Best Chocolate Cupcakes
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These really are the best ever super moist chocolate cupcakes. Made from scratch with cocoa powder, they are deeply chocolatey, perfectly fluffy, and with a slightly domed top. And dare I say it? These homemade, moist chocolate cupcakes are way better than any boxed cake mix, with the same super moist crumb and texture that you know you love.
If you also prefer homemade cakes made from scratch over box cake mixes, you will definitely want to check out my Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting, Homemade Funfetti Cake, and Best Red Velvet Cake.
Moist Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe
This is the be all, end all, of chocolate cupcake recipes. Your days of resorting to a cake mix can be a thing of the past.
If you love making desserts from scratch and have been searching for the perfect chocolate cupcake recipe, your search is over.
I know these are big claims, but honestly, I feel like I have tried every chocolate cupcake recipe on the planet.
And while there are many good chocolate cupcake recipes out there, this one is hands down the best chocolate cupcake recipe ever. I’m pretty confident you will agree.
These cupcakes are the perfect thing to pair with homemade rainbow chip frosting recipe. Or the best chocolate buttercream you’ve ever tasted (it’s the chocolate frosting that is pictured in these photos). And I have a salted caramel frosting recipe that is also amazing with these cupcakes.
Heck, I have an entire category of frosting recipes that would pretty much all be amazing with these moist chocolate cupcakes! And honestly, the cake part itself is so amazing that I always eat at least one cupcake sans frosting while I wait for them to cool.
What makes these chocolate cupcakes so moist?
The two biggest players in keeping these chocolate cupcakes moist are using buttermilk and oil in the recipe, as opposed to butter and sour cream, which are both commonly used in chocolate cakes.
If you don’t have any buttermilk on hand, you can make an easy substitute by adding 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a 1/2 cup measuring cup, then filling the rest of the way with milk. Stir, then let sit for 5 minutes before adding to the recipe in place of the buttermilk.
And while you technically could replace the oil with butter in this recipe, the cupcakes won’t be as moist for some science-y reason that I can’t explain. Just go with it – if you want to replicate the moist texture and fluffiness of a box cake mix (with way better flavor because these cupcakes are made from scratch), use the oil instead of melted butter.
How to Make Super Moist Chocolate Cupcakes From Scratch
Start by combining flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until everything is combined.
There is one more ingredient, which is very hot water. It’s super important to achieving super moist chocolate cupcakes with an intense chocolate flavor.
The hot water doesn’t have to be boiling, but it needs to be really hot because the heat is going to react with the cocoa powder, causing it to “bloom”, which brings out as much chocolate flavor as possible from the cocoa powder. I find that my tap water gets hot enough if I let it run for 10-15 seconds or so, but you could also microwave some water for a minute or boiling some water on the stove.
The hot water is also going to create a pretty thin batter, too. Don’t be alarmed! It really is supposed to be like that.
The thin batter is going to allow the baking powder and baking soda in the batter to really do their magic and the cupcakes will rise and dome beautifully, with a wonderful texture thanks to all the scientific magic going on behind the scenes.
Readers have said you can use hot coffee in place of the water, but I haven’t tried that myself.
How much do you fill cupcakes?
Be sure to only fill the cupcake liners halfway full! Not 3/4 or even 2/3 full, which are common amounts for other cupcake recipes. Just half.
It is going to seem strange and like there is not nearly enough batter in each cupcake liner, but just trust me on this one. There is so much lift to the thin batter that if the cupcake liners are too full, the cupcakes will overflow and you won’t get that beautiful, domed cupcake shape that is the hallmark of perfect cupcakes.
Plus, the top edges will get crisp and stick to the pan and the cupcake centers are probably going to sink. So just halfway full, m’kay?
If you find that your cupcakes aren’t doming on top, try filling your liners a little less next time. Or if you are baking at a high altitude, you might want to use this helpful guide to high-altitude baking and see if that helps, since I’m in California near sea level.
How do you tell if cupcakes are done without a toothpick?
I never use the toothpick test on cupcakes. For one, I hate digging around the back of my spice cupboard to find them. But also, I feel like it isn’t as accurate as simply touching the tops of the cupcakes.
The best way to tell if cupcakes are done is to lightly tap the top of a cupcake. If it bounces right back, they are done. If a little indentation from your finger remains, the cupcakes need to bake a little bit longer.
