Chocolate Cupcakes {Perfected}
These perfected homemade chocolate cupcakes are sturdy yet moist with wonderful chocolate flavor. This is the perfect chocolate cupcake.
Whenever I need a recipe for chocolate cupcakes, I usually use the one from this recipe. It is originally from the back of the Hershey’s cocoa can. And listen, I love it, but a few gripes I have with the recipe is that it makes an odd amount (30-32) when usually I want the standard 24, and the tops end up more on the flat side than on the domed, beautiful side of things.
Neither of those issues are deal breakers, obviously, especially since the cupcakes are a) delicious and b) usually covered in frosting, but nonetheless, I’ve been on the search for a fool-proof chocolate cupcake recipe that yields 24 cupcakes and acquires the lovely dome shape.
Thankfully, the recipe I found that accomplishes both of these feats also tastes magically delicious. Sturdy yet moist with wonderful chocolate flavor, these cupcakes are definitely my new go-to when I need a chocolate cupcake base.
I’m not saying I won’t use my other favorite now and again, but I like knowing I have a perfect, perfect, perfect chocolate cupcake recipe to use for any variety of occasions.
Incidentally, I was making chocolate cupcakes a few weeks ago for an occasion that required them to be egg-free and since I knew I couldn’t fall back on my newfound chocolate cupcake recipe, I modified Jackson’s Wacky Cake recipe into cupcakes and seriously, the result nearly gave these perfect cupcakes a run for their money.
Tender and chocolately and yes, beautifully rounded on top! I’ve added a variation to the recipe on the wacky cake post for cupcakes, in case you are interested in an egg-free option.
And finally, in case anyone wonders, to get the flowery swipe of frosting over the tops of the cupcakes, I nearly always use this Quick Vanilla Buttercream recipe or if I have time and am not serving them to oblivious and non-discretionary Kindergarteners, the Magical Frosting recipe.
I use the Wilton 1M tip for the decoration (along with a few other classic, large tips). If anyone is interested in a simple cupcake frosting how-to, respond in the comments. I have 2-3 classic designs I use for the tops of the cupcakes that give them the bakery appeal but are super easy to accomplish, and I could whip up a post to demonstrate if there is interest.
One Year Ago: Homemade Bagels {Step-by-Step}
Two Years Ago: Lemon Poppy Seed Sugar Cookies
Three Years Ago: Perfect Potato Salad
Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
- ½ cup (43 g) cocoa powder, Dutch-process or regular unsweetened
- ½ cup hot water
- 2 ¼ cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (227 g) butter, at room temperature
- 1 ⅔ cups (353 g) granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (170 g) sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 standard cupcake pans with paper liners. In a glass liquid measuring cup, combine the cocoa powder and hot water and whisk until smooth.
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and sugar (I often do this in the microwave so I can use the same bowl for mixing). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is smooth and the butter is completely melted.
- Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer (or to a stand-alone bowl, using a handheld electric mixer) and beat on medium-low speed until the mixture is cool, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla and then the cocoa mixture until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing each addition just until incorporated. So basically you'll add 1/3 of the flour, mix, then add 1/2 of the sour cream, mix, add another 1/3 of the flour, mix, add the rest of the sour cream, and finish with the last 1/3 of the dry ingredients.
- Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling no more than 2/3 full. If you live at a high altitude or have had overflowing cupcakes in the past, err on the side of filling the liner of one cupcake 1/2 full and baking it alone first to judge how the cupcake will rise in the oven.
- Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15-18 minutes. Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Recommended Products
Recipe Source: classic cupcake recipe adapted slightly from Annie’s Eats, egg-free cupcake recipe adapted from Jackson’s Wacky Cake
Please absolutely do a decorating post, including tip numbers. The ones above are beautiful!
Yes please, I would love to know your decorating tips!
Would LOVE and demo. I love your recipes. Everything I have made of yours turns out wonderfully and is so delicious. I love that everything is made from scratch. Thanks!
Would love a “How to” cupcake frosting tutorial. Thanks for the gift of this blog….I am a busy mom and a kindergarten teacher, I adore my 10 minutes of “mommy time” that I get right before I make dinner to check my two favorite cooking blogs. You have given me so many great ideas and recipes for my family…thank you for your dedication.
I would love a how-to! Look forward to when you have time!
Oh, my little man turns 4 this weekend and requested chocolate cupcakes. I’m making these!
I would love to see how you frost cupcakes. I bake a lot, but when I frost cupcakes they look like I just picked up a spatula for the first time yesterday. Thanks.
please “how to”!
These chocolate cupcakes do sound and look like the perfect kind! And I am horrible at frosting, and would greatly appreciate a “how-to”! Thanks!
Hi Mel….wow….here it finally is! A chocolate cupcake!!
I have to say…your schoolyard cupcakes are pretty good for a milder chocolate base for a cupcake as well.
I would definitely be interested in a frosting “how-to”. Pleaaaasseee???
these look great! yes, voting on the frosting how-to as well. you can blog while you are taking care of a brand new newborn, right? (ha, kidding, of course!)
