What's not to love about Milky Way Cupcakes? Everyone loves a Milky Way candy bar. Can you imagine how delicious a Milky Way cupcake would be? Pure Heaven.

Did you know the Milky Way candy bar was created almost 100 years ago? It's true! The 100th anniversary of the Milky Way is in 2023, and people have loved it since the day it was introduced.
Fun fact; That candy bar of old didn't have much caramel because they wanted to make it inexpensive, but now it is full of it! In fact, when I think Milky Way, caramel is the first thing that comes to mind.
You'll love the flavor of this cupcake as much as you love the candy bar, because it's got many of the same ingredients inside, and it's topped with a piece of a Milky Way! Enjoy!
What You Need to Make Milky Way Cupcakes
To make the cupcakes, you will need flour, baking soda, Ghirardelli cocoa, salt, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and caramel.
For the frosting, you'll need more butter, cocoa, sugar, caramel, and heavy whipping cream, and optional powdered sugar. You'll top the cupcakes with Ghirardelli chocolate sauce, Ghirardelli caramel sauce, and Milky Way bars.
How to Make these Cupcakes
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Line cupcake pan with liners and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cocoa, and salt together and set aside.
In a standing mixer, cream butter and sugar.
Add in eggs, 1 at a time, and mix until fully combined before adding the second one.
Add in vanilla and caramel.
Add in flour mixture and milk, alternating between the two.
Fill cupcake liner ¾ of the way with batter and bake for 21 minutes.
How to Make the Frosting
Combine all ingredients in the standing mixer and combine until stiff peaks form.
If the frosting looks like pebbles, add in more heavy whipping cream.
If the frosting is too thin, add in ¼ C powdered sugar.
Tip: How to test if frosting is done, scoop some frosting with a spoon, and tilt it upside down. If it doesn't fall off then the frosting is ready.
Pipe on the frosting using a star tip and drizzle caramel and chocolate sauce. Top with ⅛ piece of a milky way.
Looking for more cupcake recipes? Check out these Strawberry Banana cupcakes and these Crown Royal cupcakes. For something really decadent, these Salted Caramel Cupcakes.
If your kiddos are Marvel fans, how about a superhero party with these Captain America Cupcakes, Iron Man Cupcakes, or Captain America Cookies?
Delicious and Decadent Milky Way Cupcakes
Ingredients
For Cupcakes
For Frosting
- 1 C unsalted butter
- ½ C cocoa powder
- 3 C powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon Caramel
- 5 TBS heavy whipping cream
- Topping
- Ghirardelli Chocolate Sauce
- Ghirardelli Caramel Sauce
- 4 Milky Way bars
Instructions
To Make the Cupcakes
- Preheat oven 350 degrees
- Line cupcake pan with liners and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, cocoa, and salt together and set aside.
- In standing mixer, cream butter and sugar.
- Add in eggs, 1 at a time and mix until fully mixed before adding the second one.
- Add in vanilla and caramel.
- Add in flour mixture and milk, alternating between the two.
- fill cupcake liner ¾ of the way with batter and bake for 21 minutes.
To Frost the Cupcakes
- Combine all ingredients in the standing mixer and combine until stiff peaks form.
- If frosting looks like pebbles, add in more heavy whipping cream.
- If frosting is frosting is too thin, add in ¼ C powder sugar
- How to test if frosting is done: Scoop some frosting with a spoon and tilt it upside down. If it doesn't fall off then the frosting is ready.
- Pipe on the frosting using a star tip and drizzle caramel and chocolate sauce and top with a milky way.
Cindy
Is the amount of butter correct in this recipe?
Maresa
This is the absolute worst recipe I have ever used. The cupcakes did NOT rise at all. Very disappointed in the yield as well. Says 24 but you only get 24 if you double the recipe. Tried making them twice thinking i did something wrong but they came out the same both times. There's no leavening in the recipe which would be why they don't rise.
Sue Gray
These look great, but is there no cocoa powder put in the cupcake batter? How much, if so? Thank you!
Isabelle
There is only cocoa powder in the frosting. There is cocoa in the cake, though. That was shown in step 3.
LizZ Holla
OMG. I think I just had a heart attack LOOKING at this fantasy!! WOW!!...Talk about decadence at it's finest! YUM