What kind of cocoa powder do I prefer?
I have a few chocolate brands that I think make really great cocoa powder, like Rodelle and Ghiradelli, but I don’t have any problems with good old Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder, which is available at any grocery store.
Can I Use This Chocolate Cupcake Recipe to Make a Cake?
Yes, you can absolutely use this recipe to make a super moist chocolate cake instead of cupcakes. Just keep the following in mind if that’s the route you decide to go:
- This recipe only makes 14-16 cupcakes which is the same as one square baking dish or 9-inch round cake layer. If you are trying to make a cake in a large rectangular baking dish or create a two layer cake, just double the recipe or use my One-Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe!
- The oven temperature stays the same, but the baking time will change since individual cupcakes cook faster than cakes cooked in larger pans. Cakes cooked in 9-inch baking pans should take about 30-35 minutes to fully bake, but just be sure to test the center of each cake with a toothpick or sharp knife to test for doneness before taking your cake layers out of the oven.
More Cake & Cupcake Recipes You’ll Love
- Key Lime Cupcakes
- Fresh Strawberry Cupcakes
- Dulce de Leche Cupcakes
- The BEST Homemade German Chocolate Cake
- Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
- Gingerbread Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream
- S’mores Cupcakes with Graham Cracker Frosting
- Homemade Funfetti Cake From Scratch
- Best Red Velvet Cake
- Vintage Cherry Chip Layer Cake
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Best Ever Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1/2 cup buttermilk room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup very hot water
- [Chocolate Buttercream Frosting]
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
- Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl and whisk together.
- Combine the egg, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla in another bowl and whisk together.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix using a stand mixer until combined.
- Add the hot water to the batter and mix again, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary, until combined. Batter will be thin.
- Fill cupcake liners only 1/2 full, then bake for 18-21 minutes, until the tops bounce back when you touch them with a finger or a toothpick comes out with only a few moist crumbs when used to test a cupcake.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Video
Notes
- This recipe calls for buttermilk, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can make an easy substitute by adding 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a 1/2 cup measuring cup, then filling the rest of the way with milk. Stir, then let sit for 5 minutes before adding to the recipe in place of the buttermilk.
- Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
When I first posted these chocolate cupcakes, I made them with my salted caramel frosting, which is a super scrumptious combination! Here is one of the original images below.
So lovely and decadent.
I made these tonight and they were delicious! They were perfectly moist and had a rich, but not overbearing, chocolate flavor, which I loved! I had to stop Jason from eating all of them! 🙂
Awesome! So glad you guys liked them and I really appreciate that you appreciate the balance of richness and chocolate without going too far, lol! It does my foodie soul good to hear such a compliment! 🙂
Hi there! Is there a way to adapt this recipe to a vanilla cake? Thank you!
Not really! I’m sorry! I still haven’t gotten around to perfecting my white cake recipe, although the one I use for strawberry shortcake is pretty wonderful! https://houseofnasheats.com/strawberry-shortcake/
you could ad more flour and no cocoa
Hi, could we please know what is the equivalent of a cup measurement for English bakers.
I haven’t had a chance to do conversions for my recipes yet, but this site has a helpful chart for you: https://www.sweet2eatbaking.com/uk-us-conversion/
Hi. I’m glad I found this recipe. It tastes great and is easy to make. Also, with how expensive butter is where I live, using an oil based recipe is my preferred option now. The only thing is, my cupcakes didn’t rise nicely like in your picture. I filled it halfway as you’ve instructed but it didn’t rise all the way up. It domed and then cracked, making it look like a volcano. Maybe my oven was too hot. I put it at 175°C. I’ll definitely be baking more with this recipe but I need to figure out how to make sure it doesn’t crack. Any tips?
Hi Moira! I’m glad you like the recipe but that’s too bad about yours cracking on top! My guess is that the oven was too hot and they cooked too fast, creating a crust on top that prevented proper expansion and finally resulted in cracks. Do you use an oven thermometer? They are pretty inexpensive and can really help to make sure the oven is set to the proper temperature during baking.
Your recipe is super success…. I m soo grateful that you shared your recipe with us.
Made these with bob mills gf cup for cup flour and they turned out perfect
Awesome! I love Bob’s Redmill gf cup-for-cup flour! It’s such a great product!
Think this could be done as a layer cake?
Yes, but you will want to double it to have enough for both layers.
