• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Bliss Life logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • contact
  • shop
  • cookbooks
  • cooking classes
  • resources
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • 30-Minute Meals
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Asian recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Dairy-free Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Entertaining Recipes
    • Filipino Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • 5 Ingredients
    • Kid-Friendly Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Dog Treats
  • Wine
    • Oregon Wine Guide
    • Washington Wine
    • California Wine
    • Food and Wine Pairing
    • Wine Country
    • Wine Tips & Wine Pairings
  • Travel
    • Europe
      • Greece
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Liechtenstein
      • The Netherlands
      • Switzerland
      • The UK (United Kingdom)
    • Canada
    • USA travel
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Montana
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • Oregon Travel Ideas
      • Utah
      • Washington
      • New Orleans
    • Travel Gear
    • Japan
    • Travel Tips
    • Hotels
    • Family Travel
  • Restaurants
  • About
    • Work With Urban Bliss Life
    • Press
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Fall Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About
  • Work With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Urban Bliss Life » All Recipes » Cake recipes » Fireball Cupcakes

    Published: April 14, 2023 / Updated: February 16, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Fireball Cupcakes

    20 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    fireball cupcakes in red and white polka dot cupcake liners on a cake pedestal with buttercream frosting and fire sticker decorations on top and a bottle of Fireball in the background.
    fireball cupcakes in red and white polka dot cupcake liners on a cake pedestal with buttercream frosting and fire sticker decorations on top and a bottle of Fireball in the background.

    Fireball Cupcakes are super fun cinnamon whiskey desserts that are perfect for your next 21+ party! Easy to make and topped with a fireball buttercream frosting, these are decadent sweet treats your friends will love!

    stack of fireball cupcakes with sprinkles and fire cupcake sticks.

    Does the world NEED Fireball Cupcakes? Probably not.

    Is the world better with Fireball Cupcakes? Absolutely!

    These boozy cupcakes were born out of a longstanding running joke between some good friends. Because of this longstanding inside joke, there is always Fireball at our house. And the first time I made these cupcakes, I knew I had to make them again. They are super tasty!

    If you are a fan of cinnamon and you like cupcakes (and you and your guests are 21+), then you will love this Fireball Cupcake recipe!

    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🛒 Ingredient notes
    • ✅ Step-by-step instructions
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Serving ideas
    • 🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
    • More baking recipes
    • Fireball Cupcakes

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    stack of fireball cupcakes with sprinkles and fire cupcake sticks.

    This Fireball Cupcake recipe is on, well, fire! Here's a few reasons to love these boozy treats:

    • Easy: The steps are easy to follow, even for beginning bakers! I've included step-by-step photos and instructions in this post, and easy instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
    • Simple ingredients: Other than the Fireball, which you can find at your local liquor store, you can find all of the other ingredients at your local grocery store.
    • Flavorful: There's just enough Fireball and ground cinnamon to make these cupcakes nice and flavorful without being overpowering.
    • Fun: The fun factor is at an all-time high with these delicious treats!! Such a delicious alternative to everyday vanilla or chocolate cupcakes.
    • 21+: These are alcohol-infused cupcakes, so they are special adults-only treats.

    🛒 Ingredient notes

    Measurements and a full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some notes about key ingredients.

    bowls of ingredients to make fireball cupcakes.

    Flour - I use all-purpose flour for these cupcakes and have not tested this recipe with any other type of flour. If you decide to try an alternative flour, please leave a comment and let us know how it turned out!

    Fireball Whisky - This classic cinnamon whiskey liqueur can be found at most liquor stores around the US. You can substitute any other cinnamon-flavored whiskey, like Jim Beam Kentucky Fire or Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire. If you prefer to make this without alcohol, try making a Simple Syrup with cinnamon sticks to infuse the cinnamon flavor.

    Heavy cream or milk - I use this instead of vegetable oil to create a moist cupcake.

    Butter - use unsalted butter that has been softened to room temperature.

    Eggs - like the butter, make sure you take three large eggs out of the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour before you start making the cupcakes. They should be at room temperature before you mix them into the batter.

    bowls of ingredients to make cinnamon buttercream frosting.

    The photo above shows the ingredients for the cinnamon buttercream. I think a buttercream frosting works better than a cream cheese frosting with these cupcakes.

    Like with the batter, you want to make sure your unsalted butter is at room temperature before you start making the buttercream.

    If you like, you can add a splash of Fireball to the buttercream batter while it's mixing. Take care not to use too much Fireball as it can thin the frosting.

