Easy Vanilla Cupcakes 4 Ingredients No Eggs

I love making cupcakes to celebrate any occasion, like my classic Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes or Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes, but I wanted to make another simpler, faster version that keeps the taste and texture of classic cupcakes. So I went for a super simple, back-to-basic dough that you can make in under 30 minutes with 4 ingredients I know you have in your pantry!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Here are the 4 ingredients you need for the dough.

Self-Rising Flour – Provides the structure and lift, giving the cupcakes their fluffy texture. If you don’t have self-rising flour, make your own by mixing 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour with 2 ½ teaspoons of baking powder. Light Olive Oil – Adds moisture without overpowering the flavor. If you prefer, use vegetable oil, canola oil, or sunflower oil. Avoid melted coconut oil, which can solidify when mixed with cold milk. Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk – Keeps the cupcakes light and adds subtle vanilla flavor. Any dairy-free milk (like oat, soy, or coconut milk) works. If using plain milk, add 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for flavor. Sugar – Sweetens the batter and helps create a tender crumb. You can use unrefined cane sugar, granulated sugar, or even coconut sugar, though darker sugars may change the cupcakes’ color.

How to Make Easy Vanilla Cupcakes

Here are pictures of the (few) key steps to make these cupcakes in under 30 minutes.

Frosting Options

While you can have these cupcakes unfrosted, there’s nothing quite like a sweet, soft frosting on the best cupcakes! I have many options for you, here are the best:

Vegan Vanilla Frosting – The vegan version of the classic frosting recipe, made with only 4 ingredients. It makes perfect cupcakes. Protein Powder Frosting – If you want more protein, this frosting adds 3g of protein per slice. 3-Ingredient Vegan Coconut Cream Frosting – This is by far the easiest frosting recipe I’ve ever made, with just 3 ingredients. Cashew Frosting – This simple, very healthy alternative frosting is made with cashews. Vegan Chocolate Frosting – A chocolate version of my simple vegan frosting. Vegan Royal Icing – While it’s not quite frosting, adding my royal icing makes these cupcakes amazing. Vegan Ganache – This is another slightly left-field option, but a little chocolate ganache on the top is delicious!