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Sundae cupcakes on a plate.

Sundae Cupcakes

Sundae Cupcakes are what happens when you take a birthday cupcake and fully commit to the ice cream sundae bit — a tender vanilla cupcake with a scoop of thick buttercream on top instead of piped frosting, drizzled with Hershey's Sundae Dream chocolate sauce, finished with rainbow sprinkles and a maraschino cherry on top. They look exactly like a little ice cream sundae, and people absolutely lose their minds over them at parties.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 36 minutes
Servings 18 servings
Calories 341 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the cupcakes

  • ½ c unsalted butter softened
  • 1 c sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 t vanilla
  • ½ c sour cream
  • 1 & ½ c flour
  • 1 t baking powder
  • ½ t baking soda
  • ½ t salt

For the frosting and decoration

  • 1 c unsalted butter softened
  • 4 c powdered sugar
  • 1 t vanilla
  • ½ t salt
  • 2-3 t milk optional
  • Rainbow sprinkles
  • Maraschino cherries
  • Hershey's Sundae Dream chocolate sauce extra thick

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a standard muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the softened butter and sugar until smooth.
  • Add the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Mix to combine, scraping down the sides often.
  • Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well, scraping down the sides as needed.
  • Divide the batter between the cupcake liners, filling each about ½–⅔ full.
  • Bake for 14–16 minutes or until just starting to turn golden and the center is set. Allow to cool completely before decorating.
  • For the frosting — combine the softened butter, vanilla, salt, and about half the powdered sugar in a stand mixer. Mix on low until combined
  • Add the remaining powdered sugar and milk if needed. Mix on low until combined, then bump up to medium and whip for about a minute until smooth and fluffy.
  • Once cupcakes are completely cool, use an ice cream scoop to scoop a round mound of frosting onto each cupcake.
  • Drizzle with chocolate sauce. Add rainbow sprinkles, then press a maraschino cherry on top, pressing down slightly so it doesn't slide off.

Notes

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For best results, assemble just before serving — the chocolate will drip and the cherry will seep color into the frosting the longer they sit. Use Hershey's Sundae Dream specifically — it's extra thick and stays in place. Use an ice cream scoop for the frosting to get the rounded dome shape. Keep frosting thick so it holds the scoop shape.

Nutrition

Calories: 341kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 2gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 195mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 540IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
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Nutrition information provided is just an estimate and may vary based on specific ingredients used.