Honey Cupcakes: A Buzzing Treat
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Do you need a delicious bee-themed dessert option? Look no further than these moist and flavorful honey cupcakes! They are made using real bee honey. And their whimsical bee design is sure to please anyone who loves the taste of honey and has a love for bees.
Homemade Honey Bee Cupcakes

Homemade baked goods are always special. You just cannot get that fresh taste from something packaged in a box.
Cooking at home also gives you the chance to use natural ingredients like honey and avoid many preservatives found in packaged mixes.
When it comes to baking cupcakes, the sweetness and moistness of the added honey makes for a delectable treat that’s hard to resist.
Not to mention, they’re perfect for a bee-themed party or just as a sweet indulgence for any occasion.
This honey cupcakes recipe is easy to follow, even for beginner bakers. With simple ingredients and clear instructions, you’ll have a batch of deliciously moist cupcakes in no time.

Ingredients
For the basic recipe, you likely already have most of the things you need in your kitchen. The recipe calls for canola oil. But you can substitute vegetable oil or coconut oil instead.
Honey: I hope everyone has a jar of honey somewhere in the pantry. Properly stored honey lasts virtually forever. Don’t throw it out if it becomes solid – you can fix crystallized honey!
A trip to the store may reveal several kinds of honey you can buy and use. For this recipe, the variety of honey is not critical – basic wildflower will work just fine. I do always recommend raw honey over pasteurized or blends – but that is your choice.
Icing Options
If you wish you can make some homemade buttercream icing to put on your cupcakes. It is delicious and you can make it stiff to pile up very high in a pretty shape.
I chose to go with the pre-made icing option instead. My goal was to use less icing – less sugar.

The Process
Making cupcakes is as easy as 1 -2 -3 -4.
1. As the oven preheats – line your muffin pan with the liners of your choice. I chose some gold ones but you can use whatever you wish.
2. Follow recipe directions for mixing dry and wet ingredients and then combining them. You can use a hand mixer, stand mixer or a spoon. Mix well but do not over beat the batter.
3. After filling muffin tins about 3/4 full, bake in the oven for the recommended time. Test for doneness – I had to add an additional 5 minutes to this batch. Oven time varies.
4. Let your muffins cool completely before adding any icing. Mine have a noticeable muffin top (let’s not talk too much about it) but I do like the crusty brown tops. If you want less – do not fill your muffin cups with as much batter.
Possible Variations
This honey cupcake recipe is already delicious as is. However, you can add a lot of icing or just a little. Here are a couple of other ways to customize the recipe to your tastes.
- Add spices to the batter: A bit of (Cinnamon, nutmeg, or ginger – all work well with the honey flavor).
- Different frosting: Instead of prepared frosting or buttercream – consider using cream cheese frosting or vanilla.
- Add mix-ins: Adding some of these items gives the honey cupcakes more texture (chopped nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate chips).
Just use your imagination and knowledge of what you or your family likes. These recipe variations will make this delicious treat into your own creation.
Why I Love this Recipe
There are many reasons that this honey cupcakes recipe is special. First and foremost, the addition of honey to the batter adds a unique depth of flavor that is both sweet and slightly floral.
Honey is often used in baking. It adds moisture to the baked goods making them incredibly soft and tender. It only takes a small amount of honey to sweeten the batter.
I used prepared icing but if you have time to make homemade buttercream icing, that adds another special touch to this honey dessert.
Last of all, the cute bee decorations on top add a buzz to any occasion. They add a touch of whimsy to the cupcakes and make them perfect for a bee-themed party.
Don’t worry if yours do not look perfect – homemade baked goods have their own special beauty. Even if you’re not throwing a party, these cupcakes are still a fun and delicious treat to enjoy any time.
Expert Tips
When using honey in recipes for baked goods you may notice more browning. Do not over bake your cupcakes.
Test them for doneness. Insert a toothpick (knife, etc.) into the middle of a cupcake at the end of the instructed cook time. If it does not come out clean, bake for an additional 4 minutes and check again.
You can use this recipe to make mini-cupcakes but will likely have to reduce the cooking time. Watch closely to monitor when they are done.

Storage
Your honey cupcakes can last for up to three days at room temperature in an airtight container. If you need them to last longer, you can store them in the fridge for up to a week or freeze them for up to three months.
For long term storage, you may want to wait to add icing when you are ready to use them.
You don’t have to be a great chef to create tasty dishes. That’s a good thing for me as I am not the best cook around. But, I can make delicious treats using some of the honey my bees make each year.
If you want to add more selections to your bee themed goodies, consider this honey bee cake. You can use some of the same little bees to decorate. It is a dense cake much like a pound cake.
For the youngest in the crowd, honey bee cake pops are always a hit. Kids like the fun shapes and enjoy eating them off a stick.
If you need some high energy snacks made with honey, these honey, peanut butter and oatmeal balls are a favorite. They are easy to travel with and freeze well too.
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Honey Cupcakes
Equipment
- Stand Mixer (or hand mixer)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 stick butter (6 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup canola oil
Frosting & Decoration (Optional)
- 1 bag Wilton Ready to Use Yellow Icing
- 1 pack Edible Icing Bees
- 12 Cupcake Liners – Bee theme (or yellow/gold)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F with a rack in the middle position. Line a 12-count muffin pan with paper liners with a honey or bee theme.
- In medium bowl, mix together the dry ingredients for the basic recipe. Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt .
- In another bowl, mix together the softened butter and sugar. Cream well with a mixer. Beat in the eggs one at a time – be sure to scrape down any batter that accumulates on the sides of the bowl.
- Add the honey, oil and vanilla to the batter. Mix thoroughly.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the batter bowl. Approximately one cup at a time until blended well but do not over-beat the batter. Add the milk and stir to combine.
- Fill muffin liners about 3/4 full and place in preheated oven.
- Bake at 350°F for 19-20 minutes. The edges should be brown. Insert a toothpick in the center. If it comes out clean, they are done.
- Remove pan from oven and let cool 10 minutes. Then remove muffins from pan to finish cooling.
Frosting – Prepared
- You have a few options for frosting decoration. Either cover the entire top of your honey cupcakes with the prepared frosting or make small designs with it. You can add the candy bee decorations if you want.