This Chocolate Cupcake recipe is my go-to for birthday parties and bake sales, since they are perfectly moist and oh-so chocolatey. Top them with our chocolate frosting, and you have the ultimate chocolate lover’s cupcake!
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Helpful Reader Review
“I made these last weekend for my husband and my wedding anniversary, and oh my goodness, DELICIOUS!!! The cake was so simple and quick to put together, baked beautifully and the icing was delicious and so lovely and thick! Can’t wait to bake it again!!!” – Jazz ★★★★★
Chocolate Cupcake Video Tutorial
This recipe is SO EASY! Simply mix the dry ingredients, then mix the wet ingredients, and whisk them together. They bake up with a beautiful domed top and taste way better than a store-bought box mix.
Best Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
Ever since my daughter was little, we’ve celebrated her birthday with these decadent chocolate cupcakes, so they’ve become a staple on her day. Fast forward to now, and she has begun to make the cupcakes and Chocolate Buttercream herself (and I’m not allowed to help). She loves them so much that we even made Mini Chocolate Cupcakes out of them.
This chocolate cupcake recipe is moist and fluffy at the same time with a tender crumb. Adding coffee is the secret ingredient here, making these intensely chocolatey and giving the cupcakes a deeper color (and yes, you can sub with decaf coffee). You can’t really taste the coffee, and you probably wouldn’t know it’s there if you didn’t read the recipe, but it really makes the chocolate flavor shine.
Ingredients for Homemade Chocolate Cupcakes
After coffee, you’ll notice this recipe for chocolate cupcakes requires all the usual suspects for the perfect chocolately texture and taste.
- All-purpose Flour – Be sure to measure correctly for the best crumb.
- Cocoa powder – Use naturally unsweetened cocoa powder for the best chocolate flavor and light, fluffy texture.
- Sugar, baking soda, and salt – remaining dry ingredients, giving sweetness and rise
- Brewed coffee – warm regular or decaf coffee works perfectly. The acidity of the coffee deepens the chocolate flavor. Swap with room-temperature buttermilk if necessary.
- White distilled vinegar – reacts with the baking soda for a better rise.
- Vegetable oil, egg, and vanilla extract – remaining wet ingredients for moisture, strength, and flavor. P.S. If you are egg-free, try our Eggless Chocolate Cupcakes.
Pro Tip:
I’ve tested chocolate cupcakes with coffee and with buttermilk, and the coffee makes for a better tasting, darker colored, more moist cupcake, but buttermilk works in a pinch. See the difference below.
Pro Tip:
To make a cake instead of cupcakes, double the recipe and cook in two 9″ cake pans. See our Chocolate Cake Recipe for guidance on baking the cake
How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes
This recipe for chocolate cupcakes couldn’t get any easier, but the result tastes like it’s straight from the bakery.
- Quick prep – Preheat the oven with a rack in the center, and line a 12-count cupcake pan with liners (I love parchment paper liners – excellent for being non-stick).
- Mix dry ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt, breaking up any big clumps.
- Mix wet ingredients – In a second bowl, whisk together the warm coffee, vinegar, oil, egg, and vanilla.
- Combine cupcake batter – Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. The batter will be a little loose with small lumps. Overmixing can make the cupcake too dense.
- Fill and bake – Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 full and bake at 350˚F for 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (do not overbake or your cupcakes will be dry). Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer the cupcakes to a rack to cool before frosting.
Pro Tip: Do not overfill the cupcake tin
Use a trigger-release ice cream scoop for even portioning and fill each cup 2/3. If you overfill, it will flow over, get stuck to the tin, and won’t form that perfect dome top. It’s better to have a little batter left over than to overflow the pan.
The Best Frosting for Chocolate Cupcakes
This moist chocolate cupcake recipe only gets better when topped with my 6-minute Chocolate Buttercream Frosting. If you want something different, try any of these popular frosting recipes:
- Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
- Vanilla Cupcake Frosting
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Swiss Merignue Buttercream Recipe
- Chocolate Ganache
- White Chocolate Frosting
- Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Homemade Whipped Cream
Helpful Reader Review
“Made these, and used coffee in the chocolate buttercream recipe instead of cream for a mocha frosting. They were delicious, my sister loved them.” – K Booth ★★★★★
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
This chocolate cupcake recipe is perfect for party prep because you can make them ahead of time and they refrigerate really well, maintaining their soft and moist texture.
