Name: Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe
Prep time: 2 h 40 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 3 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 and 3/4 cups (207g) cake flour, spooned and leveled; 2 teaspoons espresso powder; 3/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup (8 Tbsp; 113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar; 3 large egg whites, at room temperature; 1 and 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1/3 cup (80g) sour cream or plain yogurt, at room temperature; 1/4 cup (60ml) strong black coffee, cooled to room temperature; 1/3 cup (80ml) Baileys Irish Cream; 1 cup (16 Tbsp; 226g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; 4 cups (480g) confectioners’ sugar; 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder (optional); 3 Tablespoons (45ml) Baileys Irish Cream; 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons strong black coffee, cooled to room temperature; Pinch of salt; Optional for garnish: chocolate sprinkles

If you're a fan of all things rich, creamy, and with a hint of a boozy coffee kick, then you’re going to absolutely adore this Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe. It’s like your favorite latte in cupcake form—moist, tender, and topped with the dreamiest Baileys coffee buttercream frosting.

This image shows a close-up of several cupcakes arranged on a white marbled surface. Each cupcake has a golden-brown base in a dark brown paper liner. On top of the base, there is one thick layer of light beige frosting swirled into a soft peak, completely covered with dark chocolate sprinkles. The background is softly blurred but shows more cupcakes with the same style and topping. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve tried a lot of cupcake recipes, but this one has a special place in my heart (and my kitchen). The way the Baileys mingles with the espresso powder and coffee creates a flavor that’s both comforting and indulgent—perfect for sharing with friends or savoring solo with a good book.

Perfectly Moist Cupcakes: The sour cream adds just the right amount of tenderness and moisture.
Deep Coffee Flavor: Espresso powder and strong black coffee pack a rich, authentic coffee punch without being bitter.
Decadent Frosting: The Baileys coffee buttercream is creamy, boozy, and sweet without overwhelming the palate.
Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prep these cupcakes and frosting a day in advance, making your life easier for parties and gatherings.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Before you start, a quick tip: having good quality Baileys and freshly brewed strong coffee really elevates this recipe. Also, make sure your ingredients, especially eggs, butter, and dairy, are at room temperature for the best texture.

Flat lay of a small mound of fine cake flour, a small white ceramic bowl of dark espresso powder, a small white ceramic bowl of pale baking powder, a small white ceramic bowl of light baking soda, a small white ceramic bowl of coarse salt, a square of unsalted butter softened to creamy texture, a small white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, three whole clean brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract, a small white ceramic bowl of creamy sour cream, a small white ceramic bowl of dark strong black coffee, a small white ceramic bowl of rich creamy Baileys Irish Cream, a large square of unsalted butter softened to creamy texture, a small white ceramic bowl of fine confectioners’ sugar, and a small white ceramic bowl of chocolate sprinkles, all arranged with perfect symmetry and realistic proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Cake Flour: This ensures your cupcakes are tender and light—like clouds you can eat.
Espresso Powder: Used to intensify the coffee flavor without adding liquid.
Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt: These classic leavening agents create the perfect rise and balance flavors.
Unsalted Butter: Room temperature butter creams up nicely with sugar for that fluffy crumb.
Granulated Sugar: Sweetens while creating a tender structure.
Egg Whites: They help keep the cupcakes light without extra fat from yolks.
Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and rounds out the flavor.
Sour Cream or Plain Yogurt: Gives moisture and subtle tang for richness.
Strong Black Coffee: Delivers bold coffee notes that complement the Baileys.
Baileys Irish Cream: The star ingredient that brings creamy Irish whiskey goodness into every bite.
Confectioners’ Sugar (for Frosting): Creates a silky smooth buttercream texture.
Pinch of Salt: Balances out the sweetness, especially in the buttercream.
Chocolate Sprinkles (optional): Adds a fun, festive touch when you want to jazz things up.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about the Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe is how easy it is to personalize. Whether you want to tweak the flavors a bit or cater to dietary needs, these cupcakes provide a fantastic canvas for your creativity.

Variation: Salted Caramel Baileys Twist – I tried swapping regular Baileys for the salted caramel flavor once, and it added a luscious, buttery caramel note that took these cupcakes to an entirely new level of indulgence. A perfect fall or holiday treat!
Dairy-Free Version – Use a dairy-free butter substitute and coconut or almond yogurt in place of sour cream, plus your favorite non-dairy creamer instead of Baileys for an allergy-friendly version that still packs great flavor.
Alcohol-Free Option – Simply replace the Baileys with extra strong black coffee both in the batter and buttercream. This keeps the coffee kick but skips the alcohol, making these cupcakes suitable for all ages or any occasion.
Mini Cupcakes – For parties or smaller bites, bake mini versions by filling mini liners and reducing the bake time to about 13 minutes. They're adorable, elegant, and perfect for sharing.
Espresso-Heavy Boost – If you’re a real coffee lover, dissolve the espresso powder in espresso instead of black coffee, and add an extra ½ teaspoon espresso powder to the buttercream for an intense mocha experience.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe

The image shows a close-up of a cupcake cut in half, revealing two layers: the bottom layer is a light brown, textured cake with small air holes, and the top layer is a thick, creamy beige frosting with a smooth texture and slightly swirled pattern. The frosting is decorated with small, dark brown chocolate sprinkles scattered on top. The cupcake sits on a white marbled surface, with blurred parts of other cupcakes and a dark bottle in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Warm Up the Oven & Prep Your Pans

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a standard 12-count muffin pan with cupcake liners, then get a second pan ready with 2 liners to handle the extra batter, since this recipe yields about 14 cupcakes. This ensures your cupcakes bake evenly and are easy to remove later.

Step 2: Whisk Together the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk the cake flour, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until everything is well combined. This step guarantees that your leaveners and espresso powder are evenly distributed for a perfectly balanced flavor and rise.

Step 3: Cream Butter and Sugar ‘Til Light and Fluffy

Using a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter on high speed for about 1 minute until it looks smooth and creamy. Then add the sugar and beat on high for 2 more minutes. You want this mixture to be light, fluffy, and almost pale in color. Don’t forget to scrape down the bowl sides to avoid any unmixed chunks!

Step 4: Blend in Egg Whites, Vanilla, and Sour Cream

Add the room temperature egg whites and vanilla extract to your butter-sugar mixture. Beat on medium-high speed until fully combined. Next, blend in the sour cream to add moisture and tenderness to the batter. If the mixture isn’t fully smooth, scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula for even mixing.

Step 5: Gently Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Liquids

Turn your mixer to low and slowly add the dry ingredients just until they disappear into the batter—over-mixing here can make the cupcakes tough. While mixing gently, pour in the cooled strong black coffee and then the Baileys Irish Cream. Beat just until smooth and lump-free. For a perfectly tender crumb, avoid beating too long.

Step 6: Fill Liners and Bake to Perfection

Spoon or pour the batter evenly into the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full to prevent any overflow. Bake at 350°F (177°C) for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. If you opted for mini cupcakes, bake for about 13 minutes at the same temperature. Once baked, let your cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack before moving on to frosting.

Step 7: Whip Up the Baileys Coffee Buttercream

Beat softened butter on medium speed for 2 minutes until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar, espresso powder (if you’re using it), Baileys, coffee, and a pinch of salt. Start on low speed to avoid sugar clouds, then crank the mixer to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes to get a fluffy, smooth frosting. Adjust the texture by adding more sugar if it’s too thin, or a splash of Baileys or coffee if too thick. Taste and tweak a pinch of salt if the frosting feels overly sweet.

Step 8: Frost and Garnish Your Cupcakes

Pipe or spread the buttercream generously over each cooled cupcake. For a finishing touch, sprinkle chocolate sprinkles on top. I like using an Ateco 808 piping tip for a pretty swirl effect, but a simple generous dollop is delicious too. Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 5 days — they stay moist and flavorful!

Top Tip

Making these Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe turn out perfectly moist and flavorful is all about gentle mixing and the right balance of ingredients. Here are some of the key tips I’ve learned to help you get the best results every time.

Avoid Over-mixing: Once you add the dry ingredients and liquids, mix just until combined. Over-mixing can make the cupcakes dense rather than tender and moist.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Butter, egg whites, sour cream, and coffee should all be at room temperature. It helps everything blend smoothly and keeps your batter silky.
Espresso Powder Boosts Flavor: Adding espresso powder both in the batter and frosting really enhances the coffee notes without making the cupcakes bitter.
Test Your Oven Temperature: Oven temps vary! Using an oven thermometer helped me bake these cupcakes to the perfect doneness so they come out tender, not dry.

How to Serve Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe

A close-up view of creamy, smooth light beige frosting swirled inside a clear glass bowl. The texture is soft and thick, with gentle peaks and folds creating a flowing pattern. A red silicone spatula’s edge is visible on the right side of the bowl, lightly coated with the frosting. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface with a hint of a tan textured cloth beneath it. The lighting highlights the creamy texture and careful swirls, showing the softness of the frosting photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

For a finishing touch on your Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe, consider sprinkling some chocolate sprinkles or finely grated dark chocolate over the buttercream. A few coffee beans or a light dusting of cocoa powder can add an elegant flair as well.

Side Dishes

These indulgent cupcakes pair beautifully with fresh berries, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a small glass of Baileys on the side to echo the flavors. They also complement an after-dinner coffee or espresso perfectly.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover Baileys Coffee Cupcakes covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They stay fresh and moist for up to 5 days. Bringing them to room temperature before serving really revives their soft texture and rich flavor.

Freezing

These cupcakes freeze well either frosted or unfrosted. Wrap each cupcake individually in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. To thaw, leave them overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Reheating

When you want to enjoy these after freezing, bring cupcakes to room temperature first. If desired, warm them for about 10-15 seconds in the microwave to soften—but be careful not to melt the frosting!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make these cupcakes alcohol-free?

Absolutely! Simply substitute the Baileys Irish Cream with an equal amount of strong black coffee in both the batter and frosting for a delicious alcohol-free version.

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of cake flour?

Yes, you can use a homemade cake flour substitute by mixing all-purpose flour with a little cornstarch. This keeps the cupcakes tender without compromising texture.

How do I prevent the frosting from being too sweet?

Add a small pinch of salt to the frosting to balance the sweetness. You can also adjust the consistency by adding a little more Baileys or coffee to thin it out, which mellows the sugar intensity.

Can I use this batter recipe for a layer cake?

Yes! This batter adapts beautifully for cakes. For larger cakes, adjust quantities accordingly and consider reducing sugar slightly. I’ve included tips for a 6-inch or 9-inch cake adaptation in the recipe notes.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about the combination of Baileys Irish Cream and coffee flavors swirling through a moist, tender cupcake, all topped with a fluffy coffee buttercream. Whether you’re treating yourself or sharing with friends, this Baileys Coffee Cupcakes Recipe is a cozy, indulgent delight perfect for any occasion. I hope these tips and serving ideas inspire you to bake with confidence and share some sweetness wherever you go!