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Home » Cake & Cupcakes » Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Published: Feb 22, 2023 by Allison · 259 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.
4.89 from 95 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. D Y

    June 25, 2023 at 9:38 pm

    5 stars
    Pure perfection! It’s difficult finding recipes you can trust. This one is straightforward and convenient. It has every component one would look for in a great cupcake…light, tender crumbs, moist, and flavorful. I’m definitely keeping this one in my arsenal. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Allison

      July 03, 2023 at 12:31 pm

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

      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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