Cocoa Cupcake Recipes

KID-MADE COCOA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners., Combine the first 5 ingredients. In another bowl, mix eggs, milk, water and vanilla. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, beating on medium until smooth. Beat in butter; add melted chocolate and beat just until blended., Fill prepared muffin cups half full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. If desired, top with whipped topping. Decorate as desired.

HOT COCOA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper or foil liners., Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking cocoa, hot cocoa mix, baking powder and baking soda; beat into creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating after each addition., Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; cool completely., For frosting, beat butter until creamy. Beat in marshmallow cream and vanilla. Beat in confectioners' sugar alternately with milk. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes. Add toppings as desired.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• Whisk together the cake flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk together the buttermilk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl.
• Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape down the bowl then add the remaining wet ingredients and beat to combine. Scrape down the bowl and paddle. Increase the speed to medium and beat for a full minute.
• Fill the prepared cupcake tins 2/3 of the way full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of each comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed, 15 to 18 minutes.
• For the frosting: Melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over simmering water in a medium saucepan. Remove from the simmering water and let it cool until room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, drizzle in the melted chocolate and beat until completely blended. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Decoratively pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.

HOT COCOA "CUPCAKES"

Steps:

• Make the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Transfer to a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or use a hand mixer) and blend briefly.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add to the dry ingredients and mix at low speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add the hot water, mixing at low speed until just combined. The batter will be quite thin.
• Pour the batter into coffee cups and arrange them 1-inch apart on a sheet pan or a rectangular cake pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), and the center feels firm to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let the cakes cool on the pan. (Don't remove the cakes from the cups!)
• Meanwhile, make the Topping: In a chilled bowl, combine the cream and sugar and whip, using a hand-mixer, until soft peaks form.
• When ready to serve, spoon the topping over the cakes to cover, so they look like a cups of cocoa topped with whipped cream. Serve with a spoon.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, a pinch of salt and the butter in a free-standing electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk). Beat on a slow speed until you get a sandy consistency and everything is combined.
• Whisk the milk, egg and vanilla extract together in a jug, then slowly pour about half into the flour mixture. Beat to combine and turn the mixer up to high speed, scraping any mixture from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour in the remaining liquid and continue mixing for a couple more minutes until the mixture is smooth. Do not overmix.
• Spoon the mixture into the paper cases until approximately two-thirds full. Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the sponge bounces back when touched and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Leave the cupcakes to cool slightly in the tray before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, make chocolate buttercream or plain buttercream and spread it over the cakes with a palette knife, or use a piping bag. Scatter over chocolate vermicelli, if you like.

FILLED CUPCAKES WITH COCOA FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
• Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt for cupcakes together into a medium bowl. Combine mayonnaise, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add flour mixture and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly amongst the prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• While the cupcakes are baking, stir together flour and salt for the filling in a small saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and pudding-like, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Cream shortening and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in chilled pudding mixture and vanilla extract, beating until light and fluffy. Transfer filling to a pastry bag fitted with a small tip.
• Push the pastry tip into the top of a cupcake about 1 inch deep. Squeeze filling to fill cupcake, stopping before it starts to leak outside of the hole. Repeat to fill remaining cupcakes.
• Combine butter, milk, and cocoa powder for the frosting in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and transfer to a mixing bowl. Immediately add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract; beat well. Frost cupcakes with warm frosting.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 12-cup standard muffin tin with paper liners.
• Into a medium bowl, sift together cocoa, flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each, then beat in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in two batches, alternating with sour cream and beginning and ending with flour.
• Pour batter into cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Cool in pan 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then spread with Easy White Icing using a table knife or small offset spatula. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.
• Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees and line 4 6-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners. Sift together the flour, soda, salt, and cocoa powder and set aside. Use a standing mixer or hand-mixer to cream the butter. Add the sugar and vanilla and mix to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each one until smooth.
• On the lowest speed, alternately add the dry ingredients in three additions and the milk in two. Beat only until smooth and fully combined, you don't want to overwork the batter.
• Scoop the batter into the prepared pans filling each about two-thirds full (don't bother to smooth the tops--the batter will level itself as it cooks). Bake the cupcakes for about 25 minutes, or until the tops are puffed and spring back when lightly pressed. Be careful not to overbake the cakes, but know that if you take them out too early they may sink a bit. Cool the cakes in the muffin tins for about 5 minutes and then remove them to a rack and let cool completely.
• To make the ganache, put all the ingredients in a small, deep saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, whisking occasionally to combine, until the chocolate and butter are nearly melted. Take the pan off the heat and whisk continuously until all the chocolate is melted; the ganache should be shiny and without any lumps.
• When the ganache is about room temperature, use a butter knife to spread it evenly on top of the cakes; sprinkle with nonpareil if you like. The cakes can be made a day in advance and refrigerated (they actually get better) or frozen in an airtight container.