25 Best Thanksgiving Cupcakes (+ Easy Recipe Ideas)

If you need holiday baking inspiration, look no further than these fun and flavorful Thanksgiving cupcakes.

Between the carrot cake and pumpkin recipes, there’s almost too much to choose from!

I know we all love pumpkin and pecan pie. And all the other classic Thanksgiving desserts our grandmas made for years.

But I think these Thanksgiving cupcakes are too good to miss.

They’re perfect for big gatherings since you don’t have to worry about portioning or serving.

And really, who doesn’t love a tender cupcake with frosting on top?

So, if you want more variety this holiday season, check out these cupcakes for Thanksgiving!

25 Best Thanksgiving Cupcake Recipes for the Holidays

 1. Turkey Cupcakes

These fun and funky cupcakes look like turkeys — tiny, adorable, chocolatey, delicious turkeys!

Soft chocolate sponge is topped with a chunky chocolate icing and then decorated with candy.

Reese’s pieces form the turkey feathers, a Hershey’s kiss is your turkey’s face, and mini M&Ms make the beak.

The finished result is a tasty work of art. Get the kids involved, and you’ll have a fun and creative cooking project the whole family can enjoy!

2. Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes

If you’re looking for ways to sneak more vegetables into your kids, look no further.

Loaded with antioxidants and fiber, sweet potato is a really healthy addition to your kid’s diet. 

It’s also great in cupcakes, adding loads of moisture for a thick but airy crumb that melts in the mouth.

Flavored with fall spices and garnished with whipped cream, no one will care that there are vegetables in these cupcakes. Honest.

3. S’mores Pumpkin Cupcakes

S’mores fans young and old will love these fun cupcake versions of the camping classic. 

Just like s’mores, they’re made from layers of toasted marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers.

But between the cracker base and the marshmallow topping is a vanilla sponge mixed with pumpkin puree.

There are a few steps involved in the cooking and assembly, but these are so worth it.

Get the kids involved to save yourself some work and everyone’s a winner!

4. Chocolate Almond Acorn Cupcakes

Cupcakes are the kind of treat that hold their own on any occasion. Kids parties, family gatherings, elegant evenings.

This sophisticated recipe is definitely for the latter.

Made with dark chocolate and topped with smooth almond buttercream, these are stunning confections that add class to any table.

The chocolate ‘acorns’ are made from vanilla wafers and Hershey’s caramel kisses. They’re the best kind of edible decoration for your festive feasts!

5. Apple Pie Cupcakes

Apple pie is a holiday tradition, but you don’t always have the time (or the energy) to fuss over a whole pie.

When things get crazy, turn to this easy recipe. These cute cupcakes give you all the taste of apple pie, in individual servings.

Quick, easy, and very festive, they’re packed with fall flavors like tart apple, spicy cinnamon, and warming nutmeg. 

6. Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

Add a touch of the tropics to your Thanksgiving table this year with these fruity, fun snacks.

Similar to single-serving pineapple upside-down cakes, these are sticky, sweet, and tangy.

They contain both fruit and juice, so pineapple fans will be very happy.

Top with piles of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry for a bright treat that’ll match the party mood.

7. Carrot Cake Cupcakes

Carrot cake is a classic. But this fun recipe isn’t anything like your grandmother’s.

Ultra-moist and lightly spiced, they’re my favorite way to get my recommended daily allowance of vegetables.

And the healthy theme continues with the luxurious cream cheese topping. Less sugary and sickly than store-bought frosting, it’s creamy and satisfying.

8. Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Fall is all about the pumpkin madness – pumpkin lattes, pumpkin spice, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin cupcakes.

Get two in one with these delicious treats. Filled with all the flavors you know and love from pumpkin pie, but in cakey, bite-sized servings!

9. Hummingbird Cupcakes

Hailing from the south, hummingbird cupcakes are dense cakes filled with fruit and nuts.

They’re a great choice for Thanksgiving breakfast or brunch, as they’re not too sweet and full of energy-boosting ingredients like bananas and pecans.

Some say they’re called hummingbird cakes because you hum with happiness when eating them.

Bake them for your festive party and you’ll have the whole room humming with contentment!

10. Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Dark and fudgy, it’s hard to believe these rich cupcakes are vegan and egg-free.

This recipe is a revelation for those of us who thought of vegan baking as a joyless substitute for traditional treats.

It turns out that going plant-based doesn’t mean sacrificing taste, texture, or deliciousness. 

Made with applesauce, dark cocoa powder, and chocolate chips, these are just as dreamy and dense as the real deal. 

