These butterscotch cupcakes are soft, fluffy, and tasty. Melted butterscotch chips are mixed into the batter for a rich flavor. They are topped with vanilla frosting and a drizzle of homemade butterscotch sauce. These cupcakes are perfect for fall.

A butterscotch cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting and butterscotch drizzle.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Melted butterscotch chips are blended into the batter to give these delicious cupcakes an amazing flavor.
The cupcakes bake up soft, fluffy, and perfectly moist.
Simple vanilla buttercream frosting balances out the butterscotch flavor.
A drizzle of homemade butterscotch sauce makes these taste bakery-worthy.
Great for fall baking, birthdays, or anytime you're craving a cozy butterscotch dessert.

Butterscotch cupcake with butterscotch sauce drizzle in a black wrapper.

Ingredients in Butterscotch Cupcakes

Butterscotch morsels (butterscotch chips)
Warm water
Granulated sugar
Dark brown sugar, packed
Large eggs - room temperature
All-purpose flour (or cake flour for a lighter texture)
Baking powder
Baking soda
Pinch of salt
Vegetable oil
Buttermilk (cup milk, room temperature)

Ingredients in Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

Unsalted butter - softened, not melted
Shortening
Vanilla extract
Confectioners' sugar (icing sugar or powdered sugar)
Milk or heavy cream

How to Make Butterscotch Cupcakes

Preheat the oven - Set oven to 375°F. Place cupcake liners in cupcake pans and set aside.
Melt the butterscotch chips - In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together warm water and butterscotch morsels until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.
Mix the wet ingredients - In a large bowl (or bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment), beat the large eggs and vegetable oil with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined.
Add the sugars - Beat in the granulated sugar and dark brown sugar until blended. Mix in the melted butterscotch mixture on low speed.
Combine the dry ingredients - In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour mixture: all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt.
Make the cupcake batter - Slowly add half of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Add half of the buttermilk. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and buttermilk until just combined. Do not overbeat or the cupcakes will be dense.
Bake - Divide batter evenly into muffin cups, filling about halfway. Bake in the middle position of the oven for about 15 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the centre of a cupcake comes out clean.
Cool - Remove cupcakes from the cupcake pan and let cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.

How to Make Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat together softened unsalted butter and shortening until smooth.
Add the vanilla extract and blend well.
Slowly add in the confectioners' sugar. It will look crumbly at first.
Beat in the milk (or heavy cream) a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency. A stiffer frosting is best for piping with a piping bag and 1M piping tip.

For extra flavor, finish the frosted cupcakes with a butterscotch drizzle. You can make your own butterscotch sauce in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan or use a plastic squeeze bottle for easy drizzling over the top of each cupcake.

Butterscotch cupcakes on a lattice serving platter on a plate.

Recipe Tips for the Best Cupcakes

Use room temperature eggs and buttermilk for the best results.
Don't overmix the batter-mix on low speed just until combined.
Always cool cupcakes completely before frosting, otherwise the vanilla frosting will melt.

How to Store Frosted Cupcakes

Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

If refrigerating, let them sit out before serving so the vanilla buttercream frosting softens back up. For longer storage, wrap unfrosted cupcakes in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.

More Butterscotch Recipes

If you love these butterscotch cupcakes, you'll also enjoy these tasty treats:

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies - chewy, cozy, and full of butterscotch flavor.
Butterscotch Gingerbread Cookies - a fun holiday twist with warm spices.

📖 Recipe

Dana

Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.