- Make-Ahead: Make the cupcakes a day ahead, cool, cover, and store on the counter overnight, and then frost before serving, or freeze (see below).
- Store Frosted Leftovers: Pack into an airtight container and store on the counter for a day, then move to the refrigerator for 4-5 days. If you don’t have a cupcake carrier, you can flip a storage container upside down to store cupcakes on the lid, snapping the bottom on top.
- Freezing: Cooled unfrosted cupcakes or Cupcakes frosted with buttercream can be covered and frozen up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or quick-thaw on the counter for 2 hours.
My Chocolate Cupcake recipe is sure to become a go-to favorite for you! I cranked out 8 batches of cupcakes when I was developing the recipe, and I am confident these are the ultimate chocolate cupcakes. Let us know your favorite way to decorate in the comments!
Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, measured correctly
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup warm coffee, or substitute with room temperature buttermilk*
- 1 Tbsp white distilled vinegar
- 1/3 cup light olive oil, or vegetable oil
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Quick prep – Preheat oven to 350˚F with the rack in the center of the oven. Fill a 12-count muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Mix dry ingredients – In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Break up any larger cocoa clumps with your whisk.
- Mix wet ingredients – In a second mixing bowl, add the wet ingredients: coffee, vinegar, oil, egg, and vanilla, and whisk until well blended.
- Combine batter – Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and whisk just until the ingredients come together and no dry streaks remain. The batter will be a little loose and lumpy.
- Fill and bake – Use an ice cream scoop to portion batter, filling each cup 2/3 full (do not over-fill). Bake 18-22 min (20 minutes was perfect), until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don't overbake. Cool 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a rack to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Cupcake Recipes to Try Next
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- Vanilla Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Dark Chocolate Cupcakes
- Greek Yogurt Cupcakes
- Cherry Stuffed Honey Cupcakes
Hello dear ,
Love you recipes and more than that I like you alot …you are very energetic and beautiful..
May I suggest something try your hand on indian punjabi cuisine as well ,I am sure you are gonna rock that too.
Thank you so much for that wonderful compliment and suggestion!
Before making the Chocolate Cupcakes I’m wondering if being in a higher elevation changes the oven temp and/or time cooking. We’re at 3400′ elevation. Love all of your recipes! Thank you!
Hi Becky, I haven’t tried making this at a high altitude yet, but you can use this High Altitude Baking guide if you need it. I’m baking at 2700 altitude.
Can I substitute the distilled white vinegar for pure white vinegar?
Hi Anya, I imagine that would work but we always use distilled vinegar. Another one of our readers substituted it with line juice. Here’s what they said “”I just made these today and woww🤤🤤🤤🤤they were the best chocolate cup cakes ever definitely gonna try again and also i used lime juice instead of white distilled vinegar and still it was soo good. Thank you soo much natasha for thus recipe ❤””
What would be the best adjustment for high altitude?
Hi Cynthia, I haven’t tried making this at a high altitude yet, but you can use this High Altitude Baking guide if you need it.
I just made these today and woww🤤🤤🤤🤤they were the best chocolate cup cakes ever definitely gonna try again and also i used lime juice instead of white distilled vinegar and still it was soo good. Thank you soo much natasha for thus recipe ❤
That’s just aweosme! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe, Sendini! Thank you for sharing this great review!
Hi Natasha! I can’t wait to try these. I was thinking about adding some carrot or zucchini just to sneak some vegetables into my kids. Do you have any recommendations for how to add this to your recipe and how much.
Hi Jenn, I have not tried making this a chocolate zucchini or chocolate carrot cake, but I love that idea!
Hi
Having trouble with incorporating sugar?
Hi Shifa, I recommend watching the video but also making sure you’re using the same sugar we are.
