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  5. Spring Cake and Cupcake Recipes When You Need a Seasonal Sweet Treat

Spring Cake and Cupcake Recipes When You Need a Seasonal Sweet Treat

Karla Walsh Headshot
By Karla Walsh Updated March 25, 2021
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Pink Lemonade Cake
Credit: Andy Lyons
Say hello to spring with an adorable (and delicious!) spring cake. We've chosen our best spring cake and cupcake recipes for you to try. Find spring cake designs covered with colorful frosting and floral decorations. You'll also enjoy spring cupcake flavors that celebrate the season, including citrus, berries, and more.
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Vanilla Ruffle Cake

Vanilla Ruffle Cake
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Give an ordinary vanilla cake a spring pink makeover with ravishing rows of vanilla-buttercream ruffles. To achieve this lovely look, be sure to use a decorating bag with a petal tip.

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Dark Chocolate Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream

Dark Chocolate Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream
Credit: Jennifer Davick
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This rich chocolate cake is the perfect welcome to spring! Frost this gorgeous cake with fresh strawberry buttercream made with egg whites, butter, and bright spring strawberries.

Related: Chocolate Cake Recipes That Don't Disappoint

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Chocolate Mojito Cupcakes

Chocolate Mojito Cupcakes
Credit: Courtesy of Heather Baird
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These bright spring cupcakes are inspired by the classic mojito cocktail! The boozy frosting gets a minty kick from crème de menthe for an unbeatable flavor. We love blogger Heather Baird's twist of citrusy lime and fresh mint.

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Pink Lemonade Cake

Pink Lemonade Cake
Credit: Andy Lyons
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This stunning cake recipe turns one of our favorite seasonal drinks into a delicious lemon-filled spring cake. Topped with lemonade buttercream frosting, this pretty cake is full of spring flavor. And those alternating pink layers are sure to impress everyone that has the pleasure of enjoying a slice.

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Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream

Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream
Credit: Jennifer Davick
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Searching for an impressive spring holiday cake recipe? You've found it! Stacked with dense, lemony cake layers and rich, zingy whipped cream, this indulgent three-tier cake could be the ultimate springtime dessert.

Buy It: Wilton Aluminum Round Set, 8x2-Inch, 2-Pack Cake Pan ($14, Amazon)

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Orange Cream Pop Cupcakes

Orange Cream-Pop Cupcakes
Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You'll love this cheerful pick for spring cupcakes. Made with real orange juice, then finished off with fluffy cream frosting, these cupcakes are as cute as a freezer pop on a stick.

Buy It: Wilton Premium Nonstick Bakeware Standard Muffin and Cupcake, 12-Cup Baking Pan ($10, Amazon)

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Bird's Nest Cupcakes

Bird’s Nest Cupcakes
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Celebrate spring and the joyful chirping birds chirping without taking a step outside with these bird's nest cupcakes. They're bright, fun, and full of lemony goodness. The candy-coated "nests" made with chow mein noodles provide the perfect sweet and salty crunch to every bite.

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Neapolitan Cupcakes

Neapolitan Cupcakes
Credit: Blaine Moats
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Create your own soda-shop twist on the classic Neapolitan treat. Our playful cupcakes feature all the layers: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry cake, topped with a scoop of chilly ice cream frosting. Don't be afraid to go heavy on the sprinkles.

Related: 22 Healthy Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Recipes

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Double-Layer White Chocolate Cake

Double-Layer White Chocolate Cake
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Play dress-up with a plain-Jane cake by adding cascading rosettes of luscious white chocolate frosting. To pile on the precious frills to your spring-themed cake, all you need is a little food coloring and a decorating bag with a large star tip.

Buy It: Piping Bag and Tips Cake Decorating Supplies Kit ($7, Amazon)

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Berry-Lemon Cupcakes

Berry-Lemon Cupcakes
Credit: Blaine Moats
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These spring cupcakes are proof berries and lemon are an unbeatable combination. A lemon cake mix serves as the shortcut ingredient here, but the flavors are elevated with a fresh berry mixture. Choose one or a combo of blueberries, strawberries, or raspberries.

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Sprinkle-Me-Happy Cake

Sprinkle-Me-Happy Cake
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Inspire some "ooh la las" with this stunning spring cake featuring soft vanilla buttercream frosting, a fruity ultramoist cake, and (of course) plenty of sprinkles! Keep our buttercream frosting recipe handy for all your cake needs.

Related: How to Make a Cake from Scratch as Delicious as Your Favorite Bakery

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Fun Flower Cupcakes

Fun Flower Cupcakes
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Enjoy the warmer weather by biting into a spring cupcake that tastes as good as it looks. These pretty flower cupcakes are ready to go in less than an hour. So if you've got a spring birthday to plan, these are definitely hard to beat. For a touch of added fun, make marzipan bees for a cute cupcake garnish.

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Buttercakes with Sour Cream Frosting

Buttercakes with Sour Cream Frosting
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Sugar flowers make a sweet statement atop these light and buttery spring cakes. You can find sugar flowers among the baking ingredients at the grocery store or at a baking supply store.

Buy It: Wilton Mini Icing Decorations, Rainbow Daisies ($7, Michaels)

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Cherry Flower Cake

Cherry Flower Power Cake
Credit: Andy Lyons
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This cake knows what spring is all about: flowers. To create this in-bloom spring cake design, first coat your cake in our creamy cherry-almond butter frosting, then use candy clay to shape the petals and their centers. While the decorative flowers are pretty easy to shape, make them in advance and store them in an airtight container to save time.

Buy It: LEGERM Cake Decorating Angled Icing Spatula Set of 6 ($11, Amazon)

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Layered Sherbet Cake

Layered Sherbet Cake
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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One bite of this chilly cake will take you back to the fun flavors of childhood push-up pops. Our layered cake features rows of lime, raspberry, and orange frozen sherbet between the soft vanilla cake. (And we snuck in a few candy toppers, too!)

Related: These Light Summer Desserts Are Seasonal Sweets You Can Feel Good About

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Champagne Cake with Fresh Strawberries

Champagne Cake with Fresh Strawberries
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Upgrade store-bought cake mix by replacing water with champagne! It'll add just enough of a flavor difference that will have everyone asking how you did it. Frost with pink icing and top with fresh strawberries for a perfectly elegant, yet super easy spring cake.

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Lavender-Honey Cupcakes

Lavender-Honey Cupcakes
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Dried lavender scents the batter and garnishes these pretty-in-purple cupcakes. A sweet-as-honey frosting (literally—it's made with mascarpone cheese, butter, honey, and powdered sugar) adds the sweet indulgence factor.

Related: Stunning Edible Flower Recipes

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Whole Wheat Chocolate-Blueberry Cake

Whole Wheat Chocolate-Blueberry Cake
Credit: Andy Lyons
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We can't think of a better use for fresh spring berries than piling them high atop a dark, moist chocolate cake coated in an easy two-ingredient chocolate ganache. Bonus: the blueberries and the dark chocolate are also antioxidant-rich. Combined with whole-wheat flour, this a healthier spring cake idea you won't feel guilty about eating.

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Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes

Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes
Credit: Jay Wilde
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In-season zucchini makes all the difference when it comes to our delightful chocolate-loaded cupcakes. The zucchini lends moist texture, while smooth peanut butter icing deliciously tops off this surprisingly healthy spring cupcake recipe.

Related: Healthy Chocolate Desserts to Satisfy Your Sugar Cravings

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Cherry-Almond Vanilla Cupcakes

Cherry-Almond Vanilla Cupcakes
Credit: Blaine Moats
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These might be our favorite spring cupcakes and nearly 200 recipe reviews agree. These adorable spring cupcakes are love at first sight. Serve your family these fruity cakes with rich, almond-infused frosting, and they'll be begging pretty please (with a cherry on top!) for seconds.

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Carrot Cake Cupcakes

carrot cake cupcakes
Credit: Scott Little
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Bake a batch of mini carrot cakes using shredded carrots, applesauce, and a pinch of cinnamon. With the help of flaxseed and whole wheat flour, you can indulge in these super moist spring cupcakes for less than 200 calories each.

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Banana Split Cake Roll

Banana Split Cake Roll
Credit: Karla Conrad
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Switch up your spring cake design by making a rolled version. The fresh banana-infused cake gets a delicious strawberry cream cheese filling. Complete with frozen whipped topping and chocolate syrup, you've got a delicious cake that might be even better than its ice cream form.

Buy It: OXO Good Grips Pro Nonstick 10x15-Inch Jelly Roll Pan ($20, Bed Bath & Beyond)

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Classic Coconut Cake

Classic Coconut Cake
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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This dreamy coconut cake is filled with layers of sweet coconut filling and topped with a classic white frosting (with more coconut, of course). You can use pre-shredded coconut, but we have the instructions if you want to be adventurous and open your own fresh coconut.

Related: How to Keep Your Cake from Sticking to the Pan So It Always Comes Out In One Piece

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Fresh Rosemary and Lemon Cupcakes

Fresh Rosemary and Lemon Cupcakes
Credit: Andy Lyons
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Tote along a pretty plate of these spring cupcakes to your next potluck for a refreshing treat to welcome spring. Friends and family alike will adore the sweet peppiness of fresh lemon peel and soft vanilla. The fresh herbal notes from the rosemary is a surprising, yet welcome flavor.

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End-of-the-Rainbow Cupcakes

Cupcake Rainbow
Credit: Blaine Moats
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May flowers aren't the only things April showers bring! You'll need white frosting, food coloring, and coarse decorating sugar to create this easy, eye-catching rainbow stretching across a base of prebaked cupcakes. Don't forget the teeny-tiny marshmallow clouds!

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    1 of 25 Vanilla Ruffle Cake
    2 of 25 Dark Chocolate Cake with Fresh Strawberry Buttercream
    3 of 25 Chocolate Mojito Cupcakes
    4 of 25 Pink Lemonade Cake
    5 of 25 Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Lemon Cream
    6 of 25 Orange Cream Pop Cupcakes
    7 of 25 Bird's Nest Cupcakes
    8 of 25 Neapolitan Cupcakes
    9 of 25 Double-Layer White Chocolate Cake
    10 of 25 Berry-Lemon Cupcakes
    11 of 25 Sprinkle-Me-Happy Cake
    12 of 25 Fun Flower Cupcakes
    13 of 25 Buttercakes with Sour Cream Frosting
    14 of 25 Cherry Flower Cake
    15 of 25 Layered Sherbet Cake
    16 of 25 Champagne Cake with Fresh Strawberries
    17 of 25 Lavender-Honey Cupcakes
    18 of 25 Whole Wheat Chocolate-Blueberry Cake
    19 of 25 Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes
    20 of 25 Cherry-Almond Vanilla Cupcakes
    21 of 25 Carrot Cake Cupcakes
    22 of 25 Banana Split Cake Roll
    23 of 25 Classic Coconut Cake
    24 of 25 Fresh Rosemary and Lemon Cupcakes
    25 of 25 End-of-the-Rainbow Cupcakes

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    Spring Cake and Cupcake Recipes When You Need a Seasonal Sweet Treat
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