My go to recipe for chocolate cupcakes! Would it work the same if I left out the chocolate to make a vanilla cupcake?
I’m glad you like them! No, I don’t think that they translate perfectly to a vanilla cupcake just by leaving chocolate out. Sorry! I’m working on a vanilla cupcake recipe soon though!
Thanks for the best recipe. I always make these and it gets finished in minutes. The only thing I don’t like is the taste of baking soda and the moist top.
is it okay to use dutch processed cocoa powder for this recipe?
Yes, you can use dutch processed cocoa powder in these.
Most amazing chocolate cake . Super moist very tasty. Thank you for the recipie.
You are welcome!
We do not have coffee. I do have espresso powder. Can I substitute and how?
This recipe does not call for coffee, so there isn’t really a need to substitute espresso powder.
Thank you for getting back so promptly. I must be seeing things. Will try this weekend. They look wonderful.
I can’t stand buttermilk. Can I substitute with regular milk instead?
You won’t be able to taste buttermilk in the cupcakes after they are baked. It makes a very tender, rich crumb. But you could try adding 1 teaspoon of lemon juice or vinegar to a 1/2 cup measuring cup then filling it the rest of the way with whole milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes before adding it to the batter where you would otherwise use buttermilk.
Hi Amy, thank you for sharing your recipe. Quick question, can I use cream instead of buttermilk?
You’re welcome! Cream doesn’t have the acidity that will cause the same reaction as buttermilk, but if you don’t have buttermilk you could combine a little lemon juice with whole milk or half-and-half (about 1 tablespoon lemon juice per cup of liquid, although I’m not sure I would go with cream) and let that sit for 5 minutes before using in place of buttermilk.
Would it make any difference if I use unsalted butter instead of vegetable oil?
Yes, actually, in this case it probably would. Oil actually makes most cupcakes more moist than butter. The recipe would work with butter, but you would be more likely to end up with cupcakes that weren’t quite as moist.
Instead of buttermilk what can I use???
You can substitute 1/2 cup greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 cup of milk, or pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar into a 1 cup measuring cup, then fill it to the top with milk and stir. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using. Both are great buttermilk substitutes.
that is what i did i used some lemon and milk and i love them
Omg these were the best cupcakes I have ever baked. My family said they were award winning. My only problem is that there were not enough to last more than 1 day. Followed the recipe exactly, paired them with a chocolate cream cheese icing.
I’m glad you enjoyed them! I have never tried them with a chocolate cream cheese icing! Come to think of it, I have never HAD chocolate cream cheese icing! This must be remedied immediately! 🙂
Can you use unsweetened cocoa powder?
Yes! I edited the recipe to be more specific. 🙂
Great, thank you! I will be making them for my sons first birthday!
Made these this morning. the texture and moistness are Perfect. The flavor is good. I was just wondering if there is a way to make them more chocolaty. Like a devils food without changing texture . would the addition of melted chocolate work?
You could certainly try it! I use melted chocolate along with cocoa powder in my Devil’s Food Cake recipe and love it. I still think it’s super moist, but it doesn’t have quite the same texture as this cupcake recipe.
I hate dry cupcakes and this recipe was anything but dry!!! Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful and easy recipe! I made this for a friend’s son’s birthday airh cream cheese icing and it was a hit!
Have made these before and they are delicious, however I was just wondering if these can be filled in the center with sprinkles like a Pinata cupcake without compromising the integrity of the cupcake? Looking to make it special for Valentine’s Day!!
Yes, these can be filled without falling apart!
Thanks so much!!
Made these tonight and I’m highly impressed with the flavor, the texture, and just everything about them. The only thing I messed up on was missing the baking powder because I was dealing with kids and totally skipped right over that ingredient on accident but still came out lovely! I can’t wait to make it again right
Easily the best chocolate cake recipe I have ever made — and trust me, I have made QUITE a few!! I always find it so helpful to read peoples comments in addition to the blog component of recipes to make sure the cake is as good as it sounds/looks. This recipe stands up to all of the good reviews! I love how moist and spongy the cake is (replicating boxed cake) while also having the stability and density of a home-made, made-from-scratch cake.
To make up the 1/2 cup of cocoa powder the recipe calls for, I used 1/4 cup Hershey’s Special Dark 100% Cacao and 1/4 cup Ghiradelli 100% cocoa to make sure the chocolate had a dark, bold flavor. Maybe not the fanciest, most high-end ingredients but it worked very well for me!
Using this recipe, I made 3-layers of 8″ round cake for a baby shower with only 12 people. The entire cake was gone by the end of the party. If that doesn’t tell you how good it is….
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! There is no doubt that this is my go-to cake now, let alone chocolate cake recipe. I’m excited to try out more of your stuff!
You are so welcome! And thank you so much for the glowing, thoughtful review!
Thanks for the recipe! I love the cupcake but when I make these they dont dome at the top like yours do. Any suggestions on why that might be?
Try not filling them quite as full next time. I have found that when I fill them a little too much they don’t dome as nicely. The only other thing I can think of would be to replace your baking soda and baking powder. But really I would think it’s probably how they were filled. It seems nuts to only fill the cupcake liners halfway but it totally works with these cupcakes.
Mine didn’t rise as much as the picture but they were moist and everybody loved them! Will be my go to recipe from now on.
Have you found a white cupcake recipe yet?? These are wonderful I also use this for my cakes!!
I haven’t found one that is just perfect yet! I’m sorry! I was working on one but I think I got cupcaked out for a while, but I need to get back to it soon! Try the white cupcake from Sally’s Baking Addiction though – she is one of my favorite bloggers and her recipes are always reliable.
It’s a winner both as cake and cupcake. Thank you for sharing this super easy and superb recipe. My family, friends and co-workers luv it. Even replaced the sugar once with sweetner for my dad to enjoy as he is diabetic, minus the frosting and it is now one of his favorite treats.
I’ve used this recipe to wow my coworkers several times for cupcakes. Can this recipe also work for a layered cake covered in fondant?
I would think so, but I have never worked with fondant, so I don’t know for sure.
Do you have to sift the dry ingredients or just combine it with a wodden spoon? Approximately how long should you mix all the ingredients together?
Honestly, I know a lot of bakers swear by sifting the drying ingredients, but I never do. Maybe just a quick whisk to evenly disperse them. As for a mixing time, it doesn’t take long. Just a minute or so until it’s all combined.
Hi there, I heard coffee can boost the flavor in chocolate cake/cupcake batters. Would it affect it too much by replacing the hot water with hot coffee? Thank you!
No, this would not affect the cake by replacing the hot water with hot coffee, and it’s something a lot of people do. I don’t drink coffee, so I never take this approach, but you are welcome to!
VERY moist and FLUFFY! Can’t wait to decorate them for my son’s 4th birthday. I must say i put a little less sugar as frosting will add the sweetness. Taste was good i put 4 stars as it wasn’t awesome.
Thank you so much for this recipe!! I added instant coffee to the hot water, cinnamon, a mix of coconut oil and butter instead of oil, and Truvia instead of sugar and i absolutely loved this cake. It was soooo moist. Mine didn’t rise as much though, so filling them half full gave me 3/4 filled cupcakes, maybe due to my subs. But DELICIOUS nonetheless!
I have tried many (many!) chocolate cake recipes but; as soon as I took my first bite of this cupcake, I immediately wrote on the top of the page, (because I prefer to print them in case I keep them …) “This is a keeper!!” I tripled the recipe due to several events I was serving or volunteering cupcakes for. Some I froze and some I frosted right away. I have never … ever … received so many compliments on cupcakes in my life! Yes, this is a keeper recipe for sure!
Thank you for such a wonderful review! I’m so glad you love it! I always aim to provide recipes that are keepers!
These were so simple and are insanely soft and moist. I always dread baking, but this was a dream to make. Thank you for sharing!
What type of frosting did you use? Was it homemade?
Yes, it was homemade chocolate buttercream frosting. It’s the same frosting I use with my yellow cake recipe.
Is it possible to make this dairyfree? What can I replace buttermilk with?
Hmm, I don’t do dairy free baking much, but I think these might work with coconut milk. I haven’t tried it, but that’s where I would start.
Or you might try almond milk or rice dream, but I believe you’ll still need either the vinegar or lemon juice as described in other comments to ensure you have the necessary acidity to get these to rise as expected.
Great point!
will this make 15 cupcakes
I always get 14 cupcakes from this recipe, but you could fill each liner just a tiny bit less and stretch it to 15 probably.
