I was never a huge fan of cupcakes as a child, but thanks to my daughter’s obsession with “Cupcake Wars” on Netflix, I’ve seen the err of my ways. The artistry of these bakers has brought the versatility of cupcakes into the spotlight and now there are cupcake recipes popping up all over Pinterest. Cupcakes are much-loved alternative to a birthday cake especially for smaller parties. Truthfully, I find them even easier to decorate (I’m a wizard with candy, chocolate shaving, and coconut flakes) and doing so can be a fun all-family event.

Here are a few of my favorite cupcake recipes.

#1 Gluten-Free Shirley Temple Cupcakes by Carol Kicinski

#2 Nutella Swirl Cupcakes from Sailu’s Kitchen and if you have a nut allergy like my daughter’s, here’s a recipe for nut-free nutella.

#3 Black-Bottom Cupcakes from Smitten Kitchen

#4 Classic Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Frosting

#5 Eggless Vanilla Cupcakes from Madhuram’s Eggless Cooking

Find more of our favorite cupcake recipes on Pinterest