A decadent red velvet cupcake, filled and topped with homemade cheesecake, fluffy vanilla buttercream, toffee bits and drizzled with melted chocolate. A copycat recipe of Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes from Disney World’s former Starring Rolls Cafe.

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I am kind of obsessed with cupcakes. OBSESSED. I actually used to make and sell gourmet cupcakes in my neighborhood each week.
When I was planning a trip to Disney World a couple of years ago, I found out that Disney World is actually quite famous for their cupcakes.
I started making a list of all of the different cupcakes I wanted to try. The Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes from Disney World’s Starring Rolls Cafe in Hollywood Studios was at the top of my list!
Disney World Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
After consuming this cupcake in Florida, I knew that I needed it to be in my life on a regular basis.
I came up with a recipe and the cupcakes are amazing. The cake is so moist and the frosting is, well, cheesecake.
Not cream cheese frosting, but actual cheesecake that is blended up to a smooth consistency in order to be piped onto the cupcake.
This cupcake also has whipped vanilla buttercream, crushed toffee pieces and drizzled chocolate. Do I have you attention yet?
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Ingredients for Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
Red Velvet Cupcakes
- 1 Red Velvet Cake Mix (I like Betty Crocker)
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1/2 Cup Butter, melted
- 4 Eggs
Cheesecake Filling/Topping
- 1 (8 Ounce) Block of Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
Vanilla Buttercream
- 1/2 Cup Butter, melted
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons Milk or Cream
Cupcake Topping
How to Make Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
Although this is a gourmet cupcake, if you take it step by step, this cupcake is actually not too hard to put together.
Imagine how impressed your friends and family will be when you make these decadent and beautiful cupcakes.
I’ve even made a video on how to put these beauties together. Check it out at the end of the post!
Red Velvet Cupcakes
The first step in making these cupcakes is to prepare the cake. Red Velvet is kind of a tricky flavor of cake.
It’s actually a chocolate cake, which I didn’t know for a long time, with red food coloring added. The problem is that the cake is brown, so it takes A LOT of red food coloring.
To make this recipe easier and less messy, I just use my favorite red velvet cake mix and “doctor it up” a little bit.
- Begin by preparing the cake mix, but add 1 extra egg, melted butter instead of oil and milk instead of water.
- Bake the cupcakes at 325 degrees instead of 350. By baking them at a slightly lower temperature, the cupcakes will come out more flat on top and will be easier to decorate.
- This recipe will make 24 standard size cupcakes. If you want them to be the same size as the cupcakes at Disney World, use a jumbo cupcake pan and jumbo baking cups.

Cheesecake Filling/Topping
Let the cupcakes cool, while you make the cheesecake filling.
- Mix up the softened cream cheese, egg, sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the batter into a greased 8 x 8 baking dish and bake at 320 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Allow the cheesecake to cool completely. Add the cheesecake to a stand mixer and whip it together until smooth. Add it to a piping bag and set aside.
Vanilla Buttercream
- Add the softened butter to a mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Pour in the vanilla.
- Next, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing in between. Add milk a little at a time, if the frosting is too stiff.
- Put the frosting in a piping bag and set aside.
Cupcake Assembly
- Using a sharp knife at a 45 degree angle, cut a cone-shaped hole from the center of the cupcake.
- Fill the center with cheesecake filling and continue on top of the cupcake.
For Jumbo Cupcakes:
- Fill in the hole with cheesecake. Replace the cake you removed, but put it on upside down, so it makes a cone on top.
- Pipe the cheesecake around the cake cone.

- Pipe the vanilla buttercream in a circle around the cheesecake.
- Press the Heath Toffee Bits onto the butter cream.
- Melt the chocolate chips. Put the melted chocolate in a ziplock bag and snip off the end. Drizzle the chocolate over the tops of the cupcakes.

Just like that, you have Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes just like they sell at Starring Rolls Cafe!
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I hope you enjoy these cupcakes and check out my other Disney Recipes!
*As I was preparing this post, I found out that Starring Rolls Cafe is actually closed now. I’m glad that I was able to taste this delicious cupcake while it was available and I hope that you will try this recipe so that you can enjoy the yumminess that is the Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes from Disney World’s Starring Rolls Cafe.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcakes
A decadent red velvet cupcake, filled and topped with a cheesecake topping, fluffy vanilla buttercream, toffee bits and drizzled with melted chocolate. A recipe replica of the Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake from Disney World's Starring Rolls Cafe.
Ingredients
Red Velvet Cupcakes
- 1 Box Red Velvet Cake Mix, your favorite brand
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1/2 Cup Butter, melted
- 4 Eggs
Cheesecake Frosting (Topping)
- 1 8 oz Block Cream Cheese, softened
- 1/4 Cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- 1/2 Cup Butter, Softened
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Milk, as needed
Toppings
- 1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips, Melted
- 1 Bag Heath Toffee Bits
Instructions
Red Velvet Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Prepare the cupcakes according to the cake mix instructions, replacing the water with milk, the oil with melted butter and add an additional egg.
- Fill cupcake liners with 3 tablespoons of batter and bake for 14-16 minutes for standard size cupcakes and 20-22 minutes for jumbo.
- Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool to room temperature.
Cheesecake Frosting (Topping)
- Beat softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add egg and vanilla and mix.
- Add sugar and beat until smooth.
- Pour batter into a 8x8 pan and bake at 320 degrees for 30 minutes until set up and beginning to brown on top.
- Remove from oven and let it cool completely.
- Scrape into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until smooth. Place in a piping bag or sandwich bag with the end snipped off.
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Beat the butter until nice and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla and mix.
- Mix in the powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Whip for 2-3 minutes. Add milk as needed.
- Place in a piping bag or a sandwich bag with the end snipped off.
Toppings
- Place the chocolate chips in a bowl. Microwave at 50% power in 30 second increments until melted. Stir in between.
- Place in a small sandwich bag with the end snipped off.
Assembly
- Cut a circle in the top of the cupcake with your knife at a 45 degree angle. Remove the cone-shaped piece of cake.
- Fill in the hole with cheesecake and replace the cake cone upside-down. The flat side should be on the bottom.
- Pipe the cheesecake around the cake cone.
- Pipe the vanilla buttercream frosting around the base of the cake cone.
- Press the toffee bits on the vanilla buttercream frosting.
- Drizzle the top of the cupcake with melted chocolate. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1 CupcakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 211Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 131mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 0gSugar: 16gProtein: 3g
Carole
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
I made these with mock buttercream. They were fabulous! Highly recommend this recipe. Cake was moist the cream cheese inside was perfect. Thank you.
Madi
Monday 15th of July 2019
How should these be stored?
mindymoser
Tuesday 16th of July 2019
They should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator :)