This chocolate cupcake recipe makes the best cupcakes ever – fluffy and topped with chocolate buttercream frosting! Make this easy cupcake recipe from scratch using ONE bowl!
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Guys, something really exciting happened this month and I’m sharing this chocolate cupcake recipe from scratch to celebrate!
This not-so-little-anymore blog of mine hit the ONE MILLION mark! That’s right, every month The Busy Baker gets over a million page views from readers like you, and I can hardly believe there are so many of you reading my posts and making my recipes!
So cheers to you, my dear readers, for visiting my blog and giving me the opportunity to develop more and more delicious recipes for you!
I can’t wait to see what the future holds for The Busy Baker! But in the meantime, let’s enjoy some cupcakes!!
These truly are the perfect chocolate cupcakes. This is my FAVOURITE chocolate cupcake recipe to make because you make it in ONE bowl, and in under 20 minutes.
Plus, the frosting is almost as easy to make. It’s a simple buttercream base with some cocoa powder and melted semi-sweet chocolate for extra structure. If you love chocolate, they’re the best cupcakes you’ll ever try.
Because this one-bowl recipe is so easy it’s perfect for beginning bakers too!
And of course, adding sprinkles is the perfect way to make birthday cupcakes party-worthy. I made these recently for a friend’s birthday and they were a BIG hit!
Looking for other easy cupcake recipes?
Try these Vanilla Bean Cupcakes or these Birthday Cake Cupcakes!
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I hope you love these chocolate cupcakes from scratch as much as we do!
Let me know in the comments below, what’s your favourite dessert to make for celebrations? I’d love to know!
KITCHEN TOOLS I RECOMMEND:
Looking for more delicious desserts? You’ll LOVE these!
- Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Mascarpone Buttercream
- Double Chocolate Cupcakes
- Black Forest Icebox Cake
- Chocolate Mocha Tiramisu Icebox Cake
- Strawberry Cheesecake Fruit Dip
- Easy No Bake Oreo Cheesecake
Best Ever Chocolate Cupcake Recipe from Scratch
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk at room temperature
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
For the frosting:
- 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
- 6 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate melted and cooled
- 2 tablespoons milk (or 3 tablespoons if needed)
- sprinkles for decorating (if desired)
Instructions
For the cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line cupcake tins with 28 to 30 paper liners.
- Add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to a large mixing bowl and whisk together to combine.
- Measure the milk and the vegetable oil into a glass liquid measuring cup. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk everything together with a fork.
- Add the milk and egg mixture into the dry ingredients and mix together just until no streaks of flour remain.
- Add the 1 cup of boiling water into the batter slowly, whisking everything together as you add the boiling water.
- Once the batter comes together and the boiling water is combined throughout, portion the batter into the 28-30 prepared cupcake liners until each are about 2/3 full.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 16-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean.
For the frosting:
- While the cupcakes cool, mix the butter on high speed in a stand mixer or in a mixing bowl with a hand mixer until the butter is fluffy and creamy (about 3-4 minutes).
- Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time and mix on medium high speed after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
- Add the cocoa powder in with the last addition of powdered sugar and mix until combined.
- Add the cooled melted chocolate and mix well until combined.
- Add the milk one tablespoon at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the frosting reaches piping consistency.
Assembly:
- Add the frosting to a piping bag fitted with an open star tip.
- Pipe the frosting onto each of the completely cooled cupcakes in a circular motion and top each cupcake with sprinkles.
Mary Ann says
Will this recipe make 2 round cakes? If so, how long should I bake?
Chrissie says
If you’re looking for a chocolate layer cake recipe, feel free to check mine out here: https://thebusybaker.ca/chocolate-layer-cake/
Jen says
These cupcakes were absolutely delicious! Moist, perfectly sweet and decadent. Made them for my daughter’s birthday and it was a hit! Paired it with vanilla buttercream instead of the chocolate icing. Will make again!
The Busy Baker Team says
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
Emily says
I used to think I made good cupcakes. Clearly, I was wrong. These are amazing!
The Busy Baker says
😁Thank you so much Emily! Really glad to hear you like this recipe!
Devin Timon says
Legit! best ever! my cupcakes are always dry and blah, these are delicious and fluffy and fudgy!
The Busy Baker says
Thank you!! Glad you enjoy the recipe so much!!
Abbey says
Hi, I was looking to make these for a party, but I am using gluten free flour. Will that make a difference in how moist the cupcakes will be? I don’t want them to be super sticky because I’m storing overnight than frosting tomorrow.
The Busy Baker says
I often frost them the next day after I make them. Unfortunately, I’ve never tried making them with gluten free flour so I couldn’t tell you anything about how moist they will be.
Nonhlanhla says
Delicious and very moist! It’s for keeps!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks for the feedback!!
Lara Alsop says
These are amazing Cupcakes. Easy to make. Made them for my 5 year old son’s birthday! He is super picky and success he loved them 😍.
The Busy Baker says
So glad to hear that!🙂
Rachel says
Made these today with bailey icing…love them!! Always good to have a fluffy, flavorful not dry cupcake recipe on hand and it uses most things you probably have already! Mine did “explode” at first in that they rose a lot more than I remember cupcakes rising, so the second round of pans I filled them like 1/4 full and turned out much better!
