2-Ingredient Orange Crush Cupcakes

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Orange Crush Cupcakes are soft, fluffy and moist cupcakes made with only two ingredients – vanilla cake mix and a can of sweet and delicious orange Crush soda. This recipe is so great to have on hand when you need cupcakes in a pinch, and it’s so fun to make these with the kids! 

orange cupcakes with orange frosting and orange and white striped straws


 

Orange Crush Cupcakes with Cakemix

Cupcakes are one of the best things in life. Cupcakes are perfect for any occasion. Great for break time, dessert, parties, or even just a quick dessert at home these orange Crush cupcakes are one of the best sweet treats to make. 

This recipe for orange creamsicle cupcakes is so easy to make with only two ingredients needed for the actual cupcake – cake mix and a can of soda! With such simple ingredients, this recipe is a great one to get the kids into baking as well. Ready in about 30 minutes, these delicious cupcakes are a must-try. They truly are so moist and delicious!

I love recipes that use a box cake mix and transform it into something way more interesting. These recipes are always a lifesaver for last minute birthday party prep. I tend to always have at least one cake box mix on hand for this reason! If you love cake box mix recipes too, try these Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies or this super easy Chocolate Cherry Dump Cake. These easy orange soda cupcakes with orange Crush frosting are a great sweet treat

Why We Love This Recipe For Orange Crush Cupcakes

  • Quick and easy: This recipe comes together in about 30 minutes. 
  • Perfect party food: The sweet and fresh flavor of citrus orange is perfect for summer gatherings.
  • Flavor: These cute cupcakes have a super fruity, fresh, and amazing flavor.
  • Color: the orange color makes these a pretty centerpiece at any gathering or party.
  • Great for adults and kids alike: Cupcakes are always a winning choice of sweet treat for adults and children. Not only are these cupcakes great for kids to eat, but this recipe is also super easy and fun for them to help make too!

Ingredients

Made with simple ingredients you may already have at home.

ingredients on counter: cake mix, powdered sugar, 2 sticks of butter, Orange gelatin, Crush orange soda

Cupcakes

  • box of white cake mix
  • 1 can (12 oz) orange Crush soda – you can substitute any orange-flavored soda

Frosting

  • butter – unsalted sweet cream butter at room temperature
  • confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)
  • powdered orange jello
  • orange Crush soda
  • vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cupcakes

Step One: Preheat oven, prepare cupcake tins, and combine cake mix with a can of orange Crush soda.

mixing bowl with white cake mix and orange soda, with a Crush can on the side
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  • Place cupcake liners in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups in a cupcake pan.
  • In a large bowl combine the cake mix and orange Crush soda until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl.

Step Two: Fill cupcake paper liners with cake batter.

cupcake pan with 12 cupcakes with orange batter and white liners
  • Pour batter into muffin cups about ¾ full. 

Step Three: Bake the cupcakes

12 cake cupcake tray filled with freshly baked cupcakes in white paper liners.
  • Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Step Four: Remove from the oven and cool.

orange cupcakes on counter
  • Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and let them continue cooling on a cooling rack. 

Step Four: Make the orange Crush soda frosting.

mixing bowl with frosting ingredients and a mixer
  • In a medium bowl combine butter and confectioners sugar, one cup of sugar at a time. Add in orange jello, orange Crush soda, and vanilla and mix until smooth. 

Step Six: Decorate cupcakes with frosting!

piping bag frosting orange frosting on cupcakes
  • Frost cupcakes and decorate as desired. 
orange frosted cupcakes with straws

What is the Perfect Cupcake?

We think these orange Crush cupcakes with orange soda frosting are pretty perfect! However, to make them the perfect shape and size, you can use an ice cream scooper to help you put the cake batter into the cupcake liners in the tin. For best results, make sure to fill them ¾ full with an even spread of batter over the base of the cupcake. 

How Do You Make Easy Cupcakes?

This recipe is one of the easiest I have made, and I make a LOT of cupcakes. Using a store-bought cake mix is as easy as it gets, and adding a soda pop can is a great way to add extra flavoring and color and creates super moist cakes!

Vanilla cupcakes and chocolate cupcakes are the most popular, so these box mix flavors will be the easiest to come by. These orange crush cupcakes are perfect for summer, try them with a chocolate cake mix too for chocolate orange cupcakes.

How Do I Store These Cupcakes?

  • Countertop: You can best store these cupcakes at room temperature wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container for 2-3 days.
  • Refrigerator: We don’t advise that you store cakes in the refrigerator as this tends to dry them out.

