vegan yogurt and of course the amounts are different. Taste and texture wise is there a difference? Which do you prefer? I am making these for an event and wanted to see which recipe to use.
Thanks so much
The cake is probably more moist I suppose, but they’re both good and you can’t go wrong! The cupcakes are easier to make and I love them personally.
They look good and smell good. I made a half batch as I’m feeding one vegan friend. My only comment/concern is making these cupcakes with normal, granulated white sugar negates them from being vegan. Granulated sugar is run through bone char to make it white. If you’re baking this for someone else, you may want to find out how strict they are with following a vegan diet or lifestyle. You can buy raw or turbinado sugar in lots of stores and online.
Hi Jennifer, granulated sugar can definitely be vegan friendly. As long as you use organic granulated sugar, it’s vegan (at least in the U.S.). In other parts of the world, from what I understand, bone char is not used at all.. So this really depends on where you are in the world. Whole Foods carries organic, white, granulated, vegan sugar. But I often just buy whatever organic sugar I can find, which is usually a little beige in color, not straight white. You do not have to buy raw or turbinado. More details here: Is Sugar Vegan?