Easy chocolate cupcakes from scratch! You’ll love the soft, buttery chocolate flavor in this easy chocolate cupcake recipe. Top with homemade sour cream frosting for a double chocolate delight.
Prep Time20 minutesmins
Cook Time16 minutesmins
Total Time36 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 32cupcakes
Calories: 171kcal
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
2largeeggs
2/3cupdark unsweetened cocoa powder(40 grams)
1cupsalted buttersoftened
3cupsall-purpose flour(420 grams)
1cupbuttermilk(8 ounces)
2teaspoonsvanilla extract
2teaspoonsbaking soda
2cupsgranulated sugar(430 grams)
1cupstrong coffee(8 ounces)
Sour Cream Frosting
2ouncesunsweetened chocolate
1/4cupsalted butter(56 grams)
1/2cupsour cream
1teaspoonvanilla extract
3cupspowdered sugar(360 grams)
Instructions
Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Measure all of the ingredients into a large bowl in the order that they are listed. Beat the mixture until smooth (about 30 seconds to no more than one minute), scraping the sides as needed.
Line a cupcake pan with cupcake wrappers. Fill the cupcake wrappers 3/4 full.
Bake for 16-17 minutes, or until the cupcake bounces back when you touch the top.
Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Sour Cream Frosting
Melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter in a double boiler. (Place 1 inch of water in the bottom pan and the butter/chocolate in the top pan. Heat the water on low and stir the butter/chocolate mixture until smooth.)
Set the chocolate aside for 5 minutes to allow it to cool slightly.
Once the chocolate has cooled slightly, use a whisk to stir the sour cream and vanilla into the chocolate.
Add the powdered sugar and use a hand mixer to mix the frosting until it is well combined and smooth.
Cut 1" of the tip off of a disposable decorating bag.
Fill the decorating bag with frosting.
Hold the decorating bag perpendicular to the cupcake, not quite touching the top.
Squeeze the bag firmly and gently make a circle to fill the top of the cupcake with frosting.
(You can also just spread the cupcake with a knife.)
Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
*You can replace the coffee with water but I HIGHLY recommend using coffee. It simply enhances the chocolate flavor. **If you use square baking chocolate, use two 1-ounce squares.