Dark Chocolate Cupcakes are a fast and easy dessert with a rich, silky chocolate flavor and fluffy chocolate frosting, a chocolate lover’s dream!
This easy Cupcake Recipe is made with a wonderful dark chocolate flavor. The recipe is very similar to our Rich Chocolate Cupcakes but with a more deep chocolate taste from using dark chocolate cocoa powder.
DARK CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
If you’re a fan of rich, dark chocolate, then these are sure to be your new favorite chocolate cupcakes. These easy cupcakes are made with a gorgeous chocolate flavor by using dark chocolate cocoa powder in the cake and the amazing chocolate buttercream frosting. Along with the cocoa powder, we also use instant espresso powder in the recipe. The coffee is an important ingredient because the coffee flavor enhances the delicious, sweet flavor in the chocolate.
Easy cupcake recipes, like this one, are always great to make for parties. You can make this recipe in a few simple steps, and they only take 30 minutes, so they’re perfect if you need a shareable dessert at the last minute. They’re also easier to serve to a crowd than a Full-Size Chocolate Cake because you don’t have to worry about slicing pieces for everyone.
HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES
The dark chocolate not only gives the cupcakes a rich chocolate flavor, but it also gives the cakes an amazing dark brown color. It’s impossible not to see their dark color without thinking they’d be perfect to make into a Halloween dessert.
You can top each chocolate cake off with Oreo cookie crumbs and gummy worms for a spooky treat. The dark chocolate color makes the cupcakes look like dirt, perfect for the gummy worm topping. These gummy worm cupcakes are always a favorite with kids!
MORE CUPCAKE DESSERTS
Valentine’s Day Cupcakes
Snickerdoodle Cupcakes
Vanilla Cupcakes
Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
BAKING TIPS
- Prep time: Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees and lining the cupcake tin with paper liners.
- Cupcake batter: Add 1 cup flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, salt, melted butter, canola oil, and water to your stand mixer. Turn on the mixer at low speed to combine the dry and wet ingredients. Be careful not to overmix, just stir until clumps of flour and other dry ingredients are mixed in. Next, turn the stand mixer speed to medium and add the eggs into the cupcake batter until just combined. Then add in the milk and vanilla. Continue beating the chocolate cake batter until smooth.
- Baking time: Use an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter from the bowl to the cupcake liners. Put the muffin tin on the center rack of the 350-degree oven to avoid uneven baking. Bake for 20-22 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
- Dark Chocolate Frosting: Add butter to a large saucepan and melt over medium heat. Then whisk in the cocoa powder and remove the butter mixture from heat. Let it cool, then pour it into your stand mixer. Whip at medium speed, while adding ⅓ cup powdered sugar and milk at a time. After adding all the sugar and milk, finish with the vanilla extract. If the frosting is too thick add another dash of milk until it reaches the right consistency. Transfer the amazing chocolate buttercream to a piping bag. Then pipe frosting over the chocolate base, and enjoy the delicious chocolate cupcakes.
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VARIATIONS
- Vegan chocolate cupcakes: If you’re on a vegan diet, you can make a few alterations to the recipe to enjoy vegan chocolate cupcakes. To make the cupcakes vegan, you need to replace the butter, milk, and eggs in the recipe. Your local grocery store should have vegan options for butter. For the milk, try nondairy milks like almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk. For the eggs in your vegan chocolate cupcakes, you can use applesauce, mashed banana, or flaxseed eggs.
- Cream cheese frosting: If you prefer, you can try making a chocolate cream cheese frosting instead of chocolate buttercream. Just add ½ cup of dark chocolate cocoa powder to the Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe.
- Vanilla frosting: Another option is topping the cupcakes with vanilla frosting. This is great if you don’t want as strong of a chocolate flavor. Just use regular Buttercream Frosting without the cocoa powder.
- Toppings: For some great toppings, you can sprinkle the top of the cupcakes with chocolate shavings, chocolate sprinkles, or coarse sea salt. You could also break a candy bar into squares and top each cupcake off with a chocolate square.
MORE CHOCOLATE DESSERTS
Chocolate Sheet Cake
Chocolate Yogurt Cake
Guinness Chocolate Cake
Triple Chocolate Bundt Cake Recipe
HOW TO STORE
- Serve: After baking, the Dark Chocolate Cupcakes can stay good at room temperature for up to 2 days. Cover them in plastic wrap to make sure that the cakes stay tender.
- Store: You could also transfer the cupcakes to an airtight container to store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: You can seal the cupcakes to store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Since the frosting won’t freeze as well, if you plan to freeze it, freeze just the cupcakes, then defrost them overnight and make a fresh batch of frosting to top before serving.
Ingredients
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder
- 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dark Chocolate Frosting:
- 3/4 cups unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
Dark Chocolate Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 12 cup muffin tray with liner cups.
- To a stand mixer add the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, salt, melted butter, canola oil, water and turn on the beater until just combined.
- Add in the eggs until just combined, then add in the milk and vanilla beating until smooth.
- Using an ice cream scoop fill the cups 2/3 full and bake for 20-22 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool completely.
Dark Chocolate Frosting:
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan and whisk in the cocoa powder then remove from the heat and let cool.
- Add the cooled chocolate mixer to your stand mixer and whip on medium speed adding the powdered sugar and milk, alternating them ⅓ at a time, and finally add the vanilla in last.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a bit more milk.
- Add frosting to a piping bag and pipe onto completely cooled cupcakes.
Nutrition
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