Best Chocolate Cupcake Recipe (from Cake Mix)

This is simply the BEST chocolate cupcake recipe that you can make from a cake mix. They are super soft, rich and topped with a lush buttercream frosting. You won’t believe how easy these are to make!

Easy Chocolate Cake Mix Cupcakes

Although I love a classic vanilla cupcake, nothing beats chocolate in my opinion. Between the super soft texture, bold rich flavor and bites of semi-sweet chocolate chips throughout, these mouth-watering cake mix cupcakes are a chocolate lover’s dream!

My husband has claimed (on more than one occasion) that these are the BEST chocolate cupcakes he’s ever had. My friend brought them over a couple months ago and we literally both gasped! They were so soft, moist and full of chocolate goodness, we couldn’t just stop at one. Since that day, we’ve made this recipe about 3 times and plan to make it many more!

And to tell you the truth, I’m usually not a chocolate cake fan. I mean, I LOVE chocolate, but for some reason I’m just not a huge cake lover. These chocolate cupcakes definitely changed my mind though. The secret ingredients are the pudding mix and sour cream!

Why This Recipe Works

• An easy shortcut. Chocolate cupcakes from scratch are great when you have the time, but this easy shortcut is a quicker alternative and just as delicious. No one will ever guess you made the best chocolate cupcakes from cake mix!
• Great for all occasions. Serve these at birthday parties, baby showers, family gatherings, holiday celebrations and so much more. These chocolate cupcakes are so versatile and can be decorated for any occasion.
• Perfect texture. A few secret ingredients are all that’s needed to make this the best chocolate cupcake recipe that’s super moist, tender and fluffy. They have the absolute perfect texture every time!

Ingredients Needed

These cupcakes are so easy and flavorful…you would never know that they are made with a box cake mix base! No fancy ingredients like buttermilk or unsweetened cocoa powder needed. The secret ingredients that makes them SO delicious are the dry pudding mix and sour cream…they both help to make them so moist and soft!

Find the full printable recipe at the bottom of this post.

• Cake mix: Grab a box of your favorite Devil’s food cake mix. A classic chocolate cake mix would also work, although Devil’s food has a bolder, more rich chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate pudding: You’ll need a box of instant chocolate pudding. No need to make the actual pudding…you’ll just use the dry mix. The pudding mix helps to make the texture irresistibly soft.
• Chocolate chips: Semi sweet are my favorite, but milk or dark chocolate chips also taste great.
• Eggs: You’ll need 4 large eggs.
• Oil: I use canola oil, but vegetable oil will also work if you only have that on hand. I like to use oil instead of butter, because it has a higher fat content which makes for a moister texture.
• Sour cream: This is one of the secret ingredients in this recipe. The acidity in the sour cream adds more moisture and makes them super delicious.

How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes with Cake Mix

1. Mix. Combine cake mix and pudding mix in large bowl. Then add in the chocolate chips (this prevents them from sinking) and stir until combined. Next whisk in the wet ingredients (eggs, canola oil and hot water) with the dry ingredients. Then stir in sour cream.
2. Fill. Pour the batter into a 12-cup muffin tin (this recipe will make enough to fill 2 tins) with cupcake liners about 3/4 of the way full.
3. Bake. Bake at 325°F for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cooling rack. Wait to frost until cooled completely.

Expert Tips for the Best Chocolate Cupcakes

• Avoid sinking. The culprit behind sinking cupcakes is overmixing the batter (which let’s in too much air). Make sure to stir the mixture just until combined. You can also try mixing the chocolate chips in with a little bit of flour so they don’t sink to the bottom.
• Let cool before frosting. Make sure to cool your cupcakes completely before frosting. Sometimes even though the tops have cooled, the insides are still a bit warm. It usually takes about an hour for them to cool completely. If you frost them while they are still warm, the frosting can melt and won’t hold it’s shape.
• Mini cupcakes. You can use a mini muffin pan if you prefer. I would check them after 10 minutes and do the toothpick test until they seem done.
• Make ahead. If making this recipe in advance, hold off on adding the frosting. Make according to directions, let cool then store overnight at room temperature in an airtight container. You can also make your frosting ahead of time and store in a zip top bag in the fridge. Then frost the next day when ready to enjoy.

Frosting for Chocolate Cupcakes

My favorite frosting to use is my classic buttercream. The creamy and sweet flavors pair wonderfully with the rich chocolate cupcake flavor. There are plenty of other frostings that taste delicious too. Even a simple chocolate ganache would taste incredible.

Below are a few ideas:

• Classic buttercream: This buttercream frosting is my absolute favorite! It tastes amazing and holds up so well. A simple vanilla frosting also works great.
• Chocolate buttercream: If you’re a chocolate lover, use this chocolate buttercream for double the flavor.
• Cream cheese frosting: The tang in the cream cheese frosting is the perfect compliment to the rich chocolate flavor. Sour cream frosting is another tangy option.
• Strawberry buttercream: Add a fruity component by using strawberry buttercream. It’s bursting with fresh strawberry flavor.
• Marshmallow frosting: For a super fluffy and delicious top, try this easy marshmallow frosting.
• Peanut butter frosting: Peanut butter and chocolate are a match made in heaven. Try this peanut butter frosting that I used when making chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.

Storing + Freezing

If you’ve frosted your cupcakes, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If unfrosted, they can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container. Both ways should keep for about 1 to 2 days. If freezing, I like to freeze the cupcakes separately from the frosting. You can place the frosting in a ziptop bag and freeze it too.

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