Cheeto Cupcakes

4.82 from 11 votes

These Cheeto Cupcakes are intense in the best possible way! A subtle vanilla cupcake, infused with Cheetos crumbs is topped with a cream cheese frosting for a unique dessert idea. This is sweet, and cheesy in the best possible way.

Prep Time20

Cook Time20

Total Time40

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: cupcakes

Calories: 558kcal

Author: Sharon Garofalow

Ingredients

To Make the Cheeto Cupcakes

15.25 ounces cake mix (white cake, or as plain as possible)
3 eggs
⅓ cup oil
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup milk
½ cup Cheetos crumbs + extra Cheetos to decorate

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup cream cheese softened
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
4 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cupcakes

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
Combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, milk and Cheetos crumbs in a large bowl.
Use a hand mixer and mix for 4 minutes or until everything is well incorporated.
Divide the batter, evenly, between the cupcake liners.
Bake for 5 minutes then turn down the temperature to 350 degrees.
Bake for 10 more minutes or until done.
Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before frosting.

For the Frosting

In a large bowl whip the butter, vegetable shortening, cream cheese and salt until light and fluffy, around 7 minutes.
Add half the confectioners sugar and whip up until fluffy.
Add vanilla extract and half the heavy cream and mix until fluffy.
Repeat the process, alternating between sugar and cream and whip up for 3 more minutes until it’s light and airy.
Decorate the Cheetos Cupcakes with the cream cheese frosting and top with Cheetos crumbs.

Notes

You can easily substitute Hot Cheetos in this recipe if you want to add a little heat!
Use a very light vanilla cake mix. You don’t want to use yellow cake or a super sweet cake mix here. Go with something subtle.
Also don’t add any additional vanilla to the cupcake base because it can be a little bit too much with the Cheetos. Trust me on that one.
The best frosting combination is cream cheese frosting. I tested this recipe with vanilla frosting and with chocolate frosting and both were slightly off. Cream cheese, on the other hand, gives the cupcakes a cheesy punch that goes so well with the Cheetos.
And finally don’t go all out with the Cheetos. Add some crumbs and that’s it. There’s such a thing as too many Cheetos ( I never thought I would say that).

Nutrition