Name: Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 42 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon high-quality cocoa powder; ¾ cup granulated sugar; ¾ cup vegetable oil; ½ cup milk; 1 egg, room temperature; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; ½ teaspoon green gel food coloring; cupcake liners; 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened; 2 cups confectioners’ sugar; 1-2 tablespoons milk; 3-4 ounces green rolling fondant; ¼ cup golden and white pearl sprinkles

If you’re in the mood to bake something a bit different but irresistibly festive, I can’t recommend this Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe enough. These cupcakes bring a fun twist to the classic with their vibrant green color and melt-in-your-mouth texture—perfect for holidays or any special occasion!

There are nine green cupcakes with light brown paper liners on a white marbled surface; four cupcakes have smooth green tops without frosting stacked in a small pile on the left, and five cupcakes have white swirled frosting topped with a green leaf decoration and small gold and white round sprinkles arranged in front. Around the cupcakes are several small green shamrock-shaped decorations scattered on the surface. To the right back side, there is a clear tall glass filled with white milk and a green and white striped straw. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely love how these cupcakes turn out—not just their gorgeous green hue but how moist and tender they are with that smooth buttercream frosting. Plus, those cute fondant clovers on top? Instant crowd-pleasers.

Vibrant and Fun: The green gel food coloring gives these cupcakes a stunning color without altering the texture.
Perfectly Moist: The vegetable oil and milk combo keeps the crumb tender and soft.
Easy to Customize: Fondant clovers add a festive punch, but you can swap in other decorations or keep it simple.
Great for Celebrations: Ideal for St. Patrick’s Day or just when you want something a bit special and seasonal.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Before you bake, let’s talk ingredients. For the best green velvet cupcakes, quality matters—real cocoa powder for subtle depth, gel coloring for that intense green, and room-temp eggs to keep your cupcakes light. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need and why each plays a key role:

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a white ceramic bowl with sifted cocoa powder, a group of three uncracked brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl of vegetable oil, a small white bowl of milk, a small white bowl containing white vinegar, a neat dollop of bright green gel food coloring on a white ceramic dish, a stick of unsalted butter resting on white parchment paper, a white ceramic bowl with confectioners’ sugar, a small white bowl with a few golden and white pearl sprinkles, and a smooth sheet of vibrant green rolling fondant laid flat—all ingredients arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: The base that provides structure but keeps the crumb soft when combined with the right liquids.
Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent, giving your cupcakes a fluffy lift.
Salt: Balances flavors and enhances sweetness.
Cocoa powder: Adds a subtle chocolate note—the hallmark of green (and red) velvet.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens and helps with the tender texture.
Vegetable oil: Keeps the cupcakes moist without weighing them down.
Milk: Adds richness and moisture.
Egg: Binds ingredients and adds structure—make sure it’s at room temperature for best results.
White vinegar: Reacts with baking soda to help the cupcakes rise and adds a slight tang.
Green gel food coloring: Gives a vibrant green color without thinning the batter.
Cupcake liners: Essential for easy removal and neat presentation.
Unsalted butter: The base for the buttercream frosting, softened for creamy texture.
Confectioners’ sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting.
Milk (for frosting): Adjusts frosting consistency for easy piping.
Green rolling fondant: Used to craft the adorable clover decorations.
Golden and white pearl sprinkles: Add the perfect festive sparkle on top.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

The beauty of this Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe is how easy it is to tailor it to your taste and occasion. Whether you want to bump up the festive factor or adjust for dietary needs, there’s lots of room to get creative and make these cupcakes truly your own.

Dairy-Free Option: Swap out regular milk for almond or oat milk, and replace the butter in the frosting with a vegan margarine. I tried this for a friend’s dairy allergy and the cupcakes stayed just as moist and delicious!
Buttermilk Swap: For a tangier flavor and even moister crumb, substitute the milk with buttermilk. It adds that subtle depth I love, especially when celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
Buttercream Twist: Try mixing in 4 ounces of cream cheese to the buttercream frosting for an extra luscious tang. This variation quickly became my family favorite and gives a nod to traditional cream cheese frostings.
Fondant-Free Fun: If rolling fondant isn’t your thing, decorate with green-tinted buttercream or use edible clover-shaped toppers. Both options still look festive and taste fantastic!
Seasonal Colors: While green is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day, you could easily switch the gel color to red or blue for other celebrations. I once made a batch with royal blue for a summer party — just as stunning.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

There is a white muffin tray with twelve cups, each lined with beige paper liners. Inside each liner is a smooth, bright green batter filling about half of the cup. The tray is set on a white marbled surface with a pink and white striped cloth nearby. A small yellow container filled with white and golden round sprinkles is placed near the top left corner of the tray, and a small green object is seen next to it. The scene looks clean and bright. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Get Your Oven and Pans Ready

First things first, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While it warms up, line your cupcake pan with cupcake liners — this is key for easy removal and clean-up. I like using colorful liners to add a little extra cheer beneath these vibrant green cupcakes.

Step 2: Sift the Dry Ingredients

Sifting the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder together helps make sure the cupcakes bake evenly and stay super light. No lumps here! Use a medium bowl and gently sift while letting the mix fall like a soft snowfall. It’s a satisfying part of the process that sets up a smooth batter.

Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients

In a separate large bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and vegetable oil until well combined. This mixture gets the cupcakes nice and moist. Then, add the milk and the room-temperature egg and stir thoroughly. The batter will look smooth and glossy — that’s a good sign you’re on track!

