These easy chocolate cupcakes are light, fluffy, and so much more moist and flavorful than anything you could get out of a box. Made quickly and easily in just one bowl, these from-scratch easy chocolate cupcakes can be out of the oven in under 30 minutes, then ice them with an equally easy, fudgy, chocolate buttercream frosting.
I’m going back to the basics today with an incredibly easy and oh-so-perfect chocolate cupcake recipe. Light, fluffy, moist, chocolaty and so much better than ANY box mix, these are the perfect chocolate cupcakes.
While I have a good number of chocolate cake recipes on my blog (all appropriately and carefully designed for their specific recipe and flavor combinations), this one cannot be beaten in terms of ease.
Only one bowl required, easy ingredients, phenomenal results; try these perfect chocolate cupcakes out and I guarantee you (and this is not a guarantee I make lightly) you’ll never look at another cupcake recipe again.
If you follow me on Instagram, you saw the faux-mushroom decorated chocolate cake that I made for Zach’s birthday celebration this past weekend. Since I was up to my ears in baking and recipe-testing this weekend, I kept his cake simple and used this same cupcake recipe to make his 8-inch, 2-layer cake, too, and it will definitely be my go-to in the future when I need cupcakes or cake in a pinch (or, probably, not even in a pinch).
This recipe is a versatile one, so use it for cake or cupcake alike (increased baking time for cake, I’ve included notes on this in the recipe below). It lacks nothing in terms of texture or flavor (or just general deliciousness).
You’ll note that the recipe calls for hot water or coffee. It is very important that you use a hot liquid (the hotter the better, but be careful not to splash yourself with it while mixing) as this reacts with the cocoa powder, causing it to “bloom” and therefore fully develop the rich chocolaty flavor of the cocoa.
If you choose to use coffee, your cupcakes will not taste mocha-esque, rather the coffee helps to enhance the rich chocolate flavors of the cocoa powder and I recommend you use it if possible.
Don’t be tempted to replace the oil with butter, please. Despite the fact that I am a butter fiend (as is my dog) using oil is what makes these cupcakes so moist without weighing them down. The cocoa powder (when bloomed by the hot water/coffee) provides plenty of flavor, so butter is unnecessary (never would have thought I would type those words!) and actually yields a less-desirable cupcake.
Oh, and I haven’t even mentioned the frosting! Another easy, classic recipe, fudgy (though you can make it as thick or light and creamy as you’d like, depending on how much milk you add) and it is the perfect crowning glory for these cupcakes.
The frosting can also be made in just one bowl (just, uh, not the same bowl, please) and is ready in a matter of minutes.
15 minutes… one bowl… best cupcakes ever… what are you waiting for!?
Make these cupcakes and tag them #sugarspunrun on Instagram so I can see what you’ve made!
Enjoy!
(Full printable recipe just below the video)
Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 2 cups granulated sugar (400g)
- 1 ¾ cup + 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour (235g)
- ¾ cups natural unsweetened cocoa powder (75g)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅔ cup canola oil vegetable oil would also be fine (157ml)
- 1 cup milk (236ml)
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten (preferably room temperature)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup hot water (or hot coffee or 1 tsp instant coffee dissolved into 1 cup hot water) (236ml)
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup salted butter softened to room temperature, 2 sticks (226g)
- 4 cups powdered sugar (500g)
- ½ cup cocoa powder (50g)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3-5 Tbsp milk
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line muffin tin with cupcake liners (or lightly grease and flour).
- In large bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Stir in canola oil and milk, stirring until combined.
- Add eggs, one at a time, stirring after each addition.
- Stir in vanilla extract.
- Add hot water and stir until the mixture is evenly combined (it will be a thin batter. When you first add the water the batter will separate a bit, stir until it is even in texture. Be careful with the hot water as it may splatter as it is stirred). Batter will be very thin, don't panic!
- Fill prepared muffin tin cavities just over ⅔ of the way full* and bake at 350F (175C) for 18-22 minutes (use the toothpick test to check).
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- In electric mixer cream butter
- Add sugar, one cup at a time until completely combined
- Stir in cocoa powder and then vanilla extract. Pause to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
- Add milk, 1 Tbsp at a time and beating on medium-high speed after each addition for about 15 seconds until desired icing consistency is reached (the less milk you use, the stiffer the frosting will be).
- Pipe icing on completely cooled cupcakes and add sprinkles (if desired).
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
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Dark Chocolate Mini Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Mini Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Frosting
Tiffany
This recipe is light, fluffy, flavorful, easy, and is now my go-to chocolate cake recipe
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you love them, Tiffany! Thanks so much for your five star review ❤️
Human
Omg! It’s soooo moist and soooo tasty. I thought I was going die of chocolate
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
If we could pick a way to go, that’d be it! 😂 So glad you enjoyed them!
Arielle Mossberg
Hi there – would you approve making these ahead of time, by a day or so? If so, ok to leave out at room temp? Thanks!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Arielle! Absolutely–just store in an airtight container until ready to serve. Enjoy! ❤️
Cris
Hi Sam, I made these cupcakes and halved the recipe based on weight. These cupcakes are Amazing! and this is tasting it without the icing ( i couldn’t wait).
Super light and moist and flavorful. Thanks for the precise measurements by weight, it really helps alot. I can’t wait to continue to try more recipes.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you love them, Cris! We love the weight measurements too–so precise AND less dishes 😊 Happy baking!
Tiffany
This recipe is light, fluffy, flavorful, easy, and is now my go-to chocolate cake recipe
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy to hear that, Tiffany! Thanks so much for your review.
Lientjie
Love this recipe.
Would love to use the same recipe for a vanilla cupcake. Replace the cocoa powder with flour and instead of hot coffee, just hot water? What do you suggest?
Sam
Hi Lientjie! Unfortunately it’s typically not that simple, while you can certainly experiment, and I’d love to know how it turns out if you do, I would rather direct you to my vanilla cupcake recipe instead.
Jessica
I made these chocolate cupcakes for my son’s 1st birthday party and they were a hit! I broke the first rule and over filled the liners a bit but I was very happy with the overall result. The coffee is definitely key to bring out the richness of the chocolate. I will be using this recipe again 😊
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so glad they turned out for you, Jessica! The coffee truly is a gamechanger. 🙂
Sara
This has become my go-to chocolate cake and cupcake recipe. I am wondering if you have ever tried it in a half sheet pan? If you did, I’m curious how you adjusted the baking time.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Sara! We’re so glad you love these cupcakes. Unfortunately, we haven’t tried this ourselves so we can’t advise on a bake time. It will probably be less time, so keep an eye on it. We’d love if you let us know how long it takes. Also, keep in mind we do have several sheet cake recipes for you to try. 🙂
Gabi
Great recipe with perfect amount of sugar..I use chocolate ganache frosting (instead of buttercream) and the kids love it..This is my go-to cupcake recipe..
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Gabi! I love the idea of a ganache topping! 🙂
Betty
Hello! I was wondering if you have a recipe for half this amount? or if it is safe to halve the recipe? Please and thank you.
Sam
Hi Betty! You can cut this recipe in half. It may be a bit easier to do if you are using weights. 🙂
Jillian
I made these for my husband’s work and everyone (my kids included) LOVED them! This is my new go-to chocolate cake/cupcake recipe. We are dairy free so I use almond milk and earth balance “butter” and they are just perfect. Thank you!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoy them so much, Jillian! 🙂
Elizabeth Matthews
They taste great but they overflow SOOO much. I filled each liner exactly like the recipe said. I about started a fire because within 5 minutes of being on the oven, they practically exploded all over and started to smoke. I threw it all away and started over, filling each liner less than half way full and yet it still ran everywhere and all over my oven. It even almost started a fire the second time around. I wasted lots of ingredients on it 🙁 It’s 2 star because they taste good but please beware, put WAY less batter per liner than the recipe tells you and please watch them as they cook to avoid almost starting a house fire like mine almost did. (Recipe says it makes 12-14 cupcakes, I’d say at least 22 because of how little you can put in each liner.) NO HATE, it’s not personal ☹️
Sam
Hi Elizabeth, this recipe makes 30 cupcakes as stated in the recipe card, if you only made 12-14 or even just 22 with the batter that would most likely be why it overflowed.
Jen
I also had an overflow disaster even though I made 24 cupcakes. They’re very tasty and I’m going to use them to make a trifle instead of their intended use for a birthday party.
Sam
Hi Jen! This recipe makes 30 cupcakes 🙂
Ines
Love your recipes! Wondering if almond milk can be used to produce a good chocolate cupcake like yours instead of milk.
Sam
Hi Ines! I believe others have made these with almond milk with success. 🙂