By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 4, 2026
Serves 24
124 cal · 43 min
Chocolate French Vanilla Coffee Cupcakes
Recipe GLPR9619a49337e3ab
Rich chocolate cupcakes infused with bold coffee flavor and smooth French vanilla creamer. These tender, moist cupcakes combine the warmth of instant coffee with the sweetness of vanilla, making them perfect for coffee lovers. The recipe yields 24 individual cupcakes that can be decorated with your favorite frosting and toppings.
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Ingredients
¾ cup Coffee-mate liquid French Vanilla Creamer
3 large eggs
1 box (15.25 oz) butter chocolate cake mix
1 tablespoon instant coffee
½ cup water
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 24-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix with the ¾ cup French vanilla creamer and ½ cup water as your liquid ingredients, replacing the standard water measurement called for on the cake mix box.
Add the 3 eggs to the bowl along with the instant coffee powder.
Beat all ingredients together on medium speed for about 2 minutes, until the batter is smooth and well combined. The instant coffee will blend throughout the batter.
Divide the batter evenly among the 24 prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
Bake for 18–22 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean with no wet batter. The cupcakes are done when lightly golden at the edges.
Remove from the oven and allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting or serving.
Comments
This recipe nails the Charlotte weeknight: chocolate cake mix and instant coffee are pantry staples at every major chain, coffee creamer is a dairy basic, eggs are always available, and all ingredients show up at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Walmart, and ALDI without exception. At roughly $0.35 per cupcake, the cost is driven by the mix and eggs—no surprises. The 43-minute stated time is honest, though frosting is unstated; budget an extra 10 minutes if you're making frosting from scratch, or keep it simple with store-bought. These are forgiving, set-and-forget baked goods that reheat perfectly in the microwave and hold for days, making them ideal for meal prep or a weekend treat that doesn't demand fresh ingredients. The only caveat is that the recipe relies entirely on a box mix rather than scratch baking, which some home cooks might see as less satisfying, though it makes the dish accessible to anyone without a standing mixer.
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