Raspberry Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting

Name: Raspberry Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 23 min
Total time: 93 min
Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (plus 2 tablespoons); 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (NOT soda); 1/2 teaspoon salt (fine kosher or sea); 1 stick unsalted butter (softened); 3/4 cup granulated sugar; 2 large eggs (room temperature); 1/2 cup whole milk (room temperature); 1/4 cup canola oil; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup fresh raspberries (halved from top to bottom); 8 ounces mascarpone cheese (chilled); 3/4 cup powdered sugar; 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream (chilled); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/8 teaspoon salt (fine kosher or sea); sparkling sugar (optional decoration); fresh raspberries (optional decoration)

Jump to Recipe

These Raspberry Cupcakes have a soft moist vanilla crumb studded with fresh raspberries and are topped with creamy lightly sweetened mascarpone frosting.

Raspberry cupcake on a doily with raspberries and more cupcakes in the background.

Cupcakes are always such a fun little treat! These raspberry cupcakes are loaded with fresh raspberries making them a great summertime treat when there is an abundance of berries. They’re also perfect as an elegant but easy Valentine’s Day surprise!

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

Flour – I used all-purpose flour in this recipe. You could also use cake flour.

Baking Powder – Provides lift and airiness to the cupcakes.

Butter – Gives the cupcakes more flavor while providing them with fat and moisture.

Oil – Provides additional moisture to keep the cupcakes moist for longer.

Raspberries – Fresh raspberries add tartness and freshness to the cupcakes.

Mascarpone Cheese – Adds creaminess and a bit of tang to the frosting.

Heavy Cream – Gives the mascarpone frosting lift and structure.

Step By Step Instructions

Note: The recipe card below includes a full list of ingredients, their amounts, and instructions.

Step 1:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a cupcake pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.

Step 2:

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3:

Cream together softened butter and sugar until well combined. Add the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Cream until everything is well combined.

Oil, milk, two eggs, and vanilla extract added to creamed butter and sugar.

Step 4:

Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix just until it comes together.

Dry ingredients added to the wet ingredients.

Step 5:

Slice the raspberries in half from top to bottom (optional).

Toss the raspberries in flour then gently mix them into the cupcake batter.

Floured raspberries on top of cupcake batter and then mixed in.

Step 6:

Scoop the batter into the lined cupcake pan until each one is about 2/3 full.

Cupcake pan filled with raspberry cupcake batter.

Step 7:

Bake for 20 to 23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs.

Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling for at least 1 hour.

Baked raspberry cupcakes in the cupcake pan.

Step 8:

Add the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, whipping cream, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl.

Start with the electric mixer on low speed and mix just until everything comes together. Then, increase to medium speed and whisk for 1 minute.

Scrape down the sides, then mix for another 30 seconds to 1 minute or until the frosting is thick and creamy.

Mascarpone frosting in a bowl with and electric whisk on the side.

Step 9:

Spread or pipe the frosting onto each cupcake (tips for piping the frosting below).

For decoration, sprinkle with sparkling sugar and a fresh raspberry.

Serve and enjoy!

Raspberry cupcakes with a fresh raspberry on top of each one lined up.

Tips & Tricks

Be sure that the eggs and milk have come to room temperature before starting the recipe. This should take about 30 minutes.
I like to cut the raspberries in half from top to bottom before tossing them in the flour. This results in smaller bits of raspberry throughout the cupcakes rather than a few large pieces. It’s a personal preference, so if you like bigger pieces of fruit, leave them whole.

Create The Look

To create the same finished look on these raspberry cupcakes, you’ll need:

Wilton 1M Piping Tip

16-inch Piping Bags

Sparkling Sugar

Fresh Raspberries

Cut the tip of the bag to fit the piping tip. Push the tip down so that it fits snuggly. Fill the bag with the frosting and twist the top closed.
Put a dollop of frosting in the center of the cupcake. Then, squeezing from the top of the piping bag, swirl the frosting around the center dollop and then up to create the shape.
Sprinkle with sparkling sugar.
Top with a fresh raspberry.

Storage

Store the cupcakes covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.

For the best texture, allow them to come to room temperature again before serving.

FAQ’s

Why do the dairy and eggs need to be at room temperature?

Room-temperature ingredients come together much better resulting in a better texture. If the eggs and milk are cold they can cause the butter to solidify which can alter the final texture of the cupcakes.

Can I use frozen raspberries?

Yes! Leave them frozen and roughly chop (if you want) before tossing with flour and mixing them into the cupcake batter.

Why does your cupcake recipe include oil?

Oil in baked goods results in them not only being more moist when they come out of the oven but they also stay moist for longer.

Can I use regular milk or half-and-half instead of heavy cream in the frosting?

Unfortunately, no. The heavy cream is whipped into the mascarpone cheese to give it lift and structure. Without it, the frosting would be too soft and fall flat.

Unlike the cupcakes, the ingredients in the frosting are kept cold. Why?

Keeping the mascarpone cheese and heavy cream cold will help them to whip up and keep their structure. If they are too warm the frosting will have a hard time firming up and will be too loose.