My Go-To Chocolate Cupcake Recipe

I’ve finally found it. A go-to chocolate cupcake recipe. This recipe yields consistent results every time I make it. I get exactly 12 domed chocolate cupcakes. And the batter is so easy to throw together. You don’t even have to get the mixer dirty.

I owe a huge thanks to Megan from Delicious Dishings. I had asked her about her favorite chocolate cupcake recipe and she recommended the one found in Joanne Chang’s Flour cookbook. Now, Megan worked at Flour, so I thought she might be a little biased. But then I made the cupcakes for my birthday. And ever since then, every time I need a chocolate cupcake, I just go to this recipe. And believe me, I’ve made quite a few chocolate cupcake recipes.

These cupcakes don’t have any random ingredients that you might not have on hand like sour cream or coffee, which means I can whip them up whenever a craving hits. Do note that the batter has to sit for an hour (or up to three days in the fridge) to allow all the dry ingredients to soak up the liquid ingredients. So be sure to give yourself plenty of time to make these cupcakes. Believe me, they’re well worth the wait.

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Chocolate Cupcakes

Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut up
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

In a heatproof bowl, combine chocolate and cocoa powder.

In a saucepan over medium heat, heat the granulated sugar, butter, and water, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Pour the butter mixture over the chocolate and whisk until the chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth.

Whisk the milk, egg, extra yolk, and vanilla into the chocolate mixture until combined.

In a bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until blended. Add the flour mixture to the chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth.

Let the batter sit at room temperature for 1 hour or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Divide the batter among the muffin cups. Bake for 30 minutes or until the tops spring back when pressed lightly with a fingertip. Set on a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

Recipe from Joanne Chang, as seen in the Flour cookbook

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22 Responses to “Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes”

  1. #
    1
    Eva @ Eva Bakes — May 6, 2013 at 7:56 am

    Jen – these look phenomenal! I am pretty sure I could eat the entire batch of your cupcakes in one sitting. Thank you so much for helping Krystal and Eric celebrate Cupcake’s arrival!

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:21 pm

      These were definitely dangerous. People were fighting over the last one at the party I took them too.

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    2
    Megan — May 6, 2013 at 11:13 am

    They look delicious! Love that little cupcake stand.

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:22 pm

      I got it at Home Goods. Isn’t it super cute?

  3. #
    3
    Erica @ In and Around Town — May 6, 2013 at 12:33 pm

    Nutella frosting?! Yes please!

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    Krystal R. — May 6, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Awww Jen, these are so gorgeous and a great way for you to get back in your baking habit!! Did you know that I had a big nutella phase during cupcake’s pregnancy…I need this frosting in my life!! Thank you for participating in my virtual baby shower. XXOO

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:23 pm

      You definitely need this frosting in your life. Even if you just make it to eat with a spoon. It’s SO good. Good luck with the upcoming arrival of your cupcake! (my sister is pregnant and refers to her little one as her nugget!)

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    Stephanie @ Macaroni and Cheesecake — May 6, 2013 at 1:40 pm

    These look wonderful and that nutella cloud frosting sounds phenomenal!!

  6. #
    6
    Jessica @ Sunny Side Up — May 6, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    I used the nutella cloud frosting on my birthday cake last year and I was blown away at how perfectly the name matched the texture! I love how perfectly smooth and fluffy it is. And yours looks absolutely perfect on top of that cupcake!

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:23 pm

      I know – isn’t it the perfect name for this frosting. It’s amazing.

  7. #
    7
    Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine) — May 6, 2013 at 2:09 pm

    I’d also fill these with Nutella, and use a chocolate stout cake… mmmm…

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:24 pm

      YUM! That’s a great idea.

  8. #
    8
    tracy {pale yellow} — May 6, 2013 at 3:43 pm

    Gorgeous cupcakes! It’s hard not to want a nutella cloud frosting! I just made cupcakes for the first time in awhile too, I forget how relaxing and fun cupcakes can be!

  9. #
    9
    Jessica of My Baking Heart — May 6, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    You had me at ‘Nutella’, Jen! Beautiful cuppies!

  10. #
    10
    Rachel @ Baked by Rachel — May 6, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    So cute and absolutely perfect!

  11. #
    11
    Amy @ The Nifty Foodie — May 6, 2013 at 10:04 pm

    Oh man…nutella frosting? These sound so good!

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm

      It tastes much better than it sounds. Trust me. I’m debating going to get the leftovers out of the fridge to snack on some…

  12. #
    12
    Nutmeg Nanny — May 8, 2013 at 11:01 am

    Oh goodness, these look dangerous 😉 loving the nutella frosting!

    • beantownbaker — May 8th, 2013 @ 8:25 pm

      They’re definitely dangerous. I was glad I took them to a friend’s house.

  13. #
    13
    Becky — May 8, 2013 at 10:35 pm

    Those cupcakes are perfect!!!

  14. #
    14
    Rachel — November 22, 2013 at 4:55 pm

    Do i have to have a paddle and stand mixer? I only have a regular hand mixer at the moment.

    • beantownbaker — November 24th, 2013 @ 6:02 pm

      A hand mixer probably would work just fine.

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