    ✅ Step-by-step instructions

    If you are new to baking or need some troubleshooting help, visit our Basics of Baking Guide. It has all our best baking tips and some of the most common baking FAQs!

    • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two muffin pans with 16 cupcake liners; set aside. If you have one cupcake pan, plan to work in two batches.
    blue bowl with flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon to make cupcakes.
    creaming butter in a stand mixer.

    Make the cupcakes

    • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a separate large bowl using a hand mixer), beat the butter on medium speed until it's light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Then add the sugar and beat together until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
    adding egg and vanilla to the creamed butter in a stand mixer.
    adding dry ingredients to wet ingredients in the stand mixer.
    baked goods batter mixed together in the stand mixer.
    • Gradually beat in the eggs, one at time. Then add the Fireball and the vanilla extract.
    • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and add the milk or cream. Mix together just until combined.
    Cookie scoop with cupcake batter above a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
    a muffin tin with cupcake liners filled with cupcake batter.
    baked cupcakes in a muffin tin.
    • Scoop out the batter and fill each prepared cupcake liner about ¾ of the way full with batter.
    • Bake at 375°F for 5 minutes. Baking at this higher temp for 5 minutes first is what creates a taller dome structure to the top of cupcakes. Lower the heat to 350°F and bake for 18-22 minutes, or when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.
    • Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, make the frosting.

    Make the frosting

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time, and beat together. Then add the cinnamon and mix just until combined.
    • Add the heavy cream, Fireball, and vanilla and beat until combined and smooth
    • Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with an extra large round tip. Once the cupcakes have cooled down a bit, pipe frosting on top and top with sprinkles, if desired.

    Happy baking!

    Read our Baking Basics Guide for FAQs and Troubleshooting

    👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQs

    closeup of fireball cupcakes with sprinkles and a fire cupcake stick.
    Does buttercream frosting need to be refrigerated?

    In general, buttercream frosting can remain safely at room temperature for up to two days; longer than that, it should be refrigerated.

    Does alcohol burn out of baked goods?

    According to a study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Data lab, "food baked or simmered in alcohol for 15 minutes still retains 40 percent of the alcohol. After an hour of cooking, 25 percent of the alcohol remains, and even after two and a half hours there's still 5 percent of it." (source: Food Network) 

    What's the best way to store these cupcakes?

    Unfrosted, you can store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four or five days; store the frosting in a separate airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. If the cupcakes are frosted, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you plan to store them for longer than two days, place them in the refrigerator.

    🍽 Serving ideas

    overhead photo of five cupcakes on a cake stand next to bottle of Fireball whiskey on a red and white napkin.

    These fireball cupcakes are delicious on their own and will shine on any dessert table. But since these are made for the 21+ crowd, serve them with shots of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky!

    Make these for Father's Day, bachelor or bachelorette parties, surprise your best friend on his/her/their birthday, or make them as a unique cupcake recipe for your next BBQ.

    🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment

    closeup of swirled buttercream frosting on top of cupcakes.

    Ready to make this recipe? Here are the kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:

    • Mixing bowls: You'll need a large mixing bowl for the dry ingredients, and then another large bowl if you are using a hand mixer versus stand mixer.
    • Mixer: You'll need either a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl and hand mixer to mix together the cupcake batter and the frosting batter.
    • Spatula: A silicone spatula makes it easy to scrape down the sides of the stand mixer.
    • Cookie/Ice Cream scoop: a large cookie or ice cream scoop makes it easy to portion out equal amounts of cupcake batter into each cupcake liner.
    • Muffin tin: you will need two 12-cup muffin pans or you can use one muffin tin and work in batches.
    • Pastry bag: optional, but a pastry bag with large star tip makes it easy to pipe the buttercream frosting onto the top of the cupcakes.
    Shop my favorite baking tools & equipment

    More baking recipes

    In the baking mood? From cookies to cakes, and everything in-between, we've got tons of baking recipes to try! Continue your baking streak with one of these delicious dessert recipes!

    • photos of R2D2 white and blue cupcakes and Darth Vader red and black cupcakes with title text that reads "Star Wars Cupcakes."
      Easy Star Wars Cupcakes
    • vanilla buttercream frosting on a red velvet cupcake with bokeh twinkle lights in the background.
      Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
    • Cookies & Cream Milkshake in a tall glass with whipped cream topping and crushed Oreo cookies on top.
      Cookies and Cream Milkshake
    • Lemon poppyseed cupcakes undecorated next to cupcakes with buttercream frosting flower decorations next to lemon slices.
      Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

    Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!

    fireball cupcakes in red and white polka dot cupcake liners on a cake pedestal with buttercream frosting and fire sticker decorations on top and a bottle of Fireball in the background.

