A brilliant recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes is absolutely essential for any baker, and this is that recipe! These cupcakes rise perfectly, are soft and moist, and are topped with a smooth chocolate buttercream. And they're totally yummy too! If you liked my Vanilla Cupcakes recipe, you will love this chocolate version. It's perfect for bake sales, parties and family gatherings, plus it's very customisable. You can decorate the cupcakes in any way to suit your event.

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Ingredient Tips & Equipment Information

Make sure all your ingredients (particularly the butter and eggs) are at room temperature before you start baking.
I used a baking spread for the cupcakes and unsalted butter for the buttercream.
You can use any cocoa powder for the cupcakes and buttercream, of course the better quality it is, the better flavour they will have. Do make sure you are using cocoa powder and not a hot chocolate powder.
For more information on how to bake perfect cupcakes, check out my Vanilla Cupcakes recipe!
Although I provide cup measurements, I highly recommend weighing your ingredients out using digital kitchen scales. It is the most accurate way to measure ingredients and will ensure the best results. Digital scales are very low cost and can be purchased for around £12 ($16.50) .
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with. Again this will ensure accuracy and provide the best results.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to make Chocolate Cupcakes

Start by mixing the baking spread and caster sugar together in a mixing bowl for 5 minutes using an electric mixer. Or mix in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Then add the eggs and milk, and mix until fully incorporated.

Gently fold in, or whisk by hand, the self raising flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Then divide the mixture between the cupcake cases.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Place on a cooling rack and leave to cool fully. To make the buttercream, mix the softened butter for a few minutes on it's own. This is best done in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or you can use an electric hand mixer. Then add the icing sugar, milk and cocoa powder. Mix until fully combined and you have a smooth buttercream. Spread or pipe it onto the cooled cupcakes.

For the full recipe with measurements, head to the recipe card at the end of this post.

How long do the Chocolate Cupcakes last and can they be frozen?

The cupcakes will last for 2-3 days in an airtight container in a cool place. You can freeze both the cupcakes and the buttercream. To freeze them separately, wrap the cupcakes well in cling film or put them in an airtight container. The buttercream can be frozen in a sealed tub. To freeze them decorated, freeze the cupcakes on a plate until frozen solid, then carefully wrap in cling film. Remove the clingfilm when you take the cupcakes out of the freezer to defrost, as if they defrost with it still on it could damage the buttercream.

Do you have to beat the butter and sugar together for the full 5 minutes?

You don't have to, but I do recommend doing this to achieve the same results as me. I like a very slight bump or dome on my cupcakes, and for them to rise all the way to the top of the cupcake cases. I've tested this recipe multiple times and found that beating the butter and sugar together for 5 minutes achieves what I consider to be the perfect rise!

Is butter or a baking spread better for cupcakes?

I prefer to use a baking spread (my preferred brand is Stork) for cupcake and cake sponges. I find that they are easier to use and they make the sponge rise more. You can also use most baking spread straight from the fridge, which is handy during a last minute baking emergency!

Should you use salted or unsalted butter for cupcakes?

I always use unsalted butter and baking spread for baking. This is because if you want to add salt to your recipe, you then have complete control of the salt level. Lots of people add salt to enhance the flavour of baked goods, so when you do this you want to know exactly how much you're adding. I personally prefer not to add salt to cakes and cupcakes. However, using a salted butter or baking spread will not affect the bake negatively and won't make it taste salty.

How do you make the cupcakes all the same size?

The simplest way is to use an ice cream or cookie scoop. You want to use the ones where you squeeze the handle and it releases the batter from the scoop. Or if you want to be extra precise, you can weigh the batter, then divide it by 12 to get the amount for each cupcake. Place the bowl onto your scales and zero them off. Scoop out one cupcakes worth of batter and place into the paper case, zero your scales off again and repeat the process until all of the batter is used up.

What size are these cupcakes?

This recipe is for standard cupcakes, also known as American cupcakes. They are around 2" tall (not including the buttercream), and 3" wide at the top.

What are the best cupcake cases to use?

Good quality cupcake cases that are made from high strength and greaseproof paper will improve the overall appearance of your cupcakes. They will also help to prevent the cases from peeling. My favourite brand is Culpitt, which you can get via Amazon and also several online cake decorating retailers.

Can this recipe be made into a cake?

Yes, for a two layer 8" cake I recommend doubling the recipe. You should also use cake tins that are at least 2" deep. Check out my Chocolate Birthday Cake recipe for more details.

Can this recipe be made in a smaller batch?

Yes, you can either make 4, 8 or 12 chocolate cupcakes with this recipe. Divide the ingredient amounts by three to get the amounts for 4 cupcakes. For 8 cupcakes, multiple the 4 cupcake amount by two.

Do you need an electric mixer to make this recipe?

While you can absolutely make this recipe with a wooden spoon and some elbow grease, I do recommend using an electric mixer for the best results. The cupcakes will be lighter and fluffier when made with an electric mixer. The buttercream will also be smoother. You don't have to use an expensive stand mixer either, you can get electric hand whisks for as little as £10!

Can these cupcakes be made with plain or all purpose flour?

Self raising flour, which is very commonly used in the UK where I am based, already contains a raising agent and a little salt too. Therefore if you want to swap it for plain or all purpose flour, you will need to add some additional baking powder and also a little salt if you like. Some people like to add salt to cake recipes and some don't, so I'll leave that up to you as it won't affect the bake. The general advice is to add 2 teaspoons baking powder (a measuring teaspoon, not the kind you stir your coffee with) per every 200g plain or all purpose flour. So for this recipe you'd need to add 1 + ½ teaspoons additional baking powder. Please note, I have not tested this recipe using plain or all purpose flour.

Can these cupcakes be made gluten free?

Yes! For gluten free you can replace the self raising flour with a gluten free self raising flour blend. If you only have a gluten free plain flour blend, you will need to add additional baking powder. The general advice is to add 2 tsp baking powder per 200g flour, so for this recipe you'd need to add 1 + ½ teaspoons additional baking powder. You may also like to add ¼ tsp xanthan gum for better texture. Please do check the labels for everything you use to make the cupcakes if you are serving it to someone with an allergy or intolerance.

Can these cupcakes be made dairy free?

For a dairy free version, use a dairy free baking spread and dairy free milk for the cupcakes and the buttercream. For the buttercream I recommend using a block butter alternative, such as Flora Plant or the Stork Baking Block, for best results. Please do check the labels for everything you use to make the cupcakes if you are serving it to someone with an allergy or intolerance.

What can you decorate the Chocolate Cupcakes with?

The list really is endless, but here are some ideas:

Sprinkles
Fresh fruit
Dried fruit
Freeze dried fruit
Edible flowers
Drizzle with caramel sauce
Drizzle with Nutella, Biscoff etc.
Chocolate chips
Edible glitter
Fondant shapes or figures
Sweets or chocolates
Spun sugar

More tips for making the Chocolate Cupcakes:

I used a Wilton 2D piping nozzle for these cupcakes.
You can spread the buttercream onto the cupcakes with a spoon if you don’t want to pipe it.

Troubleshooting

If you have any questions about this recipe, or if something went wrong and you need help, please use the comment form below and I will get back to you. You can also get in touch with me on my Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I'd love to hear from you!

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