Well luv, ….. we now need your frosting recipe❣️
Purty Please!💞
Of course! Here it is! I added a link in the recipe card for this Chocolate Buttercream Frosting as well, since it’s such a popular choice!
Can you please share a recipe for chocolate frosting for the cupcakes 🙂 thanks
Absolutely! It’s this chocolate buttercream frosting. I’ve also linked to it in the post since it’s such a popular choice! I got asked for it so often I made a post entirely dedicated to it!
Hey just wondering if this is still as moist baking as a cake rather then cupcakes I know the bake time will be longer haha, I made these for my nephews christening now looking at doing cake form for my baby shower 🥰
Thank you!
Absolutely! This recipe can definitely be used to make a cake!
Just made these using Ghiradelli cocoa and hot strong columbian coffee in place of the water. Also, for the oil I used coconut not vegetable. FABULOUS!! Didn’t even need frosting, for realz! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Can I sub another oil for vegetable oil?
I have used canola oil as well, but I haven’t tried others with this recipe.
These came out perfect. 1/2 full is just right. They are amazingly moist cupcakes and I did use hot coffee which is a throwback trick in a recipe called Black magic cake that I used to make. Love this recipe.
I made these for my friend’s birthday this past weekend & they were a huge hit. Everyone loved them.
These were soooooo good. Thanks for the recipe. My fam loves them.
My oven only goes until 230 degrees recipe says 350?????
That’s 350 degrees F. In celcius I believe that’s around 176?
Oh my! This recipe is a keeper! I was really disappointed to find that I didn’t have enough cupcake liners went I checked my cupboard – but the batter was mixed and I was determined! (Along with my 4 year old son!)
So we greased the pan and hoped for the best. These cupcakes are so soft, so velvety, so properly chocolatey.. AND they held their shape when I carefully removed them from the pan. I’m printing this one! Thank you!
Hi this recipe sounds great. I don’t eat eggs so what other ingredient and measurement would you suggest as a substitute?
I wish I had more familiarity with egg substitutes but I have never tried this with something other than eggs. Sorry! I’ve heard that using the liquid from a drained can of chickpeas works well as an egg substitute in other recipes. Maybe here too?
Made these today! Oh my, were they ever moist and delicious! I used avocado oil, and hot coffee instead of water. I cannot believe how good these were. Box cake mixes are not coming into this house again!
Thank you for the recipe I will try this soon
These cupcakes were truly moist and had a wonderful chocolatey taste. This will be my go-to recipe for sure. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
Can i use this recipe for steaming, if yes.. how many minutes should i steam it?
Sorry, but I have never heard of steaming cupcakes before!
Thank you very much for sharing this recipe.
It was indeed the end of all chocolate cupcake recipes when I found and tried this recipe.(hahaha)
Thank you for explaining on what we have to consider in baking cupcakes..
It was so informative and simply love it the way you explain.
Again…thank you…
Made these this evening with gluten free all purpose flour, avocado oil, coconut sugar, and almond milk.Everything else I followed exactly. The batter wasn’t as thin as yours seemed, but it worked just the same. First time attempting gluten free baked goods since my eating habits changed to clean eating, free of cane sugar, dairy and gluten. Holy moly, these cupcakes are delicious. Would not know they were gluten free at all! Thank you for this recipe, I will forever make them. Just thought you would like to know that the recipe works great with the subs I made.
I’m so glad these turned out so well for you and that you shared your experiences with the substitutions! Thank you!
Could you use regular milk instead of buttermilk
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make a really easy substitute by adding 2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice to a 1/2 cup measuring cup, then filling it the rest of the way with milk. Leave it for 5 minutes, then you’ve got buttermilk to use in the recipe!
Hi Amy,
I would love to try this recipe,what is the size of the cup you use ?
I am living in Ireland and I am not sure we use the exactly same measurements.
Hi Szilvia! I have had a lot of requests for measurements in grams lately for this recipe and will work on getting that for you!
WOW WOW WOW these really are the BEST chocolate cupcakes EVER. Super rich and moist. I’ve made them 2days in a row, big hit with friends and family. Thank you for sharing!
I made these for my grandson. Absolutely delicious, especially when topped with peanut butter icing. The only change I did was to use coffee in place of the hot water.
OMG these are the bombbbbb you are so talented and thank you for sharing this recipe with us!
This is the BEST recipe ever! I’ve done these for bridal shower and the bride asked for wedding cupcakes because she loved them. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Greetings from Czech republic 🙂
Can i use cake flour instead of all purpose flour?