If you’re looking for a healthier Thanksgiving table this year, you can’t do any better than this dairy-free dessert.

11. Cranberry Vanilla Cupcakes with White Chocolate Frosting

There’s a lot going on in these fruity, sweet, and chocolatey cupcakes.

Packed with complex flavors, they’re a great choice if you’re looking to impress your guests this holiday season.

Made with a vanilla sponge, wrapped around a gooey cranberry jam filling, these are bursting with yummy tastes and textures.

Finish them off with silky white chocolate buttercream and enjoy!

12. Chai Cupcakes

Chai tea is a warming blend of sweet spices. These chai-infused cupcakes give you all those heavenly flavors in single-serving cakes!

Ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and clove are used to give both the batter and the frosting aromatic undertones.

And it works beautifully, adding a delicate balance to the sweet vanilla sponge.

13. Pecan Pie Cupcakes

I’m already drooling at the thought of these nutty and moist cupcakes.

Made with toasted pecans, brown sugar, and a thick cream cheese frosting, they’re a wonderful alternative to heavy pecan pie.

Your Thanksgiving guests will love the lightness of the moist vanilla crumb after their heavy feast.

No matter how much turkey they’ve eaten, they’ll still have room to grab one of these gorgeous bites!

14. Lemon Cupcakes

Zesty and refreshing, citrus desserts are perfect after big dinners.

These lemon cupcakes are just the thing for stuffed diners. They’re light, tangy, and the perfect way to end a party.

It helps that they’re easy to make and super-convenient.

Just make them before your guests arrive and whip them out when everyone’s ready for something sweet!

15. Chocolate Coca-Cola Cupcakes

Chocolate and Coca-Cola are a match made in heaven.

Dark and sweet, they add a rich moistness to these soft, melt-in-the-mouth cupcakes.

There’s Coca-Cola in both the frosting and the batter, making the sponge ultra-fluffy and the creamy topping airy and light.

Add tiny coke bottle gummies as your finishing touch, and you’re ready to party!

16. Mocha Cupcakes

Coffee lovers rejoice! You no longer have to choose between mochas and cupcakes!

Get the best of both with this fantastic recipe.

It’s a fluffy chocolate cupcake flavored with rich espresso and topped with an espresso buttercream for even more caffeine-laced magic.

17. Chocolate Toffee Cupcakes

Wickedly tempting, these sticky cupcakes are so devilishly good, you could serve them at Halloween as well as Thanksgiving.

There are toffee chunks in the batter and the frosting for maximum caramel-like goodness.

This is definitely one for the sweet-toothed!

18. Banana Cupcakes

No one feels like cooking the morning after Thanksgiving.

So save yourself some trouble and make these cupcakes ahead of time for a quick and easy breakfast.

Loaded with ripe bananas, they’re an energy-giving grab n’ go snack that your guests will appreciate as they recover from the festivities.

19. Harvest Swirl Cupcakes

Celebrate the falling leaves, darkening nights, and frost-scented air with these cheerful harvest cupcakes.

They taste great and look even better with autumnal-colored buttercream frosting and little maple leaves.

20. Chocolate Avocado Cupcakes

If you’ve never baked with avocado, you’re missing out.

It shows up in both the batter and the icing here – doing double duty as a butter replacement and a smooth frosting.

You won’t taste it (honest!) but you’ll know it’s there in the fluffy sponge and luxuriously-thick chocolate swirl topping.

21. Rhubarb Cupcakes

Rhubarb-lovers will go crazy for these fruity treats.

They’re made with rhubarb jam, nestled inside a vanilla sponge, and topped with a rhubarb buttercream frosting.

22. Strawberry Cupcakes

As the days darken and the temperature drops, you can still enjoy a taste of summer with these berry-packed cakes.

Packed with juicy chunks of fresh strawberries and topped with a strawberry puree buttercream, they’ll have you dreaming of warmer days.

23. Key Lime Cupcakes

Key lime cupcakes are a great way to enjoy the classic cheesecake pie, without the work.

Zesty and fresh, these cupcakes are almost too good to share! 

24. Dulce De Leche Cupcakes

Vanilla cupcakes are filled with a gooey dulce de leche paste and topped with caramel-flavored buttercream.

Eat one of these, and you’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven.

25. Apple Cider Cupcakes

There’s a taste of fall in every bite of these sweet and spicy cupcakes.

Made with juicy chunks of real apple, they’re intensely fruity and very moist. 

The apple-infused sponge is flavored with cinnamon, then topped with a swirl of spiced cider buttercream and drizzled with salted caramel.