Root Beer Float Chocolate Cupcakes

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 33 minutes
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Root Beer Cupcakes take all the goodness of a classic root beer float and bake it into cupcake form. Add a nostalgic paper straw to complete the look. All that’s missing is a soda fountain counter and swivel stools.

Root Beer Float Cupcakes with red and white straws

Recipe development is not always as wonderful as most people imagine it to be. My friends and family probably think I sit around eating cupcakes all day (which not gonna lie, somedays that does happen). But there are days where no recipe will work right, and you find yourself dreading tasting one more failed root beer dessert. That was what happened to me this week.

I knew I was going to do something dessert like with root beer, but I couldn’t decide what. So I tried Root Beer Float Popsicles. MAJOR FAIL. Then I tried a layer cake, but all it tasted like was chocolate – no root beer. Sure it was delicious (hellloooo, it was a chocolate cake — of course it was delicious), but it didn’t taste like rootbeer.

Root Beer Float Cupcakes with red and white straws

So, I moved on to cupcakes. I tried two different batches, with two different brands of root beer. I tried the good stuff and the cheap stuff…and the cupcakes all tasted like chocolate cupcakes with a very slight hint of hidden root beer.

So I eventually found myself at the store buying the one item I hoped I wouldn’t have to buy…Root Beer Concentrate. And guess what, delicious Root Beer Cupcakes with Root Beer Whipped Cream came together in a glorious Root Beer Float Cupcake.

Root Beer Float Cupcakes with red and white straws and a bit taken out of one of the cupcakes.

I did still include a whole 1/2 cup of real root beer in the cupcakes (which leads to a delicious fluffy cake), but the root beer concentrate makes the cupcake. You can find it in the spice section by the other extracts. It’s not expensive and is so worth the final product!

Root Beer Float Cupcakes with red and white straws
5 from 2 votes
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Yield: 12 cupcakes

Root Beer Float Cupcakes

Root Beer Cupcakes take all the goodness of a classic root beer float and bake it into cupcake form. Add a nostalgic paper straw to complete the look. All that's missing is a soda fountain counter and swivel stools.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time33 minutes

Ingredients

Root Beer Cupcakes

Root Beer Whipped Cream Icing

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a stand mixer, cream together butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg, vegetable oil and root beer concentrate, mixing until combined. Then mix in flour mixture, alternating with root beer, mixing until smooth.
  • Spoon batter into prepared tin, filling 3/4 full. Bake for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from pan and let cool completely on a wire rack.
  • In bowl of a stand mixer, combine the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Using whisk attachment, mix on high for 1-2 minutes, or until soft peaks have formed.
  • Add vanilla extract and root beer concentrate and beat for about a minute longer, or until stiff peaks have formed.
  • Transfer whipped cream to a piping bag and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cupcake, Calories: 269kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 51mg, Sodium: 179mg, Potassium: 74mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 486IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg

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27 Responses
  1. Chriatine

    Jessica, I made your root beer float cupcakes. I followed your recipe to the tee. But unfortunately, they rose and and fell. It was like a big hole in the middle. Then the tops stuck to the cup cake tin, then when I removed the cup cake papers the cupcake fell apart in my hand. I’m trying to figure out what I could of done wrong? Have you ever had this happen to you? I thought maybe it was baking with soda? Or where do you live? Maybe I need to make adjustments for high altitude? They tasted great but I ended up calling them deconstructed. Lol! I put them in a small plastic cup and put the frosting on top. I’d appreciate your input. Thank you

    1. A woman holding a camera standing in front of some shelves.
      Jessica

      Dang! I hate to hear that, I’m so sorry! I do live in Florida where there is no altitude, so that may have played a part. I would also double check and test your baking soda to make sure it’s fresh. It has been years since I have made these cupcakes, but I will put them on my list to retest and see if I can figure out what happened.

  2. Nells

    Jessica – I made your Root Beer Cupcakes and your blueberry cake for my son’s 5th birthday party this weekend. They were a hit! Thank you for the many successful recipes I’ve tried from your blog. The Novice Chef has become my go-to website for fear-less cooking.

  3. Vanessa

    How exactly do you develop a recipe all on your own? How do you know how much flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, liquid to use? I bake A LOT and I really dislike cakes that are not moist so I always look for recipes that use oil and/or sour cream. I see that you use butter and oil in your dream cakes, but I have yet to get to try them. So what is the secret to developing your own unique recipe?

  4. Suzanne

    What store did you find the root beer concentrate in? I’ve been trying to make root beer ice cream and ran into the same difficulties. Didn’t want to spend a ton buying a bulk bottle online.

  5. Renee @ Awesome on $20

    I don’t have any problem with using root beer concentrate, but I wonder what would happen if you tried boiling down the root beer into a syrup before adding it. I’ve never tried it, and you probably have. Just a thought.

  6. Cathy Pollak ~ Noble Pig

    These are totally adorable! And yes, recipe development can be tedious…but mostly fun. Glad it worked out!

  7. Joanne

    I definitely know the days that you’re talking about…but isn’t it SO worth it when the cupcakes finally turn out in the end?!

  8. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking

    How friggin’ cute are these! You totally just transported me to a little 50’s diner and a poodle skirt, Jess. LOVE ’em!

  9. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite

    Yay for another successful cupcake recipe. I probably haven’t had a root beer float in about 15+ years. These will hit the spot.

  10. Sues

    I’ve never bought root beer extract, but if I did, I’d probably drink it out of the bottle. These cupcakes are adorable!

  11. shelly (cookies and cups)

    Yep, done that..make root beer something and all it tastes like is chocolate. LOVE these and so happy you can taste the root beer! Totally gonna try!

  12. Belinda @themoonblushbaker

    I had my first taste of root beer a month ago now i can not get enough. I love the cute design

  13. Tieghan

    How fun!! These look awesome and so yummy!

    Oh and I totally know how you feel about failed recipes! It can be a major bummer, but it is always awesome when you finally get it right!

Welcome!

Jessica
I'm a trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive in the kitchen! I am also a wife, mama of 3.