Chocolate Cupcakes!
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Chocolate sponge, chocolate buttercream, chocolate drizzle and sprinkles. AMAZING chocolate cupcakes!
Chocolate cupcakes
This really is the best chocolate cupcake recipe you will ever find. Ever. (Even if I do say so myself) The sponge is beautifully fluffy, the buttercream is light as air, and the drizzle on top just finishes everything off perfectly. They’re the kind of cupcakes that disappear from the tin faster than you can make them, which is always a good sign if you ask me!
Okay, maybe that’s a bold statement. everyone has their own favourite chocolate cupcake recipe, but honestly, this one never lets me down. Just like my Back to Basics – Chocolate Cake and my Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake it’s my go-to whenever I need a quick bake for a birthday, bake sale, or even just a quiet weekend treat. They’re simple to make, incredibly chocolatey, and guaranteed to make your kitchen smell divine. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just for yourself (no judgment here), these are always a winner.
Chocolate sponge
Let’s talk about that sponge, because it’s everything. These cupcakes are insanely light and fluffy while still being lovely and moist, which is exactly what you want from a chocolate bake. The key is using good-quality butter and cocoa powder, and not over-mixing. It’s that balance that gives you the perfect soft crumb and that melt-in-the-mouth texture that keeps you coming back for “just one more”.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter or a good quality baking spread
- Eggs – usually I go for medium eggs but for this recipe 3x large eggs are best
- Sugar – caster or light brown sugar provides the rich flavour you’re looking for in a chocolate sponge
- Flour – self-raising flour will ensure the individual cupcakes have the perfect fluffy rise
- Cocoa powder – a good quality cocoa powder is key for the perfect, deep, rich chocolate sponge
- Whole milk – optional if the mixture is too stiff and 1x tbsp is usually enough to loosen the mixture
A classic sponge that just works. The cocoa gives it that rich depth of flavour without being too dark or bitter, which makes these cupcakes perfect for everyone. You can easily double the recipe if you’re baking for a bigger occasion, or halve it if you just fancy a small batch. It’s that kind of versatile bake you’ll end up memorising after a few goes.
Buttercream
Now for the buttercream… this dreamy swirl of chocolate loveliness that sits proudly on top of each cupcake. It’s not made with melted chocolate, but with cocoa powder instead, and I actually prefer it that way. Cocoa powder gives the buttercream a lighter texture, which means it pipes beautifully and isn’t too rich. I use my French/4B piping tip to get the perfect swirls of buttercream before adding the drizzle.
I know some people like to use melted chocolate in their frosting, but honestly, this cocoa version is so easy and dependable. A few minutes with the mixer and you’ll have the silkiest, creamiest buttercream you could ask for. I always recommend beating the butter on its own for a few minutes first, it makes the biggest difference in texture. Once it’s ready, you can pipe tall swirls, spread it rustic-style, or even fill the centre of your cupcakes for an extra hit of chocolate.
Decoration
When I was younger, I’d always finish chocolate cupcakes with just a drizzle of melted chocolate, quick, simple, and totally delicious. These days, I still love a drizzle, but I’ve levelled it up a little! A touch of melted white chocolate adds such a lovely contrast against the dark sponge and frosting, and it makes them look so pretty. It’s the kind of decoration that looks fancy, but honestly, it takes seconds.
And of course… sprinkles. You know I love a sprinkle moment! I usually go for classic gold or chocolate ones, they glisten on top and just make everything feel a bit more special. They’re perfect for birthdays, bake sales, or even just brightening up a gloomy Monday. As always, you can make it your own, colourful, minimalist, metallic, whatever makes you smile when you open that cake tin!
Tips and tricks
- I use this amazing white chocolate to make my drizzle for these chocolate cupcakes.
- I added some chocolate sprinkles to my cupcakes but you can either add some of your choice or leave them off – you make the bake your own.
- I use this cupcake tray for this bake as you just line with cases and on you go.
- These will last for 3 days in an airtight container.
- You can also freeze these little beauties and they will keep for up to 3 months.
Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 175 g unsalted butter
- 175 g caster sugar/light brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 135 g self raising flour
- 40 g cocoa powder
- 1-3 tbsp whole milk
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 150 g unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 300 g icing sugar
- 30-50 g cocoa powder
Decoration
- 50 g white chocolate
- sprinkles
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Heat your oven to 180ºc/160ºc fan and line a muffin tray with 12 cases.