Yum. Who doesn’t love a good chocolate cupcake?! I would love a frosting tutorial! By the way, good luck with that new baby, it’s always a crazy and wonderful time!! 🙂
I need the How-To also! What is probably simple and common sense to some people just doesn’t translate in my brain without some instruction! Thank you!!
Would love to see how to do the frosting. I can bake but it’s the finishing touches that need some work – I usually slap it on with a butter knife!
These look perfect, like everything else you make 🙂
Would love a how-to.
There is interest! Show us how it’s done Mel!
I have tried many chocolate muffin recipes but never has one caught my eye like yours! Definitely need to try and fast 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Ok, major note that a cupcake frosting tutorial would be appreciated. I’ll get on that! Hopefully I’ll get to it this weekend (assuming baby doesn’t arrive before then) but if not, know that I’ll work on it and post it as soon as all the madness (and gloriousness) of newborn baby dies down. Thanks for the response, everyone!
Yes, please do. I have some wilton tips but a few pointers would be great
Hi Mel! Thank you so much for my FAVORITE!! website!! I absolutely love your posts and your recipes!! I would love a how to on decorating, I cannot seem to get a cake or cupcake decoration right if my life depended on it and I have found that if I follow your directions for things that they come out beautiful so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE teach me! 🙂
The how-to sounds like a great idea!
would love a “how to”. i need all the help i can get!!!!!!
YES PLEASE on the frosting how-to. I usually use a mini offset spatula and just smear. I would love to know how to use the pastry bag and tips I have but haven’t had the patience to master.
I would love frosting tips!
Love to see your “how to”. What’s wrong with 32 cupcakes???
Demo, please!
Heck yeah on the how to!
You’re making me feel like I need to make chocolate cupcakes today. Not good!
I often use Pioneer Woman’s chocolate sheet cake recipe, which I think yields about 24 cupcakes. I think they’re pretty tasty (and easy).
I would love to see a how to on these cupcakes. They look so pretty!!
We love cupcakes and I’ll be trying these this weekend. Also, I would love the how-to
too!
I would LOVE a how-to on frosting the cupcakes!
Yes on the “how-to”!
Mel, these look awesome. I am a huge cupcake fan. I made a cupcake, pushed junior mints in the batter and baked them. I piped your magical frosting on and made cute little dog faces for my sons birthday….they turned out so cute. That magical frosting is amazing. We all went nuts over it. Mostly, I was commenting to wish you well with your new baby. Having 3 boys, I am a little jealous of the girl, but good luck. I love giving birth and holding that little piece of heaven for the first time. You get to have that soon! I can’t wait to see what you name her, after I saw the name suggestions on Facebook. Beat wishes!
I would LOVE a how-to on frosting cupcakes! I second Aubrey – I can never get it to look right so I just end up using a knife to slather it on. Which was rather disappointing for my third’s 1st birthday party last August. I made such fantastic cupcakes and then the frosting on top just looked, well, like it was done by my 4-year-old. I’d really like my hard work baking to look as fantastic as it tastes!
I would love, love a how-to on frosting cupcakes. I’ve tried several times to give mine “bakery appeal” but it’s always resulted in epic failure and I’ve resorted to just slathering the frosting on with a spatula to get the job done. Please help!
This is exactly the recipe I was looking for. I’d love the frosting how-to post!
I know how to do the frosting you show above, but it’s the only one I know! So I would love to see a couple of variations of a frosting “how to”. Love reading your blog!
I’m chiming in with everyone else and saying, please do the frosting how-to post! I am in the market for purchasing a set of icing tips and I have no idea what I need or don’t need. Would love to get your input!
I’ll also add these cupcakes to my to-bake list. They look delicious!
I would love the “how to” on the frosting. I really enjoy your blog!
This could not have come at a better time! My son’s birthday is next Friday and he has requested chocolate cupcakes. Perfect! I would love a how-to on the frosting too. And good luck with the new baby!
Would love the “how to” also. Thanks for the recipes. 🙂
I would love a frosting how-to! Thank you for the great blog. I love the recipe and love to just read your little stories-Thanks!!!!
I’d love to see some frosting tips! I’m pretty intimidated by frosting bags and tips. 🙂
Would definitely love the How To
I need to find that egg free version! My aunt has a severe allergy to eggs and would LOVE to indulge in a chocolate cupcake! 🙂 I would also love a frosting tip or too-definitely interested! 🙂 Hope you are feeling well!
I agree, I would love a frosting tip or two! But seriously? Aren’t you busy having a baby and/or feeling miserable? I love your “whip up a post” comment. It takes me YEARS to add a post to my blog. You go, girl!
Please do the “How To”!!!
Sounds like a great one!
I would LOVE to see a frosting “how-to”!!! Pretty please? These look delicious and I plan on making them for a business meeting for my husband ~ Thank you for a new wonderful chocolate recipe!!!