Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Theresa

I have made this ganache frosting for 30+ years. I got it from one of Maida's cookbooks. I always dip the tops of the cupcakes into a small bowl of the ganache as she advises in her book. It leaves the topping totally smooth and shiny! I also use the sprinkles. This is truly one of the best chocolate frostings for cupcakes you will ever find.

marina

It's even better if you put a piece of chocolate into the dough. The chocolate melts and gives an amazing flavour to the cupcake !!

Eilene

I found the cake in this kind of dry and not particularly chocolatey. I modified by cutting down to 2 eggs, cutting flour to 1.5 cups, cutting sugar to 3/4, adding a square of dark chocolate to the dough of each cupcake and substituting sour cream for the milk. Also cut down cooking time by a few minutes. Much more moist.

Joanna

We (the USA) tried to make the switch about 35 years ago but it never took.We have never, however, tried driving on the left....

xina

Light and fluffy, super delicious! I used baking powder instead of baking soda since the cocoa contains alkali and added semisweet chocolate chips because the chocolate flavor is subtle and I wanted to top with vanilla frosting.

Ingrid Wilson

5 1/3 ounces of butter = 150 gr for those of us who use metric measurements

mady_deutsch

How long should these be baked if they are in mini-muffin pans?

ecclusiastics

Dear USA, please change to weight/metric measurements! I had to play with the flour measurements a couple of times to get the right level of moistness in the cupcake that most reviewers seem to be missing. But even with a dry cupcake the ganache saves everything!

Matt

Ganache can be made without heavy cream. You can try all sorts of substitutions.....Greek yogurt, pureed banana, beer!!! The sky is the limit.I also place a few frozen raspberries ( fresh would be great, too ) inside the cakes themselves - more towards the top, rather than the middle.

Erin

These cupcakes are obviously very chocolate-y, but they are also just a touch too sweet for me. The ganache turned out beautifully smooth, rich, and glossy, but I would try it with a more bitter chocolate and toss in a pinch of salt next time. The cupcake is moist and fluffy, although I might also toss a bit more salt in the batter next time, too.

Jaimie

I followed the suggestions below and added chocolate chips to the dough. This definitely improved the recipe but it still was not enough chocolate. I wasn't sure how much to add so I went with 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Though the cakes were moist and had a nice texture, they still lacked rich chocolate flavor. Visibly they baked up a light brown color, not a deep, dark brown.

Jefferson B

Add a couple of tablespoons of chocolate syrup to the batter.Use large 6 cup pan as the recipe calls for it allows the cake to expand.You can frost with ganache by simply dipping the top of the cake into the warm frosting when it's about the consistency of thick honey. It makes for a perfectly consistent cap of frosting on the top.Colored sprinkles (and a ribbon of white frosting) make all the difference.

Susan

I baked these for a holiday party last night. Used crushed candy cane for the nonpariel decoration. Very good cupcakes. I did bake them only 22 min per others' notes, and they were moist and perfect. Love the ganache icing. Would make these again.

Alexis

It's the frosting that speaks to chocolate lovers, especially if you use bittersweet chips. Cake alone is not as chocolatey as others.

m.a.whiteside

The recipe did not work for me, the taste was ok but the texture was unpleasant.

Ellen

These came out very dry despite baking less time than suggested. I think I did everything right though the butter was pretty cold to start.

added instant coffee

Added 1.5 t instant coffee to milk and let dissolve, undetectable coffee flavor but enhances chocolate flavor , used 240g flour and 150g butter.

debsa

I too prefer a richer flavor but one that is not too sweet, ie I don’t always want a lump of extra chocolate. Adding in a teaspoon or two of espresso powder (finely ground) with the cocoa powder or subbing in dark coffee (decaf or not) for some of the liquid hits the spot.

amali

Cupcakes came out rather hard and dry, cut down baking time to around 15-20 mins for the second batch- perfect! The ganache frosting is heavenly.

Dairy-Free Ashley

Made this non-dairy by using oatmilk and vegan butter for the batter, and dairy free whipping cream/vegan butter for the ganache. Ganache was perfect- glossy, not too sweet, lovely. The actual cupcake was dry for me (baked for 18 min). I would attempt it again with dairy free sour cream instead of oatmilk.

Triona

Used this recipe, subbed buttermilk for the milk. Added teaspoon of baking powder. Rose well.Stuck a bittersweet wafer in each, thumbs up.Good color.Moist at 24 to 25 minutes

Jaco-Niel Verwey

It is a great recipe, but the Ganache was not the best. Also 24 cupcakes are way too much for us, so I cut down to half of everything. I was not a van of the ganache. But overall, it is a great recipe! I am 13 and I did not have any problems understanding the recipe. Overall, pretty good!

Rose

Definitely would recommend adding chocolate chips to the batter!

Benedicte

Made this recipe. Result was dry and lacking in chocolate personality. Did I overbake the cakes? I need to read all the comments and change a few things. Or go back to my trusted baking soda/unsweetened chocolate/brown sugar/hot water recipe.

Becky

Cake is bland and dry

TonyL

After four batches, bake time is definitely 22 minutes. 25 minutes dries them out too much. I added 100g semisweet mini chocolate chips to the batter. I made 1.5x the amount of ganache and used it all for 24 cupcakes. It’s decadent. Get the milk!Other metric info: 240g APF50g cocoa150g butter 300g sugar237ml milk1.5x icing:265g chips119ml cream 33g butter

Nan

These were dry and I followed Eliene's suggestions and they were much moister.

maria

This recipe was great as is. I even did the sprinkels. I did not change anything except I only had half of the suggested cocoa. Did not seem to make a difference.

R. Thompson

I baked a half batch and they turned out wonderfully. A pinch of flake sea salt as the finishing touch on top of the ganache was *chef's kiss.

Marianne

6 cup tin?

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Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to super moist cupcakes? ›

Instant Clearjel or Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix—this is a secret ingredient to a moister cupcake--the modified cornstarch in these ingredients gives your cupcake more stability and a softer texture.

What makes cupcakes hard on top? ›

High Temperature: Baking the cake at too high of a temperature can lead to uneven cooking and a hard crust on top. Ensure you're baking at the correct temperature specified in the recipe. Improper Pan Size: Using a pan that's too small can cause the cake batter to overflow, creating a hard crust as it bakes.

What not to do when making cupcakes? ›

Don't Over-mix, Don't Under-mix

Not too much, not too little. Make sure you're mixing the cupcake batter together *just until* the wet and dry are combined. Overmixing batter, whether that's for cakes, cupcakes, breads, muffins, etc, lends a tough-textured baked good. Don't turn on the mixer then leave the room.

What's the most important ingredient in a cupcake? ›

Flour is the main ingredient of the batter and provides the base for the cupcake. Butter or oil provides flavor, tenderizes the batter and helps provide volume.

Why are my chocolate cupcakes dry? ›

The ratio of wet to dry ingredients determines a cake's moisture level. If there's simply too much flour and not enough butter, a cake will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's too much milk and not enough flour, a cake will taste too wet. Finding the right balance between wet and dry ingredients is key.

What is the best cake mix for cupcakes? ›

What's the best boxed cake mix? We tested 10 and found a winner.
  • Trader Joe's Yellow Cake and Baking Mix.
  • 365 (Whole Foods) Classic Yellow Cake Mix.
  • King Arthur Golden Yellow Cake and Cupcake Mix.
  • Jiffy Golden Yellow Cake Mix.
  • Birch Benders Cupcake and Cake Mix Keto Classic Yellow.
  • Krusteaz Gluten Free Yellow Cake Mix.
May 19, 2023

How to make cupcakes taste like bakery? ›

Replace water 1:1 with milk (ideally whole milk, but you can use any kind you want) Replace oil with melted butter and double the amount (1/2 cup becomes 1 cup, etc.) Add an extra egg (or two if you want the cupcakes to be very rich, or if you're using medium eggs)

What is the best temperature to bake cupcakes? ›

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and position a rack in the middle of the oven.

What went wrong with my cupcakes? ›

Flat cupcakes can happen for a few reasons. Expired or old leavening agents such as baking soda or baking powder can cause cupcakes to deflate, since the necessary chemical reactions to make the batter rise won't be able to take place.

What makes cupcakes rubbery? ›

A rubbery cake can be a result of various factors, from overmixing the batter to incorrect measurements or overbaking. It's essential to pay close attention to these details to ensure your baked creations come out just the way you want them.

Why do my cupcakes smell eggy? ›

Here obviously the culprit is egg, but sometimes it is also how you mix the batter. One of the most common reasons for the eggy smell is the fact that eggs are not beaten enough. When this isn't done diligently, egg protein becomes uncurled which eventually straightens them out. This makes the outcome very “eggy”.

Is it better to make cupcakes with water or milk? ›

Milk's most important role in baking a perfect cake is the part it plays in making the batter wet enough for the chemical reactions to take place. In a pinch, if milk is not available, water may be substituted.

What does hot water do for cupcakes? ›

Hot water dissolves or “blooms” the cocoa, bringing out the flavor and allowing for better blending into the cake batter. You need to let it cool down a bit before adding it to the mixing bowl. I normally do this before assembling the rest ingredients for the cake.

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