Yes.
Hi, could you provide the measurements in grams please? As I don’t have cup measurements
I will work on that! I have been trying to add more gram measurements to many of my baking recipes for readers in other countries, but haven’t gotten to all of them yet.
These were great! I halfed the receipe to just make a small batch. I also added 1 tbsp decaf instant coffee to the hot water. They are delicious. Can’t wait to add the strawberry buttercream to them.
I like using cake flour.
Can I use cake flour and if so how much would be needed to replace the regular flour?
Sure! You can do a straight substitution with equal amounts of cake flour for all-purpose flour for this recipe.
Thanks it really turned out v moist.Only challenge I had was that they didn’t rise ..I filled them half and they stayed half when I took them out of oven..baked them for 15 mins as were done at 350 degree.
Just made these and they turned out perfect! Very soft and moist, thanks! 🙂
so easy and sooo good!!
I used this recipe for weed cupcakes and they turned out amazing!! you could barely taste the weed. I subbed the the oil for canna coconut oil and the water with hot coffee
Tried these out… So so good! I used coffee instead of water, mostly because I had some left in my pot.
I’ve tried so many chocolate cupcake recipes and was never happy with the outcome. Dry or crumbly and not the chocolate flavor I wanted. So I kept going back to box mixes just for the consistency. These are going to be my new go to! Thank you!
Hi Amy. Can I use half a cup sugar and half a cup brown sugar instead of a full cup of sugar?
This recipe sounds delicious! Thank you
Hi Amy, Can I use half a cup of sugar and half a cup brown sugar instead of 1 full cup of sugar? Thanks this recipe sounds delicious!
Brown sugar has extra moisture in it so they might not round quite as much, but it would still work okay!
these are actually the best ever chocolate cupcakes. i made these for a family gathering and everyone absolutely ADORED them!! the secret ingredient is the water; it makes the cupcake light and fluffy, but not so much were you don’t get the flavor. 10 out of 10, would make again and recommend to a friend!!!
Hi! I’m so excited to try making these! I don’t have a stand mixer, do you think it would work ok with a hand mixer? Thanks!
Absolutely!
While I liked the recipe in end, I think it should be clearly noted in the recipe that these absolutely will NOT work as written at high altitude!
I followed the recipe exactly and every one of the 24 cupcakes fell – not just fell a little bit, but completely collapsed in the middle. Using very hot water and adding an egg and a little flour helped, but I don’t like modifying recipes on the fly. So for those of us at high altitude (I’m in Denver at 5200 ft), do NOT use this recipe without modifications! It will not come out well.
For the author, I know there was a link to some high altitude modifications in the text, which I do appreciate! But I think a warning that this absolutely has to be modified to work at high altitude would be useful as well, so that no one else is as disappointed as I was by an otherwise good recipe! I’ve tried other cupcake recipes that didn’t need modifications, but this one does, so I think it deserves a mention.
These was truly the best chocolate cupcake recipe I’ve made. I swapped the veg oil for coconut oil and they were delicious.
Been looking for an ideal chic cake recipe. These were delicious and moist. Good chocolate taste and cakey not fudgey.
Well Worth it.
Can you add chocolate bits to it once the batter cools down?
Thanks for sharing this. Please what is the best preservatives to use for this chocolate cup cake to last for a month without freezer.
I don’t have experience adding preservatives to make baked goods like this last for that long without freezing. Sorry!
How do you recommend storing these?
I keep them in an airtight container on the counter for maybe 4 days. But they also freeze really well!
Hello,
Can I substitute the all purpose flour for the cake flour? So in this recipe said 1 cup all purpose flour. So how many cup of cake flour do I use? Please advise. Thanks you
I haven’t tried this particular recipe with cake flour, but in general, yes, you can do a straight 1-to-1 substitution of cake flour for all-purpose flour in a cupcake recipe.
They were delicious! I’m making them again.
Sorry if I missed this info but when do you add the hot water?
It’s the last thing you add, in Step 5.
All of my cakes fell in the middle. The frosting is too thick and DON’T use a whisk attachment, what a nightmare, everything stuck to the whisk!
I didn’t have an issue with my cupcakes. Those turned out beautifully. But I do have to agree with NOT to use a hand held mixer for the frosting! That was rough! I ended up using my stand up mixer and that worked out good.