- Beat the unsalted butter with the caster sugar/light brown sugar until fluffy.
- Add the eggs, self-raising flour and cocoa powder to the unsalted butter/sugar mix until well combined.
- If the mixture is too stiff you can add 1 tbsp whole milk at a time to get a smooth light consistency.
- Split the mixture evenly into your baking cups, then bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until a skewer poked into one of the cakes comes out clean and they are springy to touch.
- Leave to cool fully on a cooling rack!
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Beat the unsalted butter with an electric mixer for a couple of minutes to loosen.
- Gradually beat in the icing sugar until well combined, then add the cocoa powder and beat for 5 minutes until a silky lovely buttercream texture is produced. If the mixture is a little stiff, add one tbsp boiling water at a time till you reach the consistency you want!
Decoration
- Pipe your buttercream frosting onto your cupcakes however you wish!
- Once iced, melt the white chocolate (in a heat proof bowl in the microwave in short bursts or over a pan of simmering water) and drizzle over the top.
- Add perhaps some sprinkles to finish off!
Notes
- I use this amazing white chocolate to make my drizzle for these chocolate cupcakes.
- I added some chocolate sprinkles to my cupcakes but you can either add some of your choice or leave them off - you make the bake your own!
- I use this cupcake tray for this bake as you just line with cases and on you go!
- These will last for 3 days in an airtight container.
- You can also freeze these little beauties and they will keep for up to 3 months! ENJOY!
Cupcakes made and they are deeeeeelsih😁
My new favourite chcolate cupcake recipe, so perfect! Thank you
Love this recipe and every other one i’ve tried (which is a lot😍) and I’m thinking of making mini cupcakes instead of large ones to take into work as there are a lot of people in the office. How would I adapt ingredients, cooking times and temperatures?
Thank you X
Hiya! It depends on how many mini ones you make! I would say a normal batch of 12 could make about 36+ mini cupcakes – so if you want only 12, maybe make a third of the recipe?! Baking times is probably about 10 minutes! x
Hi! I was wondering if j could add choc chips into the mixture? Please could you let me know! Thank you ♥️
You definitely can do! Probably up to about 150g worth!
Hello I was just wondering is it the mini baking cups you use or the regular ones for these?
Regular!
Hi Jane can’t wait to try this recipe, after I store them in airtight container do I put them in the fridge ?
No – room temp.
Thank you for such an amazing recipe. It’s just beautiful. Hubby was well impressed. I can see these being a permanent fixture in my banking future.
Ahh yay!!
What measurements of baking powder do I use if I’m not using self rising flour?
Hi…can’t wait to try these!!!! What suger do u use???is it caster suger and brown suger or just one of them??? Tia x
You can use either..!
Hey
I have a question. I’m making these cupcakes tomorrow. But I want 6 of the cupcakes to have chocolate flavoured buttercream and the other 6 to be vanilla flavoured buttercream. How do I split the ingredients so that I can have 2 different flavoured buttercream? Could you give me exact amounts to the ingredients please as I’m gifting these to a friend and I don’t want to go wrong 🙈
Thank you x
You just need to split the mixture into two, and then add half the amount of cocoa powder to one of the halves! x
Hey. Do you have to use milk in this recipe or is it just based on consistency? I don’t have whole milk. I just have semi skimmed. Does that make a difference? Thank you
Yes it is so you don’t have to use it – but I would always and only use whole milk in baking.
Hi Jane,
Cupcakes turned out to be delicious – but the frosting was very light in colour. I’m wondering whether it might be the cocoa powder that I use? What brand do you use and recommend? Thanks
Yes it would be – I use 100% cocoa powder so it’s really dark!
This cupcakes are delicious! Definitely on my daughters favourite cupcake recipe. Thank you jane your recipes are fantastic x
Thank you! X
Can you triple this recipe to make a 3 layered cake? x
Yes you can! x
Hi. I usually use whatever I have in the fridge to make cakes etc and they come out ok (normally Flora Buttery). Would these come out ok with Flora Buttery do you think? Thanks
Cupcake mixtures can use flora buttery, but I always recommend actual unsalted butter for a good buttercream. x