Chocolate Cupcakes From Scratch

Soft, Moist, and Chocolaty!

Well, we’ve done it. I think we’ve come up with one of the most delicious and easiest chocolate cupcake recipes around!

You guys know how much I love chocolate desserts. Chocolate obsession aside, I’m also a total sucker for anything that makes things easy in the kitchen. I love it when we’re able to create recipes to share with all of you that are both quick and taste fantastic!

I recently perfected my recipe for vanilla cupcakes from scratch and I just knew the next one I wanted to tackle was a chocolate cupcake recipe from scratch.

Why This Recipe Works

• Texture. This batter uses oil instead of butter, so we’re already guaranteed a moist cupcake. The addition of buttermilk also adds moisture and flavor which means we end up with an incredibly tender cupcake.
• Flavor. The chocolate flavor comes from natural cocoa powder which makes these cupcakes nice and rich. You can enhance it even further by adding a tiny bit of espresso powder to the batter. It’s might sound a bit odd, but it works! Baking is pure magic.
• Versatile. You have so many choices when it comes to frosting your chocolate cupcakes from scratch. Keep it classic with vanilla or chocolate, or switch it up with other fun flavor variations depending on what you’re craving (more ideas below).

Find the full printable recipe with detailed measurements below.

• Cocoa powder: I recommend using natural, unsweetened cocoa powder. It will give the best rise and texture. Dutch-processed cocoa will result in a much denser cupcake.
• Hot water: I like to use water from a recently boiled kettle. The hot water awakens the cocoa powder and helps that delicious chocolate flavor shine through.
• Buttermilk: This milk is great for creating moist and tender cupcakes. You can buy it at the store or make your own buttermilk at home.
• Vanilla extract: It might seem strange to add vanilla to a chocolate cake, but trust me on this one, you need it! Vanilla enhances the flavor of the cocoa, and you would miss it if it wasn’t there.
• Espresso powder/coffee: For a more intense chocolate flavor, feel free to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of espresso powder.
• Frosting: Classic buttercream frosting and chocolate buttercream frosting are great options or and I can imagine it would also be amazing to swirl the two together.

How to Make Chocolate Cupcakes from Scratch

I love this easy chocolate cupcake recipe so much! It uses vegetable oil instead of butter, so there isn’t any creaming involved. We simply combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, and we’re done!

1. Add dry ingredients. Add the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and baking powder to a large bowl, sifting out any lumps. Then add the sugar. These simple instructions don’t even require the use of a standing mixer, but by all means, use it if you’d like.
2. Add wet ingredients. Add the boiling water, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla, and use a whisk to combine everything until smooth.
3. Bake. Fill the baking liners 2/3 full and bake on the center rack until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
4. Frost. Wait until the cupcakes have cooled completely before frosting. Use a star tip and piping bag for something a little polished. If you’re not about that, slather it on top with a spoon and it will still be the best chocolate cupcake recipe you’ve ever had!

Expert Tips

• Start with room temperature ingredients. It will be so much easier to mix your cupcake batter if the eggs and buttermilk are at room temperature.
• Use a cookie scoop. Divide your batter evenly among the cupcake liners by using a large cookie scoop. This helps with even baking but also that you don’t have some much bigger or smaller than the others.
• Test for doneness. You’ll know your cupcakes from scratch are ready when the tops bounce back after you press them lightly with your finger. You can also insert a toothpick into the center of a cupcake and if it comes away clean, they’re ready!

Why Did My Cupcakes Sink in the Middle?

When you pulled your chocolate cupcakes out of the oven, they looked great! Puffed up nice and tall. Then as they cooled, they started to collapse. What on earth happened?!

There are a few different reasons your homemade chocolate cupcakes may sink in the middle:

• It could be that your baking powder has expired, so if you’re in doubt, add a teaspoon to very hot water and see if it fizzes. If nothing happens, it’s time to buy some more.
• Another thing that causes your cupcakes to fall is if you overmix the batter. Incorporating too much air into it can make the batter rise in the oven but then deflate rapidly at room temperature. Kind of like a chocolate soufflé!
• Finally, overfilling your cupcake liners can also result in sunken middles. We usually fill our liners only 2/3 full so that the batter has some room to rise and expand without overflowing over the top. 

There is good news though! Chocolate cupcakes with sunken middles still taste delicious. So, if you decorate the tops with some buttercream frosting, no one will ever know!

Storage Instructions

• Leftover unfrosted cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container covered for up to 3 days. You want to use a container that is deep enough for the cupcakes to fit into without the tops touching the lids. The tops of the cupcakes naturally get a bit sticky as they sit, so you might accidentally tear off the top when removing the lid if the two are touching. You can also freeze them unfrosted and frost at a later date.
• Frosted chocolate cupcakes can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezing instructions: These chocolate cupcakes from scratch freeze beautifully so you can whip up a batch and store them for up to 3 months in your freezer. For the best results, freeze the cupcakes before frosting in an airtight container first, and then once they’re frozen, wrap them individually with plastic wrap for added protection. 
• To thaw your cupcakes, remove the plastic wrap bring the cupcakes to room temperature before decorating and serving.