I made this into 6 layer cake AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. The cake was so moist and decadent. I used dark cocoa powder cause I’m more into the dark chocolate taste. However, I’m afraid I may have done something wrong because the cake rose too high in the middle and cracked. Any idea why it might have happened? Thanks
Oh dear! I’m so glad you loved this recipe, but that is a bummer that is rose in the middle and cracked! I have two recommendations if you are having this problem. The first is to make sure to use room temperature ingredients so they aren’t cold from the fridge. But the other is to consider using “cake strips”. I’ve seen YouTube videos on how to make homemade versions, but you can buy them online or at craft stores in their cake decorating sections. They wrap around your cake pans and help insulate the cakes so they bake more evenly to correct this very problem! Cook’s Illustrated did a really helpful write up on how they remedy cakes that are rising high in the middle. They help correct a number of factors outside the recipe that contribute to this problem. I hope this helps!
Could I add a teaspoon of orange essence instead of vanilla. Thanks.
Yes, I would think so!
If I want only 7 cupcakes. What’s the measurement? If I wanted to do for my friend who is vegan. What is the substitute for egg?
This is by far the best chocolate cupcake recipe ever! The others are going away. No need to save them. Thank you!
Hi thanks for the recipe. Theses cupcakes really are the best so soft, fluffy and chocolatey! I baked them in a fan oven at 350° and only half filled the paper liners but they did not dome but rather rose and had a peak in the centre. Any ideas why please?
My guess is that it was the fan oven? I haven’t used one, but that sounds like a heat issue.
I just baked these for my daughter’s 5th bday and they came out sooo good! I tried another buttermilk chocolate recipe (no hot water) which were good but too crumbly. I love the idea of coffee but these are for little ones so I was happy to see a version with plain hot water. Looking forward to frosting them tomorrow. Thank you again!
Dear Amy, these cupcakes were so good. All the credit goes to your recipe which is so precise and magic. Love it. God bless and happy holidays.
Thank you so much! This comment made my day!
Wonderful recipe! Soft cupcake is all good! I will test here at home and thank you very much!
I made these with homemade German chocolate frosting. Yum
These cupcakes were a hit! I will be making these again!
Thank you for this recipe.
Could I add chocolate chips to the cupcake recipe and cream cheese swirl?
That sounds delicious! I’m not sure how that would turn out since they definitely add weight to a thin batter. I would at least toss the chocolate chips in a little flour to help them not sink so much while the cupcakes bake.
I’m so happy I found this recipe, these cupcakes are delicious. My 5 year old daughter and I wanted to eat them all before icing them, they are so good! I added coffee instead of hot water but otherwise followed the recipe and they turned out beautifully. I made peppermint white chocolate buttercream to make them Christmas cupcakes, next time I’ll try your chocolate frosting.
I baked these in two inch tart pans for a fluted bottom and couldn’t have been happier with the domed tops! They really baked to perfection with so little fuss and effort. Definitely saving this recipe!
Do you think I can add Oreos to this recipe?
Yes.
Can I add Oreos to the cake?
Sure! I don’t see why not!
Hi! How long will these last in the fridge or out on the counter? Which is the best place to store these? Thank you – I love this recipe!
They will last on the counter for 4-5 days if they are kept in an airtight container. I’m so glad you love these cupcakes as much as we do!
I wanted to make these but decided not to because I’m unsure of how you measured the flour. Dip and sweep or 1 cup sifted or sifted 1 cup? I prefer a recipe that uses weight when given a preference. Thank you, Russ
I do a scoop and sweep method.
hi can send me a vanila cupcake recipe please please
I have a great one right here!
Very good and easy to make. I didn’t get the domed top because I guess I didn’t put enough batter in the cupcake liners and made extra cupcakes.
I added 2 T brewed coffee to the wet ingredients—made a big difference. You can’t taste the coffee, but the chocolate flavor was definitely enriched. Delish.
If I want to make these ahead of time for my daughter’s party on Sunday, what’s the rec for freezing and unfreezing so they keep their moistness?
Cupcakes freeze great! I would freeze them unfrosted on a baking sheet for 2 hours, then throw them into a ziploc freezer-safe bag. You could even frost them while they are frozen and they will thaw within an hour sitting out on the counter.
