This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #GameDayGreats #CollectiveBias
Great memories are really important to me. They make bad times better and good times great. They help connect me to those that are no longer a part of my life. Being able to reflect upon some of my favorite moments over the past years, is a delight.
I’m always thinking of fun and new exciting things to do to make new memories, because, while those old memories are great, new ones are always welcome.
I have a list of restaurants I want to go to. I am always looking for the next concert or event to attend. And even at home, I love cooking and baking new recipes, especially with Mom, that I can share with my family and friends. In fact, food memories are some of the best and strongest ones upon which to rely.
When fall rolls around and we spend more time indoors and in the kitchen, I love coming up with new recipes. These Coca-Cola Cupcakes with a RITZ crust, Coca-Cola buttercream, and a Wheat Thin crumble, they are sure to create lasting memories.
Every Sunday, football filled the TV from the moment the pregame comes on at 10 am to 8 pm or so when the afternoon games wrap up. I may not be the world’s biggest football fan, I leave that to Mom, but it’s fun to watch the games and cheer my team on. They even got a win this week!
If you are a football fan, or even if you aren’t, you know food and football go hand in hand. And while all those classic game day foods like chili and nachos and pizza are great, there’s nothing like a sweet treat while I watch.
And if you aren’t a football fan, these cupcakes are perfect for any event, party, or just to share with a couple friends. Whatever you love to do that brings you together with the people you love to make new memories will only be better with these cupcakes.
What makes these cupcakes so special is that they take the classic chocolatey Coca-Cola cake and take it up a few notches with the buttery, crispy RITZ crust and the crunchy crumb topping that you’ll want to steal off all the cupcakes. Oh and that buttercream! It is silky smooth and I love the hint of Coca-Cola flavor that comes through. While some cupcakes are one note, these have different textures as well as sweet and salty flavors to satisfy everyone.
Stock up on Coca-Cola and Mondelez treats at your local Kroger, like I did, so #GameDayGreats are on the way for you and your family and friends!
Coca-Cola Cupcakes with RITZ Crust
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 cupcakes + a mini cake 1x
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 2 cups Coca-Cola
- 1 cup carob or cocoa powder
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
Crust
- 1 ½ cups crushed RITZ crackers
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Frosting
- 2 ½ sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
- 5 cups confectioners’ sugar
- ½ cup Coca-Cola
Wheat Thin Crumble
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ crushed Wheat Thin Crackers
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners. If you have it, prep another small cake pan for extra batter.
- Make the cupcakes. In a large bowl, melt the Coca-Cola, carob or cocoa powder, and butter in the microwave in 30 second increments until fully melted. Whisk in the sugars and allow to cool briefly before whisking in the eggs, followed by the flour, baking soda, and salt. There will still be some lumps in the batter – this is okay.
- Make the crust. In a small bowl, stir together the RITZ, butter, and sugar. Press about a tablespoon of the crust mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Press the remaining mixture into the small cake pan.
- Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling just about to the top. Pour the remaining batter into the cake pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes and cake comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely in pan.
- Make the crumble. In a small bowl, stir together flour, sugar, Wheat Thins, and oil until clumps form. Spread onto a parchment lined baking tray and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, until golden brown. Cool completely.
- Make the frosting, in a large bowl, beat butter on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer. Slowly add 3 cups of the sugar and mix in. add the Coca-Cola, followed by the rest of the sugar and beat until smooth, light, and fluffy.
- Assemble the cupcakes. Spread a heaping amount of frosting on each cupcake. Sprinkle with the crumble, pressing it into the frosting gently. Cupcakes may be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, of frozen, wrapped in parchment and foil, and placed in a zipper bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature about 1 hour.
Notes
Cupcakes adapted from A Cozy Kitchen
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
Wow! What a creative recipe! Loads of good stuff going on here — love that crust. Brilliant. Thanks!
Wow! Thanks, John!
Yes! Food memories are definitely some of my favorites too! And this recipe is so gourmet with all the different notes and textures, sure to create memories!
Thanks, Nicole! I love the combination of flavors and texture for sure.
What uniquely divine cupcakes!! I like how you think!! I yummed then too!
Thanks, Tara. It’s bad I don’t really know what yumming is, right???
I used your yum button to share.
Great recipe, love the crumble on top of the frosting!
That crumble is addictive. Wheat Thin crumble for life!
I’ve never baked with Coca Cola, I wonder about that. The cupcakes look sweet and I especially like the frosting. It’s funny that your mom is such a football fan, I always associate such sports with men… 🙂
Yes, my mom likes football more than my dad. He did play in college though, so really, I’m the odd one out not loving it.
You know me and Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays are for football!! These would be terrific for game day and what a super idea! Ritz are buttery so what a great idea to make the crust from them! You are so very creative….
Aww, thanks, Debbie! I love to be creative in all areas of my life.
Now that’s creative…and a sweet-salty treat for the memory books! These are awesome. I’m going to include them in an upcoming links roundup!
Whoa! Thank you so much – such a nice complement coming from you. They turned out better than I ever could have imagined.