    Fireball Cupcakes

    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
    Total Time: 45 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    These fun adults-only cupcakes are like cinnamon cupcakes taken up a notch in flavor. (21+ recipe)
    Servings: 16 cupcakes
    Calories: 495kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE

    Equipment

    • 2 12-cup Muffin Pans

    Ingredients

    For the cupcakes

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
    • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1½ cups granulated sugar
    • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
    • 2 tablespoons Fireball or other Cinnamon Whiskey
    • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

    For the frosting

    • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • 4 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 3 Tablespoons heavy cream
    • 1 teaspoon Fireball
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch kosher salt
    • optional: sprinkles

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two muffin pans with 16 cupcake liners; set aside.

    Make the cupcakes

    • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a separate large bowl using a hand mixer), beat the butter until it's light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Then add the sugar and beat together until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
    • Gradually beat in the eggs, one at time. Then add the Fireball and the vanilla.
    • Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and add the milk. Mix together just until combined.
    • Use a cookie scoop to scoop out the batter and fill each prepared cupcake liner about ¾ of the way full with batter.
    • Bake at 375°F for 5 minutes. Lower the heat to 350°F and bake for 18-22 minutes, or when a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
    • Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, make the frosting.

    Make the frosting

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time, and beat together. Then add the cinnamon and mix just until combined.
    • Add the heavy cream, Fireball, and vanilla and beat until combined and smooth
    • Transfer frosting to a piping bag. Once the cupcakes have cooled down a bit, pipe the frosting on top and top with sprinkles, if desired.

    Notes

    Makes 16 cupcakes (21+ recipe)
    Storage: store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days or in the refrigerator for up to four or five days. Or, store unfrosted cupcakes at room temperature for up to five days, and store the buttercream in a separate container in the refrigerator for up to five days. 
    Fireball: Fireball is a cinnamon-flavored whisky you can find in most liqueur stores. You can use any other cinnamon-flavored whisky you like. To make this kid-friendly, skip the alcohol and make a simple syrup with cinnamon sticks and substitute 2 tablespoons of the cinnamon simple syrup for the Fireball.
    Frosting: If your frosting is too thick for your liking, add a little more heavy cream or milk. If it is too thin and runny, add a little more powdered sugar. 
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 202mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 52g | Vitamin A: 796IU | Vitamin C: 0.03mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    « Garlic Herb Compound Butter
    Stracciatella Ice Cream »
    20 shares

    Get recipes, travel tips, deals and more delivered to your inbox!

      Reader Interactions

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

      Featured In

      Urban Bliss Life Press Featured In graphic

      Dads & Grads Recipes

      • BBQ bacon burger
        BBQ Bacon Burger
      • honey garlic chicken skewers
        Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Skewers
      • closeup photo of air fryer corn ribs stacked on top of one another with drizzled mayo and chopped cilantro.
        Air Fryer Corn Ribs
      • closeup of Filipino BBQ pork skewers with cilantro leaves
        Filipino Pork BBQ

      New Recipes

      • white basmati rice in a blue bowl on green plate.
        Instant Pot Basmati Rice
      • Thai basil beef with red peppers, green onions, and white rice.
        Thai Basil Beef
      • plate of Instant Pot country style ribs and mashed potatoes with herbs.
        Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
      • glass of white wine next to a bowl of cajun shrimp pasta with title text that reads "Best wine and pasta pairings."
        Best Wine with Pasta

      New Travel Tips

      • photos of Depoe Bay, Cannon Beach, Tillamook Oregon with title text that reads "Best Oregon Coast Towns."
        Best Oregon Coast Towns
      • photos of waterfalls, vineyard grapes, haystack rock at cannon beach, and mount hood with title text that reads 35+ day trips from Portland, Oregon.
        35+ Day Trips from Portland
      • glass of red wine next to a bottle of Bells Up Winery pinot noir.
        Bells Up Winery
      • The Prayer Hall of Wat Chalong temple in Phuket, Thailand.
        Wat Chalong Temple
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • Pinterest
      • Instagram
      • YouTube

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      logos of media outlets that have featured urban bliss life.

      Recipes

      • 30-Minute Meals
      • 5-Ingredients
      • Air Fryer
      • Asian
      • Dairy-Free
      • Pasta
      • Seafood

      About

      • About
      • FAQs
      • Privacy & Accessibility Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Contact

      • Contact
      • Work with me

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
      Copyright © 2022 Urban Bliss Life

      All rights reserved. You may not use any photos or recipes on this site for any personal or commercial use without my express written permission.