• Recipe Index
  • Viral Pastas
  • Subscribe
  • Meet Nicole Kendrick
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Viral Pastas
  • Subscribe
  • Meet Nicole Kendrick
    • Amazon
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Viral Pastas
    • Subscribe
    • Meet Nicole Kendrick
    • Amazon
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Cakes

    Dairy Free Cupcakes recipe with Hazelnut Buttercream

    Modified: Mar 31, 2025 · Published: Sep 27, 2023 by Nicole Kendrick · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Go ahead and lick the frosting spoon from these tender, cheery, and soft Dairy Free Cupcakes recipe with Chocolate Hazelnut Buttercream. Combining fluffy and delicate vanilla cake with a cloud of rich chocolaty, hazelnut-infused frosting, these cupcakes are an instant classic that will be the hit of any party.

    While everyone loves a stacked Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting there’s just something happy and fun about a pretty cupcake with a festive swirl of buttercream topping it off. This decadent vanilla cake recipe uses a few simple steps with favorite pantry staples to create the ultimate treat to celebrate with.

    Vanilla cupcake
    Jump to:
    • Dairy Free Hazelnut Frosting Cupcakes Video
    • Why you will love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Top Tips
    • FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Dairy Free Hazelnut Frosting Cupcakes Video

    Why you will love this recipe

    • Easy Process - Skip the box mix and use this vanilla cupcake recipe that utilizes quality ingredients. With just a few simple steps, this is a recipe anyone can easily recreate in their own kitchen. It’s easy enough for a beginning baker to get your kids involved in cooking. 
    • Make Ahead - Both the cupcakes and the frosting can be made a day or two in advance making it a dessert to entertain with. You can keep the frosting stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to frost. 
    • Customizable - This recipe is written to be dairy free but you can make the same recipe to include dairy if desired. 
    • Texture - Is there anything more magical than that first bite into a soft and incredibly moist cupcake? The texture of these will make you instantly fall in love. Using a couple of simple ingredients ensures that they have a texture everyone will love. 
    Choco cupcakes

    Ingredients

    • Gluten Free 1:1 Flour - Use a quality 1 to 1 baking flour. This allows you to easily measure out the flour without having to add any additional ingredients. You will also want to check the ingredients as some gluten-free flours contain milk powder. 
    • Baking Powder/Baking Soda
    • Cornstarch - This gives gluten-free baked goods a tender and moist texture. You only need a little as it goes a long way. 
    • Salt - Enhances all of the natural flavors of the ingredients. 
    • Sugar
    • Vanilla Bean Paste - Singing Dog Vanilla Bean Paste is made from real vanilla beans. It will give a rich flavor to these cupcakes and stud them with little flecks of vanilla bean. 
    • Eggs
    • Vegetable Oil - This is another key to the texture and moisture of these cupcakes while being neutral in flavor. 
    • Dairy-Free Butter - Adds richness and decadence to these vanilla cupcakes. 
    • Almond Milk/Vinegar - This combination creates a dairy-free buttermilk that keeps the cupcakes tender while adding a little tang. 
    • Singing Dog Cocoa Vanilla Frosting Mix - Singing Dog Vanilla Cocoa Vanilla Buttercream frosting mix makes this extra easy while ensuring a quality finished product every time. It’s made with all organic ingredients and can be made completely dairy free or with dairy ingredients. All you do is add dairy-free butter and almond milk for a silky smooth and flavorful frosting. 
    • Chocolate Hazelnut Spread - This is combined with the buttercream mix to create a sumptuous frosting that will have you licking the spoon. 
    Cupcakes ingredients

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350 °C. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners and set aside.
    • Add the almond milk and vinegar to a small bowl and mix. Set it aside. It will begin to curdle slightly. 
    • Add all of the dry ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix well to combine.
    • In a large bowl add the butter and sugar and mix on high until light and fluffy.
    • Pour in the vegetable oil and mix for one minute.
    • Next, add the eggs and vanilla bean paste and mix slowly to combine.
    • Carefully add half of the dry ingredients and mix slowly.
    • Once combined add the remaining dry ingredients and the almond milk mixture and mix on medium until just combined.
    • Divide the batter between the cupcake liners, filling them ⅔ of the way.
    • Allow the cupcakes to bake for 14-19 minutes or until they’re slightly golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Let cool completely.
    • To make the frosting follow the directions on the packages with the addition of the chocolate hazelnut spread. For this texture, I used four tablespoons of almond milk. 
    • Frost your cupcakes and enjoy!

    top of acupcake

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowls
    • Measuring cups/spoons
    • Cupcake pan
    • Cupcake liners
    • Mixer
    • Piping bag
    Cupcakes in a plate

    Variations

    This vanilla cupcake recipe uses all dairy-free ingredients. You can use dairy products for this and the measurements will be the same. Replace the almond milk/vinegar mixture with ¾ cup buttermilk.

    Storage

    • The cupcakes and frosting can both be made ahead of time. Once the cupcakes have cooled either cover the cupcake pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it, or transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate. The buttercream frosting will also need to be refrigerated in an airtight container. They will last for 5-7 days.
    • Once frosted keep them covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator and they will last for up to five days. If desired allow them to sit out for 30 minutes before serving for the frosting to soften slightly. 
    cupcakes with vanilla

    Top Tips

    • Make sure that all of your ingredients from the butter to the eggs and almond milk are at room temperature before mixing together your cake batter. This will allow everything to come together smoothly and lump-free without over-mixing. This also includes the butter and almond milk for the frosting. 
    • Make sure that your cupcakes are fully cool before frosting them. No one wants slightly melted frosting. 
    • You can adjust the thickness of your frosting by adding a little more or a little less almond milk. For this recipe, I used four tablespoons.
    cupcake close up

    FAQs

    Can these vanilla cupcakes be baked as a cake?

