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Neapolitan Cupcakes

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Valentine’s Day Neapolitan cupcakes are the perfect cupcake with the combination of strawberry cake and brownie batter. They are the best Valentine’s day dessert!
Neapolitan Cupcakes

Valentine’s day Neapolitan cupcakes are the perfect Valentine’s day cupcake, aka the name! Ha 😉 They are such a fun and unique cupcake idea with the mix of strawberry cake and brownie batter!

Valentine's Day Neapolitan Cupcakes with Sprinkles

These homemade cupcakes have the great fluffy cake texture mixed with the chewy brownies making these Valentine’s day cupcakes taste out of this world. 

Neapolitan cupcakes are a fun take on the normally chocolate covered strawberries that everyone gives and receives for Valentine’s day. Not to mention, much more affordable!

Need more Valentine’s day recipe ideas? Make sure to take a look at our Red Velvet Kiss Cookies recipe, Red Velvet Cake Bites recipe, or make some super cute Valentine Sugar Cookies.

Ingredients for Valentine's Day Neapolitan Cupcakes

Ingredients Needed For This Valentine’s Day Neapolitan Cupcake Recipe:

  • Package of brownie mix
  • Eggs
  • Vegetable oil
  • Water
  • Package of strawberry cake mix
  • Butter
  • Shortening
  • Vanilla
  • Milk
  • Powdered sugar
  • Chocolate sprinkles (or your favorite for Valentine’s day)

How To Make This Valentine’s Day Neapolitan Cupcake Recipe:

To begin, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line your muffin cups with paper liners. This recipe will make between 40-48 cupcakes.

Next, whisk together the brownie mix, 2 eggs, ½ cup of vegetable oil, ¼ cup of water in a medium mixing bowl. Only do about 50 strokes or so, and then set it aside.

NOTE: You only want to mix until everything is just combined. Do NOT overmix the batter. Also if your cake mix and brownie mix ingredients are different on the box, use the amounts on the box.

Now, mix the cake mix, ½ vegetable oil, 1 cup of water, and 3 eggs in a large mixing bowl. 

Mix everything together with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are combined then turn it up to medium speed for about 2 minutes.

When that is done, spoon the brownie batter into the bottom of the muffin liners, filling each only about ⅓ of the way full.

Brownie batter in muffin tin for Neapolitan Cupcakes

After you have filled the liners with brownie batter, carefully scoop and place the cake mix over top of the brownie batter. Fill each liner until it is about ⅔ full.

Once all of the liners are filled with the brownie and cake batter, bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and spring back with lightly pressed on.

Muffin tin filled with brownie batter and strawberry cake for Neapolitan Cupcakes

How To Make This Valentine’s Day Neapolitan Cupcake Frosting:

Using a medium mixing bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, and vanilla extract. 

Ingredients for frosting

Then, add in the milk to butter mixture, along with 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.

Mix everything together until the frosting is light and fluffy.

mixed fluffy frosting

Now, use the frosting to top off the cooled cupcakes and your favorite sprinkles. We like chocolate sprinkles!

Related Recipe: Looking for more Valentine’s Day treats? Try our Peanut Butter Chocolate Hearts (Homemade Reese’s) or our classic Valentine Sugar Cookies!

To Make This Valentine’s Day Dessert You Will Need:

  1. Paper muffin/cupcake liners
  2. Whisk
  3. Medium mixing bowl (2) (THESE ones are great!)
  4. Large mixing bowl
  5. Electric mixer
  6. Spatula

Try it Without the Box

Have you ever tried to make brownies from scratch? They are surprisingly simple to do, and you probably have everything you need!

If you want to try this recipe out but don’t have a box of brownie mix, try making this homemade brownie recipe from Love and Lemons!

Valentine's Day Neapolitan Cupcakes unwrapped

Related Recipe: Try our Instant Pot Melted Fondue for Dipping for another great Valentine’s Day Treat

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Get Creative With Cupcakes: 

Valentine's Day Neapolitan Cupcakes

Valentine’s Day Neapolitan Cupcakes Recipe

Valentine’s Day Neapolitan cupcakes are the perfect cupcake with the combination of strawberry cake and brownie batter. They are the best Valentine’s day dessert!
Serving40 Cupcakes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
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Ingredients

Cupcake Ingredients

  • 18.4 ounces brownie mix, 1 package
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup vegetable oil, (or canola oil)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 15.25 ounces strawberry cake mix, 1 package
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 3 eggs
  • ¼ cup water

Frosting Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • ½ cup shortening
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup chocolate sprinkles, (topping)

Equipment

Instructions

Cupcake Instructions

  1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 40-48 muffin cups with paper liners (I only got about 40 cupcakes, but you may get more).
  2. Whisk together the brownie mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup canola oil, and 1/4 cup water in a bowl. Stir just until fully incorporated, about 50 strokes; set aside.
  3. Mix the cake mix, 1/2 cup oil, 1 cup water, and 3 eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
  4. Spoon the brownie batter into prepared muffin cups, filling each cup 1/3 full. Spoon the cake batter over the brownie batter, until muffin cups are each 2/3 full.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until golden and the tops spring back when lightly pressed, about 20 minutes.
  6. Cool completely.

Frosting Instructions

  1. Cream together the butter shortening, and vanilla.
  2. Then add in milk and powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Mix until light and fluffy.
  3. Top with optional sprinkles.

Notes

Mix brownies and strawberry cake mix according to package directions. Your ingredients may vary slightly depending on what brand of mix you purchased.