Step 4: Add Vinegar and Fold in Dry Ingredients

Next, stir in the white vinegar. This acid reacts with the baking soda to give your cupcakes a wonderful lift. Gradually fold in the sifted dry ingredients—gently mixing so you keep the batter light yet homogeneous. This step is where your cupcake texture starts to come alive.

Step 5: Bring on the Green

Slowly stir in the green gel food coloring. I recommend adding it a little at a time to reach that perfect vibrant emerald green without overmixing. The batter will look bright and inviting—almost like a tasty green velvet cloud ready for the oven!

Step 6: Fill and Bake

Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. This gives the cupcakes room to rise without spilling over. Pop your pan into the preheated oven and bake for exactly 22 minutes. To check doneness, insert a toothpick in the center—it should come out clean. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting to avoid melting your buttercream.

Step 7: Whip Up the Buttercream Frosting

In a mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, confectioners’ sugar, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk. Start mixing on low speed to avoid a sugar cloud, then crank it up to high and beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy. The heady sweetness and creamy texture make this buttercream the perfect canvas for your cupcakes.

Step 8: Pipe the Perfect Swirl

Transfer the buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton #2 tip or your favorite tip style. I like creating neat, swirled swaths of frosting on top of each cupcake for a professional look and delightful bite every time.

Step 9: Shape and Assemble Fondant Clovers

Take the green rolling fondant and divide it into six small spheres about half an inch thick. Press two spheres together at one end to form heart shapes—repeat until you have three hearts per cupcake. Arrange the hearts with one in the center and the other two angled gently on each side, pressing them together to form a clover. This hands-on step feels fun and festive—a great moment to unwind while your cupcakes cool.

Step 10: Add Final Decorations and Enjoy!

Place a fondant clover on top of each frosted cupcake. For the grand finale, sprinkle golden and white pearl sprinkles to add sparkle and whimsy. These charming details make your cupcakes party-ready and oh-so-Instagram-worthy. Now dig in and enjoy all your hard work in every delightful bite!

Top Tip

Getting your Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe absolutely perfect is all about the little details. These tips will help you create moist, vibrant cupcakes topped with beautiful, smooth frosting every time!

Room Temperature Eggs: Using an egg at room temperature helps your batter mix more evenly, ensuring a lighter cupcake texture that’s just right.
Gel Food Coloring: I learned that gel food coloring gives you that vibrant green without watering down the batter, which means the cupcakes stay nice and moist.
Folding Technique: When combining the dry ingredients with the wet, I gently fold them in rather than stirring aggressively. This keeps the batter light and fluffy instead of dense.
Don’t Skip Cooling Time: I once frosted warm cupcakes and ended up with a melted mess. Always let them cool completely before frosting to keep your beautiful buttercream smooth and intact.

How to Serve Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe

A single green cupcake with white frosting on top is placed in the center of a white plate. The cupcake is decorated with three small green leaf-shaped toppings on the frosting. Around the cupcake on the plate, there are five more small green leaf shapes scattered near it. In the background, there is a yellow ramekin with some topping visible inside. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with a pink and white striped cloth partially visible to the left. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

These cupcakes are already festive with their fondant clovers and pearl sprinkles, but you can add a little extra flair by dusting them lightly with edible gold shimmer powder or placing tiny white chocolate shamrocks for a fun St. Patrick’s Day vibe. Fresh mint leaves on the side can also complement the green theme beautifully.

Side Dishes

Pair these luscious cupcakes with a light beverage like a mint-infused iced tea or a citrusy lemonade to balance the richness of the buttercream frosting. If you’re serving a larger event, fresh fruit skewers or a simple green salad with a citrus vinaigrette can complement the cupcakes nicely without overpowering their delicate flavor.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your Green Velvet Cupcakes fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay delicious for up to 2 days, perfect if you want to bake ahead or have extras after a party.

Freezing

You can freeze unfrosted cupcakes by wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw completely before frosting. For frosted cupcakes, flash freeze them first on a tray, then wrap each individually and keep in an airtight container to help preserve the frosting and decoration.

Reheating

For the best experience, allow frozen cupcakes to thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving. If you want to warm them slightly, microwave for about 10-15 seconds—but be careful not to melt the frosting or decorations.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute buttermilk for milk in this recipe?

Absolutely! Using buttermilk instead of regular milk gives the cupcakes a tangier flavor and makes them more moist. Just swap it in equal measure for the ½ cup of milk.

Why do I need to use white vinegar in the batter?

The white vinegar reacts with the baking soda, creating bubbles that help the cupcakes rise and stay tender. It’s a key step to get that light, soft crumb typical of velvet cupcakes.

What if I don’t have fondant to make the clovers?

No worries! You can decorate with green colored buttercream piped into clovers or use edible clover toppers as a simple alternative. The cupcakes will still look festive and taste fantastic.

How long do these cupcakes last?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they last about 2 days. Refrigerating them can extend freshness but allow them to come back to room temperature before eating for best texture and flavor.

Final Thoughts

Making these Green Velvet Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting Recipe is such a joyous experience. From mixing the bright green batter to crafting the charming fondant clovers, every step feels festive and fun. Whether for a special occasion or just a sweet treat to brighten your day, these cupcakes bring smiles and warm hearts. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing them as much as I do!