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Birthday Cake Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

These Birthday Cake Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting are the perfect moist and delicious yellow cupcakes with creamy chocolate buttercream and sprinkles!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Birthday, Celebration
Keyword Birthday Cake Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 38 minutes
Servings 32 cupcakes
Calories 334kcal
Author Chrissie (thebusybaker.ca)

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

For the frosting:

  • 2 cups unsalted butter slightly softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder sifted (add one extra tablespoon if you like it very chocolatey)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3-4 tablespoons heavy cream or half and half cream

Instructions

For the cupcakes:

  • Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
  • In the bowl of your stand mixer (or in a large bowl using a hand mixer) whip the butter on medium high speed until very smooth. Add the sugar and mix on high speed until fluffy and creamy. The sugar will start to dissolve into the butter a little bit during this creaming process, so you should be able to feel the grains of sugar getting smaller.
  • Add the eggs and egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl regularly at this stage to make sure everything is mixed well.
  • Mix in the oil and vanilla on low speed.
  • Measure the milk into a liquid measuring cup and add the apple cider vinegar to the milk. Let stand while you measure the dry ingredients.
  • Measure the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a separate bowl and whisk together until combined. 
  • Add the flour and the milk mixture alternatively, mixing well after each addition. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture first, then 1/2 the milk mixture, another 1/3 of the flour mixture, the rest of the milk mixture and then the remainder of the flour. Be sure to mix well after each addition and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl regularly.
  • Mix on medium high speed for about 1-2 more minutes after all the ingredients have been added. This will create a creamy-looking batter.
  • Divide the batter between the prepared cupcake cups (this recipe makes about 30-36 cupcakes, depending on the size, so you'll have to bake in batches) and bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for about 18-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into one of the cupcakes comes out clean. 
  • Cool the cupcakes in their tins for 5 minutes, and then remove them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.

For the frosting:

  • While the cupcakes are cooling completely to room temperature after baking, prepare the frosting.
  • Whip the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
  • Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powder together and add to the butter about 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl well after each addition, and add the salt in with one of the cups of powdered sugar.
  • After the powdered sugar has been added, you'll be left with a very thick frosting. Add the cream one tablespoon at a time until the frosting has reached a spreadable consistency or the appropriate consistency for piping.
  • Pipe the frosting onto the completely cooled cupcakes using a piping bag and a star tip (or whatever tip you like!), top with sprinkles, and serve!

Notes

These cupcakes can be made one day in advance and are best stored in the fridge until 10-15 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 86mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 632IU | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg