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This is the Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake Recipe, with a rich, moist chocolate cake with a tender crumb and a velvet chocolate frosting. These are the best chocolate cupcakes you'll ever taste, with a deep cocoa flavor that melts in your mouth. Not only are they delicious, but this easy chocolate cupcake recipe takes just minutes to prepare. If you are looking for moist chocolate cupcakes that are 5-star rated, this is the recipe for you!
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4.92 from 12 votes

Best Chocolate Cupcakes

This is the Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake Recipe, with a rich, moist chocolate cake with a tender crumb and a velvet chocolate frosting. These are the best chocolate cupcakes you'll ever taste, with a deep cocoa flavor that melts in your mouth. Not only are they delicious, but this easy chocolate cupcake recipe takes just minutes to prepare. If you are looking for moist chocolate cupcakes that are 5-star rated, this is the recipe for you!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate cupcakes
Servings: 20
Author: Melissa Stadler, Modern Honey

Equipment

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes:

  • 1 3/4 cup Flour
  • 1 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 3/4 cup Cocoa high quality
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 cup Oil canola or coconut oil
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla
  • 1 cup Hot Water

Chocolate Buttercream:

  • 1 cup Butter softened
  • 3/4 cup Cocoa
  • 3 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
  • 2-3 Tablespoons Heavy Cream Half n Half or Whole Milk
  • Garnish:
  • Chocolate Shavings or Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. If you have a flour sifter, sift all dry ingredients.
  • In mixing bowl, beat oil, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla for 1 minute. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until combined. Pour in hot water and mix together. The cake batter will be VERY RUNNY. This is what makes the cupcakes super moist and tender.
  • Lightly spray cupcake liners with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter evenly into each cupcake liner filling 3/4 full. Bake at 18-22 minutes. Place toothpick or cake tester in the center of cupcake to check if it comes out clean.
  • Let cool before frosting.
  • To make Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
  • In mixing bowl, cream together butter, cocoa, powdered Sugar, and cream until light and fluffy. You may want to add more cream or milk depending on consistency. Once cake has cooled and has been removed from cupcake pans, top with frosting.
  • Top with chocolate shavings, chocolate chips, sprinkles, M & M's or whatever your heart desires.
  • This is one baked good that gets even better the next day, if covered.