Description
Delicious chocolate cupcakes topped with creamy vanilla buttercream frosting. Moist, easy to bake, and perfect for celebrations or everyday treats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup buttermilk (or milk + vinegar/lemon juice)
- 1/2 cup hot water or hot coffee
- For frosting: 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Salt to taste
- Sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, mix vegetable oil, sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and buttermilk until smooth.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Then, mix in hot water or coffee.
- Fill cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter and bake for 20-22 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick.
- Cool cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- For frosting, beat softened butter until creamy. Gradually add confectioners sugar, then heavy cream and vanilla. Whip until light and fluffy. Add salt to taste.
- Frost completely cooled cupcakes using a knife or piping bag, and decorate with sprinkles if desired.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense cupcakes.
- Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Use high-quality cocoa powder and vanilla extract for best flavor.
- Fill cupcake liners only two-thirds full to prevent overflow.
- For moist cupcakes, bloom cocoa powder with hot water or coffee.
- Store in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days; refrigerate if warm.
- Freeze unfrosted cupcakes wrapped tightly for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-22 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake with frosting
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: chocolate cupcakes, vanilla buttercream frosting, easy cupcake recipe, moist chocolate cupcakes, homemade cupcakes