Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes are moist, rich chocolate cupcakes, topped with the best Easy Vanilla Buttercream. Easy to decorate for any occasion! I include instructions for how to may royal icing transfers.

I made these cupcakes for a double baby shower at Bob’s work. One woman was having a girl, and one was having a boy, so I decided to make Dark Chocolate Cupcakes from my favorite America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook with Easy Vanilla Buttercream Frosting. Then I made Royal Icing Transfer Decorations to give them blue or pink accents.

These cupcakes were really, really good. They are definitely more dense than a box chocolate cake mix; my mom compared them to a chocolate muffin texture, but the flavor is amazing. I would eat them plain! Adding the Vanilla Buttercream made them even better. Bob said these went over very well with his coworkers. I was happy to see how cute the Royal Icing decorations turned out – I have since used this technique again and love the results!

I love these cupcake liners by Reynold’s. They have aluminum foil on the inside so the grease doesn’t soak through the liner, and the design stays perfect. It also makes it easy to scrape the crumbs off the empty liner, if you like to do that!

Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

I haven’t tried this myself with this recipe, but I have good luck using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1 to 1 Baking Flour in place of all purpose flour in cake recipes. I have used this flour in my favorite Chocolate Layer Cake with great success!

Royal Icing Decorations

Note: this isn’t exactly a tutorial on how to make these decorations but rather the steps involved if you are familiar with royal icing.  

1. Prepare a batch of Royal Icing.  

2. Add very small amounts of warm water to reach a medium consistency.  

3. Pipe desired shapes onto waxed paper and immediately add a sugar pearl to the center of the shape, if desired.  

4. Allow to try overnight, uncovered.  

5. Gently peel off the decorations off the waxed paper and store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

Meghan

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes are moist, rich chocolate cupcakes, topped with the best Easy Vanilla Buttercream. Easy to decorate for any occasion!

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Cool Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (cut into 4 pieces)
• 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate (chopped)
• 1/2 cup Dutch processed cocoa (1 1/2 ounces)
• 3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour (3 3/4 ounces)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup sugar (5 1/4 ounces)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream (4 ounces)

Instructions

 

• Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 350°F. Line a standard-sized muffin pan (cups have 1/2-cup capacity) with baking-cup liners.
• Combine butter, chocolate, and cocoa in medium heatproof bowl. Set bowl over saucepan containing barely simmering water; heat mixture until butter and chocolate are melted and whisk until smooth and combined. Set aside to cool until just warm to the touch.
• Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder in small bowl to combine.
• Whisk eggs in second medium bowl to combine; add sugar, vanilla, and salt and whisk until fully incorporated. Add cooled chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Sift about one-third of flour mixture over chocolate mixture and whisk until combined; whisk in sour cream until combined, then sift remaining flour mixture over and whisk until batter is homogenous and thick.
• Divide batter evenly among muffin pan cups. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of cupcakes comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Cool cupcakes in muffin pan on wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Carefully lift each cupcake from muffin pan and set on wire rack. Cool to room temperature before icing, about 30 minutes.
• Store leftover cupcakes (frosted or unfrosted) in the refrigerator, but let them come to room temperature before serving.

Notes

This recipe does not double well; it is best to make two separate batches and bake each separately.

Source: America’s Test Kitchen Complete TV Show Cookbook

You’re Gonna Bake It After All

bakeitafterall.com

Keyword chocolate, cupcake, dessert