Cranberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Cranberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1¼ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp. baking powder; ½ tsp. baking soda; ¼ tsp. salt; 2 large eggs; 1 cup canned cranberry sauce; ½ cup unsalted butter (melted); ⅓ cup honey; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 8 oz. cream cheese (softened); ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt; 2 Tbsp. canned cranberry sauce; 1 Tbsp. honey; 1 tsp. vanilla extract

by Amanda Keefer // May 6, 2021 (last updated January 28, 2024)

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Enjoy a new spin on cupcakes with this lightened-up cranberry cupcake recipe! It’s made with canned cranberry sauce and topped with a cranberry cream cheese frosting for a sweet, but not too sweet, dessert. Perfect for Mother’s day, holiday celebrations, birthday parties and more.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by US Cranberries. All opinion are our own.

I have to admit, I’m not the biggest fan of cupcakes. My sweet tooth tends to lean more dark chocolate than cake and frosting. So, when our friends at US Cranberries reached out about doing a cranberry cupcake, I knew I was going to need some taste-testers to help me out.

Luckily, our team is always ready to try a new dish! After a couple of rounds getting the recipe just right, the team bit in and their eyes lit up – BINGO! We had it.

What makes these cupcakes special?

First, their light, fluffy and super moist thanks to the cranberry sauce. I could eat them just as they are without the cream cheese frosting. There would be no complaints on these for breakfast as a “muffin.”

Second, I love that they have a balanced sweetness. They’ve got a little, but not hit-you-in-the-face sugar sweetness that you often get with boxes or store-bought cupcakes. The average store-bought cupcake can pack around 27g of sugar! This recipe contains 11g with over half of that coming from natural sources like cranberries.

Third, I’m a sucker for cream cheese frosting and love the addition of cranberry sauce to add some flavor and turn it into a pretty pink color with no food coloring needed.

Overhead of cranberry cupcakes ingredients in individual bowls.

Key Ingredients

The ingredients needed for these cupcakes are pretty standard, most of these items you can probably find in your pantry already. Here are a few things to keep in mind with this recipe:

Flour: This recipe called for standard all-purpose flour. I didn’t test these using a different type of flour, so I can’t guarantee that a gluten-free flour would give you the same fluffy texture.
Canned cranberry sauce: I used “whole cranberry sauce” but any type would do. Or if you have leftover cranberry sauce from a holiday celebration, that works too!
Honey: You could also swap for maple syrup (for a slightly different flavor) or agave nectar
Cream Cheese: Make sure to set this out a few hours before making the frosting so it has time to soften. It’ll make a huge difference in how easy it blends!

How many cupcakes does this recipe make?

This recipe made 16 cupcakes when I tested it at home. However, I made them at a friends house and it made 12. I think her muffin tin was slightly larger than mine. Maybe one was a “standard” size and the other wasn’t? Either way, be prepared for this recipe to make 12-16 cupcakes, depending on the side of your pan.

Cranberry cupcakes scattered on countertop.

Does cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Leftover desserts with cream cheese frosting should always be refrigerated. Before eating again, take it out of the fridge for an hour or two to “warm up” to room temperature.

Cupcake Decorating Tips

Wanting to make your cupcakes look like they’re fresh from a cupcake shop? Go for it! Here are some tips.

Use a Piping Bag

Fill a piping bag with your frosting for that professional frosting look. Since the frosting does contain cranberry pieces, I’d use a tip with a larger opening so it doesn’t get clogged

Top with Sugared Cranberries

Give these cupcakes some added flair by topping with a sugared cranberry! Here’s how to make them:

Thaw frozen cranberries in water or small bowl at room temperature.
Toss in a little sugar until coated.
Add to your cupcakes!

Cranberry cupcakes on cake stand with cupcakes underneath.

Commonly Asked Questions About Our Cranberry Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Q: What are the main ingredients in Cranberry Cupcakes?
A: The main ingredients in Cranberry Cupcakes are all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, eggs, canned cranberry sauce, melted butter, honey, vanilla, and cream cheese for the frosting.

Q: How many cupcakes does the Cranberry Cupcake recipe make?
A: The Cranberry Cupcake recipe makes 12-16 cupcakes depending on the size of your muffin tin.

Q: Does the cream cheese frosting need to be refrigerated?
A: Yes, any leftovers of the Cranberry Cupcakes with cream cheese frosting should be refrigerated. Let it warm up to room temperature before eating again.

Q: What makes these cupcakes a lighter dessert?
A: These cupcakes use healthier ingredients like Greek yogurt in the frosting and have less sugar than traditional cupcakes, with only 11g per serving.

Q: How can you decorate Cranberry Cupcakes?
A: Ways to decorate Cranberry Cupcakes are using a piping bag for the frosting, and topping with sugared cranberries.

Q: What occasions are Cranberry Cupcakes good for?
A: Cranberry Cupcakes would be great for Mother’s Day, holiday celebrations, birthday parties, or any special event.

Other Sweet, but Not Too Sweet Desserts to Try