Today I’m sharing my favorite recipe for decadent classic chocolate cupcakes from scratch. Truly, this chocolate cupcake recipe is going to knock your socks off!
We’re talking ultra moist, fluffy, and perfectly chocolatey cupcakes! Mmmmm. Make these once, and your going to want to come back to this recipe again and again.
Don’t let the title of this post fool you, this amazing chocolate cupcake recipe can be used for chocolate cake layers too!
If you’ve explored our Recipes Section, you may be familiar with our favorite Classic Chocolate Cake recipe. This homemade chocolate cake has been one of our most popular cake recipes over the years, and is our go-to when we need a rich, delicious chocolate cake.
Today’s featured classic chocolate cupcake recipe is based on our popular chocolate cake recipe, but the mixing method is different.
Instead of using the reverse creaming method of mixing as we do when making layers of classic chocolate cake, we use the conventional method of mixing for our cupcakes. This small change makes for fluffier cupcakes!
Classic Chocolate Cupcakes from Scratch
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (400g) sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup (54g) vegetable oil
- 2 3/4 cups (322g) all purpose flour
- 1 cup (82g) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (don't skip the sifting)
- 2 teaspoons (10g) baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2g) salt
- 1 cup (220g) milk
- 1 teaspoon (4g) vanilla extract
- 1 cup (220g) hot coffee, it can be instant or brewed (coffee does need to be hot)
- cupcake liners
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (If making a cake rather than cupcakes, grease and flour three 8 inch cake pans). In a separate bowl, add the flour, sifted cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Whisk to blend and set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer, beat the softened butter on medium speed until light and creamy. Add the oil and vanilla. Gradually add the sugar and mix until light and fluffy, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing after each egg just until the yellow disappears. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed.
- Mixing on medium speed, alternately add the flour mixture and milk to the sugar mixture, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. (3 additions of dry ingredients and 2 additions of milk)
- Add the cup of hot coffee at this time. The batter will be very thin. Don't worry this is how it should be.
- Pour into 3 prepared 8 inch pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Check for doneness at 30 min. by putting a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with only a few drums attached, it is done.
- Makes 9 cups of batter
- FOR CUPCAKES: Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. The recipe will make 2 dozen plus cupcakes
The chocolate cupcakes above were frosted with our Classic Vanilla Buttercream recipe. Our Fluffy Vanilla Buttercream would work well too!
We used a good old 2D (large star) piping tip to create a rose swirl. (To make a rose swirl, simply start in the center of the cupcake, holding the bag vertically, and spiral out.)
**If you are looking for a great Doctored Cake Mix recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes, we love this one!: Chocolate Cake (Doctored Cake Mix) Recipe
Other popular fillings and frostings for chocolate cupcakes are: Peanut Butter Buttercream, Classic Chocolate Buttercream, Coconut Filling, and Mint Chocolate Chip Buttercream Frosting!
Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the cupcakes! Wish I had some right now! ;0) xo
Receipe please
Hi Anne, The recipe is under the picture of the cupcakes.
What brand of cocoa powder do you typically use for these?
Hi Jo, We most often use Ghirardelli.
Directions are for 3 prepared 8 inch pans. How long for cupcakes at 350? Thanks!
Hi Jean, The very last line refers to baking cupcakes, and the temperature to use if you want more of a dome on the cupcakes. Hope you like the recipe.
for the coffee, what is the measurement and ratio of the instant coffee to hot water? 😊
Hi Divine, 1 rounded teaspoon of instant coffee to a cup of hot water
when i made this it looks too good and taste was also nice but the base was not that much dark
Cakes To Indore
HI Hiddensid, The recipe makes a dark cake, did you put in all of the 1 cup (82g) of cocoa powder?
Can I substitute hot water for the coffee?
Hi Julie, yes, that would be fine.
Hi there,
How far in advance can I make these? And how many cupcakes does this recipe make? Thank you!
I’m not seeing the last line with cupcake temperatures and baking times that you referred to in the comment above. It ends by saying “Pour into 3 prepared 8 inch pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Check for doneness at 30 min. by putting a toothpick in the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with only a few drums attached, it is done.
Makes 9 cups of cake batter”
Am I totally missing it? Let me know. I’m trying to find a recipe that actually works in Colorado. (I can get chocolate cake to work, but not cupcakes! Vanilla I’ve got down on both cake and cupcakes, thanks to some altitude tweaking.)
Hi Stephanie, Yes, I see how that is missing, thank you for pointing that out. Cupcakes are also baked at 350 degrees. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Hope you can tweak this recipe for high altitude baking.
How full do you fill the cupcake liners? I see the temp and time but don’t want to over or under fill the cupcakes. Thank you!!
I live in a very humid country, the Caribbean to be exact and my buttercreams never look like that. Any advise about what I’m doing wrong? I’ve tried adding part shortening but it still looks flat and runny.
I tried these for the first time today, they are beautiful, the oil will keep them moist for a couple of days I am sure! Would the recipe work as a vanilla option if you left out the cocoa?
Hi Geraldine, I am happy that you like the recipe. I have not tried the recipe leaving out the cocoa. You would also need to leave out the 1 cup of hot coffee. I don’t like to recommend a recipe unless I have tired it.
I made this recipe today, as I’ve been looking for a “go to” chocolate cupcake. This may be it!! A few others that I have tried have been very, very dense (which is fine with me, but some perceive as dry). This cupcake has a great chocolate flavor. A soft, but sturdy texture. Not shiny and sticky on top (some did do this). Not dry. Rises very nicely. I would recommend not to go beyond 1/2-2/3 full. This recipe makes a lot of cupcakes! I cut all ingredients in 1/2, and still made 18 cupcakes. And, the only recipe change I made was that I used buttermilk instead of milk. Very good recipe!!
Thank you Paula M., I love your detailed review of the recipe. I’m so happy you like it!!
This turned out so good! So good information for making a cake. I’ll need to use your tips ;) this one looks amazing…
Thank you to sharing the prescription with us
Where do you get your cupcake pan and liners? What’s the amount per cupcake 1c?