    Yes! Feel free to bake this in a cake pan and frost it with the chocolate hazel frosting.

    Can I freeze the baked cupcakes?

    Yes! Allow them to cool completely and then transfer them to freezer-safe bags, making sure all of the air is out. They will last for up to three months in the freezer. When ready to frost allow them to gently defrost overnight in the refrigerator.

    ★ Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below! I would love to hear back from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on  Instagram, Pinterest, Tiktok, and Facebook for more delicious recipes!

    📖 Recipe

    Vanilla cupcake with chocolate

    Dairy Free Cupcakes recipe with Hazelnut Buttercream

    Go ahead and lick the frosting spoon from these tender, cheery, and soft Dairy Free Cupcakes recipe with Chocolate Hazelnut Buttercream. 
    5 from 54 votes
    Nicole Kendrick
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 hours hrs
    Total Time 20 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 14 cupcakes
    Calories 248 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Measuring cups
    • Measuring spoons
    • Cupcake pan
    • Cupcake liners
    • Mixer
    • Piping Bag

    Ingredients
      

    Dry ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups Gluten Free 1:1 Flour
    • 1 ¾ teaspoon Baking Powder
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Wet ingredients

    • 1 cup sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Vanilla Bean paste
    • 2 eggs room temperature
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • ¼ cup dairy free butter room temperature
    • ¾ cup almond milk room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon vinegar
    • Chocolate frosting

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 °C.
    • Line two cupcake pans with 14 cupcake liners and set aside.
    • Add the almond milk and vinegar to a small bowl and mix. Set it aside. It will begin to curdle slightly. 
    • Add all of the dry ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix well to combine.
    • In a large bowl add the butter and sugar and mix on high until light and fluffy. Pour in the vegetable oil and mix for one minute.
    • Next, add the eggs and vanilla bean paste and mix slowly to combine.
    • Carefully add half of the dry ingredients and mix slowly. Once combined add the remaining dry ingredients and the almond milk mixture and mix on medium until just combined.
    • Divide the batter between the cupcake liners, filling them ⅔ of the way.
    • Allow the cupcakes to bake for 14-19 minutes or until they’re slightly golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean.
    • Let cool completely.
    • To make the frosting follow the directions on the packages with the addition of the chocolate hazelnut spread. For this texture, I used four tablespoons of almond milk. 
    • Frost your cupcakes and enjoy!

    Notes

    Top tips:
    • Make sure that all of your ingredients from the butter to the eggs and almond milk are at room temperature before mixing together your cake batter. This will allow everything to come together smoothly and lump-free without over-mixing. This also includes the butter and almond milk for the frosting. 
    • Make sure that your cupcakes are fully cool before frosting them. No one wants slightly melted frosting. 
    • You can adjust the thickness of your frosting by adding a little more or a little less almond milk. For this recipe, I used four tablespoons.
    Nutrition:
    Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. The owner of this site is not responsible for nutrition facts.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 248kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 3gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 232mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 2gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 48IUCalcium: 81mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Cakes

    • Four pumpkin bread slices on a white plate.
      Gluten Free Pumpkin Loaf
    • Two chocolate sandwich cookies with buttercream filling stacked atop one another.
      Oreo Sandwich Cookies
    • A blackberry lemon loaf cake sliced to show inside.
      Lemon Blackberry Loaf
    • Slice of coconut cake on plate.
      Gluten-Free Coconut Cake

    Comments

      5 from 54 votes (49 ratings without comment)

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




    1. Amy says

      October 05, 2024 at 1:46 am

      5 stars
      This worked exactly as written, thanks!

      Reply
    2. Jacqueline says

      September 30, 2024 at 7:03 am

      5 stars
      I love these elegant dairy free cupcakes. The frosting really is finger licking good!

      Reply
    3. Genevieve says

      September 29, 2024 at 11:17 pm

      5 stars
      Hazelnut buttercream sounds incredible and these are the perfect cupcakes for celebrating fall!

      Reply
    4. Swathi says

      September 28, 2024 at 6:06 pm

      5 stars
      Diary free cupcakes is delicious, hazelnut buttercream is so die for.

      Reply
    5. Criss says

      September 27, 2024 at 8:04 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing this recipe

      Reply

    Hello! I’m Nicole Kendrick, the creator of Golden Grace Kitchen, a holistic nutritionist, and a certified health coach. I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013, which means every recipe you find here will always be gluten-free.

    More about me →

    Latest Pasta Recipes

    • A white bowl filled with chicken noodle soup.
      Gluten Free Chicken Noodle Soup
    • A white plate with chicken and pasta in tomato cream sauce.
      Dairy Free Marry Me Chicken
    • A white plate full of spaghetti with meat sauce.
      Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe
    • Chicken tenders and pasta with creamy sauce in a skillet.
      Pasta with Chicken and Garlic
    • Rich, creamy chicken pasta in a blue skillet.
      Creamy Chicken Pasta
    • A bowlful of Marry Me chicken orzo.
      Marry Me Chicken Orzo

    Favorite Fall Recipes

    • A gluten-free carrot cake with pieces missing to show the inside of the cake.
      Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
    • Stack of carrot cake cookie sandwiches.
      Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwich
    • Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins
    • A serving bowl full of mashed potatoes topped with butter.
      Gluten-Free Mashed Potatoes

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service

    About me

    • Learn more about me

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

    This worked exactly as written, thanks!
    My family loved this!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Or write in your own words:

    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.