Thank you! Will use this again 🙂
The Busy Baker says
Thank you for your feedback Rachel! Glad they turned out fluffy and delicious!
Verusha says
At first I thought this mixture was way too runny but followed through with recipe and so happy I did! It’s now one of my favourite recipes to make chocolate cupcakes! The cupcakes raise and come out so moist. It did make way too much so going to freeze them for playdates. Thank you.
The Busy Baker says
So glad that they turned out great!! Thank you Verusha!
Marissa says
Great cupcakes!!! So easy and very moist ! it’s my first time making icing so maybe it was just my fault but it looked like my milk was rising to the top, if I let it sit for a little all the milk would be at the top ? Any suggestions? Definitely going to use the cupcake recipe again tho !!!
The Busy Baker says
It sounds like you over mixed your frosting and it separated. Try to not whip it so much next time.
Stephanie Knight says
I’ve never left a review on something- ever. These cupcakes are NEXT LEVEL! I can stop going to a bakery and can just make these. When I was adding the boiling water (which I didn’t put the whole cup in) I was thinking “this is so soupy…what is going on with this crazy recipe?” Turns out- mind blown! I have four girls with cook book binders and we added this recipe. Hopefully, they will blow people away with this cupcake recipe for years to come!
The Busy Baker says
I’m so happy to hear that Stephanie!! Thanks so much for your feedback!
Eva says
So soo good!!!!😋😋😋👍
The Busy Baker says
I’m glad you liked them ❤️
Karen says
Omg! I wouldn’t call myself a beginner baker, but maybe I should!!! These did not turn out well 🤣🤣🤣 There is a huge dip in the middle. Had to send hubby to the store on the way home and buy some for my daughter’s bd! Dang it! I need to practice these tho bc the taste was phenomenal!
The Busy Baker says
Sounds like you might have under baked them. They usually get the dip in the middle when they are not baked through. I suggest that you use an oven thermometer to check if your oven gets to the temperature you want and also check the muffins with a toothpick to make sure they are baked in the middle. Happy baking ☺️
Christie says
I had the same problem with mine tonight. Not a huge dip but they didn’t rise into a nice rounded top. I also did overfill them.
The Busy Baker says
Overfilling them might lead to under baking which causes the dip. I suggest that you only fill the muffin tins 2/3, use an oven thermometer to check if your oven gets to the temperature you want and also check the muffins with a toothpick to make sure they are baked in the middle. Hope this helps ☺️
Rowan Petres says
Hi I made these cupcakes and I don’t like chocolate but these are amazing. I loved them and I am definitely making them again.
The Busy Baker says
Thanks so much! Glad they were such a hit!😊
Ana Clara says
Perfect! Excellent recipe, it was good. Thanks for the recipe.
The Busy Baker says
Glad you like the recipe Ana!!🙂
Kaitlyn says
Would these workout with plant milk instead of dairy?
The Busy Baker says
It sure would! I suggest you choose a neutral milk to not alter the flavour profile of the cupcakes. Happy baking☺️
Vanessa Cristina says
Very good this recipe, thanks for sharing
The Busy Baker says
You’re welcome Vanessa!!
Georgiana Rodrigues says
Hi! Could butter be used in lieu of the oil?
The Busy Baker says
For sure! You can use the same quantity of melted butter. Happy baking ☺️
Rebecca Morris says
I made yellow cake cupcakes..with this chocolate icing. They are delicious! I even used milk chocolate chips and still turned out perfect!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks so much Rebecca!! Glad they turned out amazing!
Christina says
I don’t usually comment on blog posts but since this is hands down the recipe that ALL my friends love the most, I had to drop in to give props. I was a little worried about the very thin batter at first but man oh man do these babies knock the socks off. The frosting is amazing as well. A friend of mine requests I make extra so she can eat it by the spoonful! Great job!!
The Busy Baker says
Thanks so much Christina for your feedback!!🙂 Really glad you like the recipe so much!
Sandra says
Love these full size but want to try minis. Would you know what the baking time would be?
The Busy Baker says
I have never tried it myself so I couldn’t tell you, but if you do try, please let us know! Happy baking ☺️
imsen says
One of the best chocolate cupcakes i’ve ever tested so far!!!
The Busy Baker says
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
warner says
Thank you…. very useful information.
The Busy Baker says
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback! I love sharing my joy of cooking with you all.
Lauren says
Hi there! Just a little confused, beginner baker here :)! Do I actually boil the water in a pot and then put it into the cupcake batter??
The Busy Baker says
Yes, you can boil water in a pot or a kettle and then add it in the batter while still hot.
Suzanne says
These were amazing 🤩
The Busy Baker Team says
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!
Becky says
Hi,
I was wondering if it matters whether I use Dutch Process Cocoa powder or regular unsweetened?
Thanks
The Busy Baker Team says
I prefer Duch Processed, however you can use regular unsweetened as well. Happy cooking ☺️
vanessa says
Awesome recipe. Easy and super moist! If I wanted a more chocolatey flavor what could I do? Add more cocoa or melt some dark chocolate and add?
Thanks 🙂
The Busy Baker Team says
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback! Yeah, both options would work.
Melinda says
These cupcakes are quite sweet. The consistency was fudgy and they baked flat which I like
The Busy Baker Team says
I’m so happy you enjoyed them! Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback!