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Home » Cake & Cupcakes » Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Published: Feb 22, 2023 by Allison · 251 Comments

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This is the perfect recipe for a small batch of 6 soft and fluffy chocolate cupcakes. The cupcakes are quick and easy (made in one bowl) and topped with vanilla buttercream frosting.

We love small batch recipes! These cupcakes join our Small Batch Brownies and Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies. Prefer a vanilla cupcake? Try our Small Batch Vanilla Cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcake topped with white frosting and chocolate shavings.
Jump to:
  • These cupcakes are
  • Recipe overview
  • Special ingredient: hot coffee
  • More cupcake recipes
  • Recipe

These cupcakes are

Quick and easy: The batter comes together in one bowl, in minutes!

Soft and fluffy: These cupcakes have a beautiful dome and a fluffy texture.

Flavorful: The chocolate flavor is enhanced with a bit of coffee (more on this below) and rounded out with smooth vanilla frosting.

Perfect for small celebrations: Celebrating with just a few people? This recipe is a great option that won’t leave you with a bunch of leftovers.

Chocolate cupcake cut in half on a white plate.

Recipe overview

*Full recipe below in recipe card*

Make the cupcakes:

  • Combine dry ingredients.
  • Add egg, oil, milk, and vanilla.
  • Add hot coffee.
Step by step how to make small batch chocolate cupcakes (chocolate cake batter in a white bowl).

Divide the batter between six lined muffin cups.

Chocolate cake batter in a 6-count muffin pan.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the cupcakes have puffed up and a toothpick inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.

Six chocolate cupcakes in a muffin pan.

Make the vanilla buttercream frosting:

Combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.

Assemble:

Pipe or spread the frosting onto each cupcake. Topped with sprinkles or chocolate shavings.

Chocolate cupcake topped with white frosting and chocolate shavings.

Special ingredient: hot coffee

Maybe you’ve seen espresso powder or instant coffee added to cookies or brownies to enhance the flavor? We’re using the same technique here. Adding coffee (instead of water) helps intensify the chocolate flavor in these cupcakes. And using hot coffee helps to draw out even more rich flavor from the cocoa powder.

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Recipe

Chocolate cupcake topped with white frosting and chocolate shavings.

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

This is the perfect recipe for a small batch of 6 soft and fluffy chocolate cupcakes. The cupcakes are quick and easy (made in one bowl) and topped with vanilla buttercream frosting.
4.90 from 84 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 cupcakes
Calories: 557kcal
Author: Allison – Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup hot coffee, see note

Vanilla frosting:

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk, half and half, or cream, plus more, if needed

Instructions

Cupcakes:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 6 muffin cups or place 6 liners in a muffin pan. Set aside.
  • With a stand mixer or hand mixer, combine sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add egg, milk, oil, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl as necessary. Add hot coffee and beat until just combined. Batter will be thin.
  • Divide evenly between 6 prepared muffin cups. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the tops spring back when you touch them, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Frosting:

  • Beat butter and powdered sugar for several minutes, until smooth. Add vanilla extract and milk, and beat for several more minutes, until light and fluffy. If the frosting seems a little too thick, beat in a splash of milk. If it seems too thin, add another tablespoon of powdered sugar.
  • Frost the cooled cupcakes using a decorating tip or a butter knife. Garnish with sprinkles or chocolate shavings, if desired.

Video

Notes

The flavor of the coffee will not come through in the cupcakes. The coffee flavor will help intensify the chocolate flavor. If you’d rather not use coffee, you can substitute hot water.
Recipe updated February 2023: I increased the oil by one tablespoon (to make the cupcakes more moist) and I doubled the frosting portion of the recipe so that the cupcakes can be frosted more generously.

Nutrition

Calories: 557kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 76g | Vitamin A: 516IU | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
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Comments

  1. Patricia

    January 31, 2023 at 11:52 am

    5 stars
    So good! It is fluffy and moist! My kids loved it! It makes 9 cupcakes.

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 01, 2023 at 10:17 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂

      Reply
    • Allison

      February 01, 2023 at 10:18 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  2. Kassie

    February 18, 2023 at 1:56 pm

    5 stars
    At first I was a little skeptical as the batter was extremely thin and runny! But they came out springy and moist. I am now in need of a small batch strawberry cupcake recipe!

    Reply
    • Allison

      February 21, 2023 at 1:14 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed them!

      Reply
  3. Renee Miller

    March 19, 2023 at 7:03 pm

    5 stars
    These cupcakes were fantastic!! I added about 1/3 cup of mini chocolate chips and used butter, instead of the oil. Six super moist and fluffy cupcakes. I creamed peanut butter into the vanilla frosting to make sort of peanut butter cupcakes. We really enjoyed them! Thank you for this great recipe!

    Reply
    • Allison

      March 25, 2023 at 10:45 am

      You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂

      Reply
  4. 123letsgoooo

    April 08, 2023 at 4:48 am

    5 stars
    Wonderful!! I made these soo much and they came out perfectly.❤️❤️❤️❤️

    Reply
    • Allison

      April 10, 2023 at 9:27 am

      I’m so glad!

      Reply
  5. Jacky

    April 18, 2023 at 7:39 pm

    5 stars
    I have a passion for baking but i am still learning. And this recipe was so easy and a perfect small batch. Cupcakes came out perfect… Yummy!

    Reply
    • Allison

      April 19, 2023 at 10:41 am

      Yay! I’m so glad! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Kimberly

    April 25, 2023 at 5:49 pm

    5 stars
    I think these are the best cupcakes I’ve ever had! Moist and fluffy and the buttercream is delicious. (I made half the icing and it was plenty.) I substituted hot chocolate for coffee. They were quick and easy to make with my toddler and I love that it’s a small batch! Thank you ❤️

    Reply
    • Allison

      April 28, 2023 at 8:39 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Kristine

    May 20, 2023 at 8:06 am

    I made these today! Instead of coffee, i swaped out the juice of a bunch of tangerines that were a little past due. They came out really great!

    Reply
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aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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