I will never use another chocolate cupcake recipe again because this is the recipe to end all recipes. So incredibly moist and rich! I paired the cupcake with a simple raspberry filling, topped with a chocolate Italian buttercream, and then drizzled with semi-sweet chocolate ganache -creating what I think is the best cupcake I’ve ever made. I followed the recipe exactly, with the exception of substituting fresh-brewed Nespresso for the hot water.
Okay, that sounds amazing. I have to make chocolate Italian buttercream and raspberry filling for these ASAP!
How many cupcakes does this make?
14
Thes are light airy not too sweet and absolutely delicious. Easy to make although I didn’t make the icing….yet and ate a few. Switch the hot water with coffee and yum!
Hi! What would you suggest for mini cupcakes, as far as bake time?
I would recommend checking them starting around the 10 minute mark, but they shouldn’t take longer than 15 minutes.
Do you use natural cocoa powder, or Dutch processed?
You can use either, although I typically just use natural cocoa powder.
These were amazing! My family loved them. Thank you for sharing it.
I made these for Easter with thee chocolate buttercream frosting. They turned out well but I would suggest using a good quality chocolate. The cupcakes are very chocolatey.
These are the most moist cupcakes ever!! Thank you for sharing this recipe ❤️ And you were so right not to overfill the liners. Half full will do it perfectly, thank you!!!
Hi there, I have already tried this amazing cupcakes recipes for a few birthday surprises and they were absolutely fabulous. Can this recipe be used in cake tins, for like 6 inch or 7 inch and can it be doubled?
Yes, absolutely! You will just need to adjust your baking time and you might end up with a little extra batter, which you can always use to make a couple of cupcakes.
Can I use lime juice instead of lemon juice withe the milk?
Sure!
Hi Amy, I would like to know what to do if I want to bake these into two 8” cake tins and if I can bake these into cake tins.
Yes, you can use 8″ cake pans! I think the cooking time might be close to around 30 minutes, but I can’t remember exactly from the last time I made them that way. Looks like I need to make chocolate cake again and pay attention so I can include that in my notes here!
Can they be baked into a 10 inch cake tin as well. Thank You very much for getting back to me Amy, I’m going to use your recipe to make cake pops for Eid. Every time I use your cake recipes everyone loves them.
Hi there,so glad I found this recipe,,I need to make some cupcakes for a birthday party and came across your recipe,so just did a tes5 run and omg this is a keeper so nice and moist ,,just wondering can I double the recipe ,,iam also going to try your vanilla ones I see you can double or triple that one
Thanks for sharing
Yes, you can double these easily!
Sugar is not mentioned in your steps
Thank you for sharing this recipe. They truly are the best chocolate cup cakes I have ever made. They are so moist, not overly sweet and the chocolate flavour is just right. I am making a second batch tonight after making my first batch yesterday which disappeared by the end of the day. This will be my go to chocolate cup cake recipe from now on.
the recipe must be very good, I’ll try to make it at home
Hello,
Can I use cake flour instead of all purpose flour? Thanks!
Yes, you can!
These were so yummy! I made peanut butter frosting to go with mine. The only thing was my cupcakes were a little crumbly. What could I do different.
That’s strange that they would be a little crumbly. I mean, crumbs are normal, but if they were crumbly, I’m wondering if that’s because they were slightly overbaked?
Hi,
I am planning on making these on Friday for a Sunday morning birthday party. Do you think they’ll still be fresh? How should I store them? Thank you!
I tried it and its great! I used brewed coffee instead of water to highten the flavour. I just noticed that it’s a bit crumbly. What can I do to make it less or what might have caused it to be a bit crumbly? It’s not dry; it’s moist, but it crumbles a bit. Is it cuz if needed more mixing for gluten?
That’s a great question. Yes, mixing more increases the gluten, which could help the cupcakes be less crumbly.
My friend made these for me for my birthday what a hit & so moist and such a wonderful treat to not have at least 5 in a row lol
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! And happy belated birthday (I know it was a few weeks ago but I’ve been really behind on comments!).
Thank you soooo much!!!! I made choco cupcakes this morning and my 2 year old loooovvvvve it!!!! Thanks for this recipe. I did not have buttermilk at hand but your suggested substitute of lemon and milk still made my cupcake moist and fluffy!!! I will check your other recipe and make ’em!! Thank you!!!!
First time to use this recipe and they turned out better than expected. Moist and fluffy.
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe!