Whether you’re a pro pastry chef or a novice baker, you might wonder, can a bundt cake be made into cupcakes?
Turning a bundt cake recipe into cupcakes is a fun way to jazz up your baking regimen and create mini treats excellent for sharing.
With a few tweaks to the baking time and pan, you can turn a traditional bundt cake recipe into a serving of soft and delectable cupcakes.
So, grab your muffin tray with some paper liners, and dive into the cupcake bliss!
Can I Turn a Bundt Cake Into Cupcakes?
Yes, you can make cupcakes using a bundt cake recipe.
However, you need to change the baking time and use a cupcake-specific tray so that your cupcakes bake uniformly and don’t dry out.
Here’s how to go about it:
1 – Choose a Bundt Cake Recipe
First, choose a recipe that’s familiar to you, or if you want to challenge yourself, we suggest preparing a butter-based cake.
This recipe starts by whipping the butter and sugar together while adding eggs one at a time. Additionally, these butter-based cakes tend to make cupcakes to perfection.
Here are a few of the most popular cupcake recipes you can try:
- Classic vanilla bundt cake
- Kentucky butter bundt cake
- Lemon bundt cake
- Orange crush bundt cake
- Red velvet bundt cake
2 – Adjust the Baking Time and Oven Temperature
Typically, bundt cakes are baked at 350–375°F for up to 45 minutes or more. On the flip side, you need to bake cupcakes at a lower setting for a shorter time. This will give you perfect airy bundt cake cupcakes.
In particular, you should bake the cupcakes for at least 18 to 20 minutes at 325°F to keep them from drying out or overcooking.
Alternatively, if you want chewy cupcakes, you have to bake them for 10 to 12 minutes at 350°F. This will allow the cupcakes to hold moisture and remain fluffy.
3 – Prepare the Cupcake Batter
Make the bundt cake mixture according to the recipe. There’s no need for adjustments or replacements except if you want to add some of your garnishes.
For instance, you can blend strawberry jam into a chocolate cake or add some chocolate bits to a lemon cake.
4 – Ready the Cupcake Tray
Since you’re baking cupcakes from a bundt cake recipe, you’ll want to have at least two trays. A typical 10-inch bundt cake can make around 12–15 cupcakes. This boils down to the size of the cupcake you’re baking.
Besides that, you’ll also need aluminum foil and standard paper liners. Alternatively, if you don’t want to use paper liners, make sure to grease your cupcake trays properly. Greasing prevents the batter from sticking to the trays.
5 – Fill the Cupcake Tray or Liner
Fill the cupcake liners about ⅔ full with batter. You may use a spoon or piping bag to simplify the task.
Pro tip: if you prefer flat-top cupcakes, fill the liners halfway through. Contrarily, additional batter results in a more rounded top.
You may bake a couple of samples first and see what fits you best.
6 – Bake and Cool Cupcakes
When turning a bundt cake recipe into cupcakes, it’s necessary to cut the baking time by 50%.
Typically, cupcake recipes need 18–20 minutes to bake. So, it’s better to begin with a much shorter baking time to be safe.
After 15 minutes of baking, stick a toothpick into the middle and check if it comes back without traces of crumbs.
Once done, remove the cupcakes from the oven and set them aside for a few minutes to cool. After that, place them on a wire rack to cool fully.
7 – Decorating Time
Once the cupcakes have cooled down, make use of your creativity and decorate them.
Here are some ideas for topping your cupcakes:
- Candy sprinkles
- Toasted nuts
- Marshmallows
- Fresh fruits
- Pretzel sticks
How Long Will My Bundt Cake Cupcakes Stay Fresh?
Freshly baked bundt cake cupcakes preserve their flavor for up to 6 months, depending on the ingredients, recipe, and storage technique.
Generally, unfrosted cupcakes can stay fresh for 2–3 days while sitting on the counter or pantry.
On the other hand, cupcakes with filling should be refrigerated and eaten within 7 days. You may wrap the cupcakes in plastic wrap and then cover them with aluminum foil to save them from drying out.
Moreover, cupcakes can be frozen in a freezer pouch for 4–6 months. When it’s time to eat the cupcakes, remove them from the freezer and let them thaw on a cupcake rack.
Final Thoughts
Can a bundt cake be made into cupcakes? Absolutely!
By making some adjustments to the baking time, you can make tasty bite-sized desserts that everyone will surely love.
Whether you choose to go classic or wish to play around with the ingredients, your options are limitless. Just remember to keep your cupcakes properly to maintain their freshness as long as possible.
So, give it a shot and treat your loved ones to a batch of mouth-watering bundt cake cupcakes!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.