Nutrition

Calories: 253 kcal · Carbohydrates: 31 g · Protein: 2 g · Fat: 14 g · Saturated Fat: 7 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 27 mg · Sodium: 156 mg · Potassium: 45 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 23 g · Vitamin A: 102 IU · Calcium: 21 mg · Iron: 1 mg
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Valentine's Day Neapolitan Cupcakes on cooling rack

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Published: January 19, 2024Updated: December 13, 2024

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Questions & Reviews

  1. raquel Guevarra says:
    wow it is a pre-valentine cupcake here you have there...looks really great thanks for this I am going to bookmark it.

    eRecipe
  2. Becki Jacobs says:
    I love the chocolate strawberry combo - that really is perfect for Valentine's Day! These are adorable.
  3. Lindsay says:
    Oh, I love this! I have got to pin this for sure!
  4. Dulce fresa says:
    Thanks voor the beautiful idea.. I'm gonna try it!! but maybe with my own recipes instead the backage mixes..
  5. Mel says:
    These look really cute! I too am pinning it!
  6. Sweetened by Kagi says:
    Hello, I stumbled upon your blog from a linky party- this looks so yummy! I am now your newest follower and I hope that you will follow me too. Thanks and I look forward to seeing your future creations :)

    www.sweetenedbykagi.blogspot.com
  7. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says:
    Love it! And oh, the combinations... :)
  8. Christy says:
    Definitely worth trying and sharing! I pinned it, too.
  9. Aleisha McD says:
    HELL YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  10. Diana Lee says:
    These are adorable & sound delicious. Thanks for sharing them!
  11. Sarah says:
    Cute and Yummy! Found you from SYS Blog Party. Come visit sometime :)
  12. Courtney @ Sweet C's Designs says:
    These are divine! I am featuring them on my friday finds post today, please stop by!
    http://sweetcsdesigns.com/archives/3064
  13. Jocelyn says:
    Chocolate and strawberry is one of the best combos...so I know I will love these for sure!!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
  14. Gray Cardigan says:
    These look so good!!! I can't wait to try them!!!
  15. Alison @ Oopsey Daisy says:
    Oh my! Besides looking adorable, these look tasty too! :) I'm going to bookmark these for V-Day! Thanks for sharing at Oopsey Daisy!
  16. Desiree @ The 36th AVENUE says:
    I am featuring your amazing cupcakes tomorrow during my Sunday Best! I can't wait to make them!
  17. TidyMom says:
    What a fun recipe!!

    Thanks for linking up! I featured your post in my wrap up http://tidymom.net/2012/16-valentine-ideas/

    Have a great weekend!
  18. Serendipity and Spice says:
    I found you on Tatertots & Jello? this looks amazing! Never thought to put cake and brownies together-- will definitely have to give this a try!

    I?m hosting a Valentine theme linky party starting tonight at 11:30. Would love it if you came by and linked up! www.serendipityandspice.blogspot.com
    -Melissa
  19. Gallamore West says:
    These are so cute! And they sound delicious too. I LOVE chocolate & strawberry together. I think my boys would go crazy for these!

    Have a great day!
    xo,
    Laurie @ Gallamore West :)

    p.s. I made your crockpot BBQ Hawaiian chicken the other day... my family LOVED it. Thanks for a great and easy recipe. I can handle desserts, but dinners are soooo hard for me! :)
  20. Lindsay says:
    Just wanted to let you know that I featured this today from my Show & Share party! Thanks for linking up!

    http://southernlovely.blogspot.com/2012/01/show-share-23-features.html
  21. Jenny @ Simcoe Street says:
    Oh man these look delicious!
  22. The Hills Family says:
    Thanks Lindsay! We ablsolutely Love your blog!
    Kristen- Sixsistersstuff.com
  23. Marie {Make and Takes} says:
    These are too cute! And I'm sure they are delicious! I'd love to have you submit this to the M&T Spotlight http://www.makeandtakes.com/spotlight
  24. MommyRo says:
    These look soooo yum!! I'm putting together a section of recipes for LOVE month on my site ... http://www.wikimommy.com ... and I would love to feature this!! Please email me ro (at) wikimommy (dot) com and let me know if I may re-post this on my site. Thanks for sharing!!
  25. Lilianna Grace says:
    I saw these on Pinterest several weeks ago and made them. I too posted them on my blog as I baked them in little ice cream cups for cuteness and easy travel. They are as delicious as they look! I think I actually like them without the frosting better. Everyone should make these!
  26. Ashley says:
    I tried this recipe, but I had to bake them a tad bit longer because they came out liquidy (the brownie part). However, even after baking them a few minutes longer, the brownie is still a bit gooey. (I am NOT a brownie baker and hardly eat them, but a colleague made this recipe, and I LOVED it.) Should I be concerned with this?
  27. Kyle says:
    These were wonderful. My daughter and I baked a batch this week for her staff at work. They were gone in 15minutes. We look forward trying more of your recipes.
  28. Jane says:
    I am wondering if anyone has tried this recipe in a bundt pan...with baking the strawberry on the bottom, so that when put on a plate it would be on top? I am a little worried about trying it for a party since the brownie batter is thicker, thinking it might not work right pouring it on top of the strawberry. Would appreciate any input. Thanks.
  29. megan says:
    Made these for Valentines Day and just got to posting them on my blog hehe!! Thanks these were awesome!!
  30. mary says:
    There r in the oven. Can't wait to see how my hubby likes them .
  31. Elizabeth says:
    These look great! Do you know if they could be made as bars in a 13x9 pan?
  32. Cyd says:
    We have only made these as cupcakes. So we aren't exactly sure how it would all turn out. Seems like it would work if you put the second layer on carefully! :)
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