Suggestions and Alternatives

  • For chocolate orange cupcakes you could use a chocolate frosting, or use a chocolate cake mix instead of a white cake mix!
  • You can add orange crush to a homemade cupcake mix too, just be careful with the consistency of the batter.
  • Decorate these cupcakes with orange slices or orange zest on top for a fresh citrus flavor.
  • Make a large orange Crush cake by using a normal cake tin instead of a cupcake tray for the cake mix.
  • You can make this cupcake recipe using any kind of orange soda pop if you don’t have access to orange crush.
  • Try other flavors of soda, and even other flavorings of cake mix, there are so many great combinations out there!
Cupcakes with orange frosting and mini stripy straws in them on a white rectangle plate, with a can of orange crush soda next to it and other orange crush cupcakes on the table with it.

Tips For Making This Recipe

  • Use an ice cream scoop to help measure out cupcake mix to go in the cases.
  • For best results use the branded Crush orange soda.
  • Make sure your cake batter is evenly distributed in the cases, and turn the baking tray around halfway through baking time for even cooking.
  • Be sure to allow enough time for the cupcakes to cool before adding the frosting, otherwise the frosting will melt and not set correctly.
  • Use a star tip on the bottom side of the piping bag to elevate your frosting and make it look amazing!
  • You can use a pre-made vanilla frosting, if you do this, you can add a bit of the Crush soda to the frosting or use orange food coloring or orange extract to make it go better with these cupcakes.

More Recipes Like This

Some More Orange Flavored Recipes

Cupcake with orange icing with short stripy straw in it, and a can of orange crush soda behind it and other cupcakes on the table too.
Balancing Motherhood Logo

Orange Crush Cupcakes


Author Alicia
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 24 servings
Orange Crush Cupcakes are soft, fluffy and moist cupcakes made with only two ingredients – a vanilla cake mix and a can of sweet and delicious orange Crush soda!

Ingredients
  

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1 box white cake mix
  • 12 ounces orange Crush soda

For the frosting:

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 3 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons powdered orange jello
  • 3 Tablespoons orange Crush soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cupcakes:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. 
  • Place cupcake liners in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups in a cupcake pan.
  • In a large mixing bowl combine the cake mix and orange Crush soda until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape the sides of the bowl.
    1 box white cake mix, 12 ounces orange Crush soda
  • Pour batter into muffin cups about ¾ full. 
  • Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 
  • Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and let continue cooling on a cooling rack. 

For the frosting:

  • In a medium bowl combine butter and confectioners sugar, one cup of sugar at a time. Add in orange jello, orange Crush soda, and vanilla and mix until smooth. 
    1 cup butter, 3 cups confectioner’s sugar, 2 Tablespoons powdered orange jello, 3 Tablespoons orange Crush soda, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Frost cupcakes and decorate as desired. 

Notes

  • Use the branded Crush orange soda for best results.
  • Evenly distribute the cake batter in the cases, and turn the baking tray around halfway through baking time for even cooking.
  • Allow enough time for the cupcakes to cool before adding the frosting, otherwise the frosting will melt and not set correctly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 215mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 236IU | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Don’t forget to share it with me on @thebalancingmom and follow on Tiktok @balancingmotherhood and Pinterest @thebalancingmom for more!

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5 from 20 votes (19 ratings without comment)

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7 Comments

  1. Denice fraley says:

    This is a great recipe if you like Orange Crush. We do. The kids & grand kids like it too. Cheap & easy to make.

  2. The frosting was very buttery and not very sweet, nor near fruity enough. Unfortunately I gave them to the faculty at my granddaughters school without taste testing them first. Next time, if there is a next time, I will add more powdered sugar and much more powdered orange jello to the frosting, maybe even add some to the cake mix. I will definitely taste test everything before I give it to other people from now on.

  3. I’m trying to subscribe, but your Subscribe button isn’t working.

  4. 5 stars
    How do you put the icing inside the cupcake like a Twinkie? I wanted to try this icing as a filling.

  5. I’ve done this with a cupcake corer (https://amzn.to/4aNySvF) where you can easily remove a bit of the center of the cupcake and then pipe icing inside, then frost as usual.

  6. Cathy Eades says:

    Cannot wait to bake Sounds so good

  7. Loved this recipe, but I added 3/4 of a tablespoon of orange extract to enhance the orange flavor in the frosting. I added 1 tablespoon of orange extract to the cake mix. So good!

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