Light and fluffily delectable Homemade Blue Moon cupcakes. Make these awesome cupcakes for your next tailgate party or birthday bash!
Blue Moon cupcakes are made with Blue Moon beer for a light fluffy and flavorful result. These cupcakes are zested with fresh orange. The sweet flavors of the cupcake mixes with the delicious blue moon taste and the tangy orange zest.
These cupcakes are simple to put together and are always well received.

How do you add Beer into cupcakes?
Beer can be added into cupcakes or cakes directly into the batter. During the mixing process, mix tighter the wet and dry ingredients. Once they are thoroughly mixed together, add in 1/2-1 cup of beer. Adjust the amount of beer in the batter if the consistency is thick or runny. Beer will then bake into the cupcake or cake and help the batter rise while adding in a hint of flavor.
Do Boozy Cupcakes get you drunk?
Cupcakes made with beer in the batter will not get you drunk. Beer cupcakes usually call for 1 beer in the batter. A typical beer has 5% alcohol in it. The beer is spread out between 12 or more cupcakes leaving a small amount per cupcake. In addition to the small amount of beer, most of the alcohol will evaporate during the cooking process.
The exception to this would be using beer in the frosting. Since frosting does not get baked, any alcohol added into it will remain and not evaporate.

What makes a moist Cupcake?
Cupcakes are moist and airy when they have lots of air bubbles in the batter. The key to light and moist cupcakes is not over mixing the batter. Over mixing will collapse the tiny air bubbles causing the batter to bake into a flat dense cake.
Alcohol can help make cupcakes moist. Alcohol will add extra flavor, air, and moisture into the cupcake. The beer in these cupcakes keep the light and fluffy. Just make sure not to over mix them!

Can I use boxed cake mix for Beer cupcakes?
Boxed cake mix can be used. Follow the directions for mixing ingredients on the box. Add 3-4 eggs, 1 cup milk (or buttermilk) and oil. Pour 1/2 beer in after mixing together the above ingredients. For this recipe we recommend using a vanilla boxed cake mix. Make sure you zest in fresh orange zest to add in extra flavor.
Beer cupcakes are so good because of the light, fluffy TEXTURE! It turns out alcohol in baked good is a great idea. Later in my baking career I explored this idea further with great success.

How do I know my cupcakes are done baking?
Cupcakes are done baking when the top is lightly browned. A great way to tell if the cupcake is ready to come out is with a toothpick. Use a clean toothpick and insert it into the center of the cupcake. The toothpick should come out clean with no excess batter on it.
If you don’t have a toothpick to check a cupcake, you can use your finger. Gently press on the top of the cupcake. The top should bounce back when you remove your finger. If the cupcake stays flat and indented, it is not quite finished baking.

POST UPDATE:
I have now made LOTS of cupcakes from scratch. I got hooked! Once you make cupcakes from scratch, you will love the excellent flavor and texture.
I developed our cupcake corner for my new cupcake playground. I have made several cupcakes with alcohol like my Moscato Cupcakes With Fresh Strawberry Frosting, Champagne Cupcakes With Raspberry Frosting and St. Patrick’s Day Guinness Cupcakes.
For a variety of delicious cupcakes made entirely from scratch, check out our cupcake corner section. You won’t be sorry!
Homemade Blue Moon Cupcakes Recipe:
Directions For the cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line 12 Muffin tins with liners
- In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- With a hand mixer, cream butter for 1 minute.
- Add sugar and cream together with butter for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
- Mix in vanilla and orange zest and stir until just combined.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together beer and milk.
- Alternatively add beer mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture until fully incorporated.
- Fill cupcake liners to 2/3 full.
- Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack, then frost.
For frosting:
- Mix butter in a mixer for at least 1 minute, make sure the butter turns a pale color and has a fluffy consistency.
- Add the cream cheese, mix for an additional minute and make sure that the butter and cream cheese are fully mixed together.
- Add in the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time.
- Mix completely for at least 2 minutes.
- Stir in the orange juice and vanilla extract until fully mixed
Decorating Tip:
- Use a Wilton 2D tip and make a swirl top like you see pictured. Garnish with Orange zest as desired.
- Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and top with fresh orange zest.
Note: for easier piping simply place frosting in the fridge for a few minutes to harden up.
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These easy to make yummy cupcakes will be a favorite with your game day crowd!


Homemade Blue Moon Cupcakes
Light and fluffily delectable Homemade Blue Moon cupcakes. Make these awesome cupcakes for your next tailgate party or birthday bash! These cupcakes are made with Blue Moon beer for a light fluffy and flavorful result. They are sure to be a hit with all of the guests!
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 orange, zested
- 2/3 cup Blue Moon beer
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
For the Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon Orange zest for garnish-to taste
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line 12 Muffin tins with liners
- In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- With a hand mixer, cream butter for 1 minute.
- Add sugar and cream together with butter for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time, scraping down after each addition.
- Mix in vanilla and orange zest and stir until just combined.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together beer and milk.
- Alternatively add beer mixture and flour mixture to butter mixture until fully incorporated.
- Fill cupcake liners to 2/3 full.
- Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown
For the Frosting:
- Mix butter in a mixer for at least 1 minute, make sure the butter turns a pale color and has a fluffy consistency.
- Add the cream cheese, mix for an additional minute and make sure that the butter and cream cheese are fully mixed together.
- Add in the powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time.
- Mix completely for at least 2 minutes.
- Stir in the orange juice and vanilla extract until fully mixed
- Pipe frosting onto cupcakes and top with fresh orange zest. (I used a Wilton 2D tip for my swirl pattern)
- Note: for easier piping simply place frosting in the fridge for a few minutes to harden up
Nutrition Information
Amount Per Serving Calories 366
If you enjoy this recipe please share it with your friends. We welcome all constructive comments and questions. Our fellow readers and bakers benefit from your input!
Looking for more game day recipes? Try these!
CrockPot Buffalo Dip(with Instant Pot instructions included)
Smoked cheesy Pull Apart Bread
Easy Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sliders
For more party food check out our Appetizers
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Recipe adapted from: www.spoonforkbacon.com
Kendall Moses
Wednesday 11th of November 2020
Hi, just found these delicious cupcakes and I do agree making cupcakes and cakes from scratch are the best! Do you think I can substitute buttermilk for regular milk when making your Blue Moon Cupcakes?
Diane
Wednesday 11th of November 2020
Certainly! It will impact the flavor but the richness of buttermilk should be a nice complement.
Melissa
Sunday 29th of July 2018
These were delicious cupcakes, however, a few of ours didn't rise properly. All ingredients were fresh. Did anyone else have this problem?
Diane
Monday 30th of July 2018
Hi Melissa! Is it possible you opened the oven door before they were completely done baking? If cupcakes get a rush of cooler air in the oven before they are completely baked, the middle of them will fall. I'm glad you enjoyed the flavor!
Christina
Thursday 15th of March 2018
Is it possible to bake this in a 13x9in pan instead of in cupcake form? If so, would the baking time be longer? Thanks for the great recipe!
Kayti Lavergne
Thursday 15th of March 2018
Hi Christina!
I've never tried baking it in a 13x9, but I'm sure you could! What I would do, is grease the pan before adding the batter to it. I would start with the 20 minute bake time, but definitely insert a toothpick in the middle to make sure it is all done baking. Just keep a close eye on it! Happy Baking!
Amanda
Thursday 28th of January 2016
I can't eat these because I'm gluten-free, but I am making these for my dad's birthday. He is going to love them!
homemadefoodjunkie
Thursday 28th of January 2016
Wonderful Amanda! How sweet of you to make this yummy treat for your dad! He will feel pretty special! Let us know how he enjoys them!
Moscato Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting - Homemade Food Junkie
Monday 11th of January 2016
[…] recipe as this one just substitute the wine for champagne), I have also made guinness cupcakes and blue moon cupcakes. So needless to say I have become very triumphant in my alcohol and cupcake endeavors. So […]