Hi Natasha! I really really dislike coffee so I’m worried that these will taste like coffee. Can I sub the coffee with something else? Thanks in advance. I *love* your recipes!
Sorry, just saw a note of yours that said that we can sub the coffee with buttermilk, but there isn’t buttermilk for sale at the supermarkets here in Portugal, so I would have to make some at home (with milk and vinegar). Would that work?
Hi Marta, I havne’t tried that with vinegar, but it milk and lemon make buttermilk!
Hi Marta, the coffee is the secret ingredient here and makes these intensely chocolatey and gives the cupcakes a deeper color. You can’t really taste the coffee in these and you probably wouldn’t know it’s there if you didn’t read the recipe, but it really makes the chocolate flavor shine. But also, please see the section in the recipe titled: “Can I Substitute the Coffee?”
Would the batter be enough for two 7-inch cake pans?
Hi Donna, I haven’t tested that. I would double for 2 9-inch cake pans. They might be a little short, but I think you could make that work.
I am curious if there is a reason that sugar is considered a dry ingredient in the recipe? Have you had different results combining it with the wet instead?
Hi Natasha! I use your vanilla birthday cake recipe often but I did request a good chocolate cake recipe and you posted one. Ever since I seen your chocolate cake recipe, it’s the only one I use. Last week I made your chocolate cake recipe with a peanut butter filling I found online and your chocolate buttercream frosting. It was absolutely delicious! Your recipes never disappoint. Thank you for always sharing. I want to share a photo but I don’t see the option.
That sounds amazing! I want to know more about the peanut butter filling. Peanut butter and chocolate are a delicious combination.
Can I use dutch processed cocoa?. I just looove your recipes and your jolly personality. Thank you ♥️ from the Philippines
Hi Neth, please see the “Common Questions” section where we mention the type of cocoa we recommend. We do not recommend Dutch process cocoa here because it is usually used with baking powder natural cocoa is used in combination with baking soda.
Hi there I love all your cakes
Do you have to put vinegar in the chocolate cup cakes. X
Hi Julie, the vinegar is important to activate the baking soda.
Hi! Love your blog…but mostly I love your joy. Two questions:
1) Do you use fine salt or bigger grain salt? I ask because it will change the proportion depending on the grain size; and
2) Do the nutritional facts include the frosting or just the cake?
Hi Monika, I use fine sea salt. The nutritional facts are only for the cupcakes since the frosting is a separate recipe. I usually have the nutrition label reflect the ingredients listed in the recipe card and this one is just the cupcake.
Will it be bitter without milk?
Hi Annah, it won’t be bitter. I have tested this with buttermilk and the taste wasn’t sweeter, but it was less chocolaty and lighter in color with buttermilk.
These cupcakes are so moist! So delicious! Love the coffee flavor! Perfect with a nice cup of cold milk.
The perfect treat! I’m s glad you enjoyed these cupcakes, Betsy!
This recipe looks amazing! I most definitely cannot and will not wait to make it! Also, I have a few suggestion recipes which are: chocolate Reese’s stuffed cupcakes, turtle brownies, caramel stuffed chocolates, and rocky road ice cream. Thanks so much for the recipes! Keep it up! 🙂
Great ideas! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I have two chocolate lovers here and these are perfect for dessert tonight! Definitely going to be a big hit here!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
Omg cant wait to try it all your recipes are a family favorite
I hope you love this recipe! We look forward to your feedback!
Hi Natasha!!!! I love your recipes. Literally they all taste amazing. but I just have this little question. Can we substitute vinegar with something else or does it really have to be white distilled vinegar.
Hi Sendini, I haven’t tested anything besides vinegar but vinegar does help to activate the baking soda and the reaction helps to darken the color of the cupcake as well.
Thank you natashas I will definetely try these out😊
Btw can I use coconut water vinegar instead white distilled vinegar😅
Hi, I honestly haven’t tested that so I can’t speak to it.
These WERE the best cupcakes! I say “were” because they’re already gone… we ate them all. Haha! So good!
Thank you so much for that amazing review. That makes my day. I hope you tried them with the chocolate buttercream. So good!