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.
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.
Recipe overview
*Full recipe below in recipe card*
Make the cupcakes:
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Add egg, oil, milk, and vanilla.
- Add hot coffee.
Divide the batter between six lined muffin cups.
Bake for 15-18 minutes, until the cupcakes have puffed up and a toothpick inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.
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.
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
Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
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
Nutrition
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!
Marisa @ Uproot from Oregon
Thanks for linking back to my chocolate hearts! These turned out really gorgeously – and 6 cupcakes is the perfect amount! Pinning for later when I need 6 to share 🙂
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome, Marisa! Thanks for the inspiration!
Marisa | Uproot Kitchen
Just made these cupcakes again for a small birthday celebration (but without the chocolate topping)! Always delicious!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so glad to hear that, Marisa. Thanks for stopping by!
Ann
Can i know this recipe in grams
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Ann. You can try entering the ingredients in an online calculator. Unfortunately I don’t have the conversions for you.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes)
I just adore these cupcakes! They are perfect!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Jocelyn!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext
These chocolate cupcakes look simply divine! My favourite cupcake flavour! Congrats on your 10 year anniversary! What a delicious way to celebrate! 😀
Celebrating Sweets
Thank you, Jess! I appreciate you stopping by!
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy
Happy 10 years!!! That’s exciting! We had our 11th this year and it makes me feel old, too! Lol! These cupcakes look like the best way to celebrate! I love that it only makes 6, that way I won’t eat a whole dozen! 🙂 Pinned!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks so much, Jen!
Miss Mandee
Congratulations! And these look so yummy! I wanted to let you know that this post is being featured tonight at the Create & Share Link Party (7:00 PM MST)! Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to see what you share with us this week 🙂 http://www.designsbymissmandee.com/
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Mandee! I’ll be sure to stop by!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking
Happy anniversary! The little hearts made me smile! So sweet! Love that these are small batch and made in one bowl! You go girl! I always make half batches of cupcake…nobody needs 12 cupcakes sitting around to tempt them. Nobody. Pinned!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Lindsey! 🙂
Anna @ Sunny Side Ups
Your cupcakes look absolutely delicious, and the perfect dessert to celebrate your anniversary! Happy 10 years! 🙂 I love the small batch–perfect for a small family like yours (and mine!) Definitely trying this one out! Pinned!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks so much! Enjoy! 🙂
Lisa
These were really good! I only needed a few cupcakes for a class I was teaching so this worked out well. This recipe makes 8-9 standard size cupcakes not 6…I actually made 8 and they overflowed the liners. Next time I will cut this recipe in half to make 4 or 5. Anyway, I liked the recipe and will use again for sure! Thanks!
Celebrating Sweets
I’m so glad that you liked these. Thanks for sharing your feedback! 🙂
Gloria
These are amazing! My son wanted chocolate cake and I really didn’t want to make a whole cake just for us, because we would eat it!
The recipe was easy to follow and similar to the recipe I usually make with coffee. I haven’t frosted them yet, but already made the frosting and it’s really divine. The cupcakes smell wonderful and feel very fluflly. We’re waiting for them to cool and frost ^_^ Thank you! Will be using again, especially for dinner parties 😉
Celebrating Sweets
Hi, Gloria! I’m so glad that you enjoyed these. I love this recipe for the same reason – if I made a whole cake I’d eat it too! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Enjoy!
lavanya
Do we have to turn on the bottom heat????
Celebrating Sweets
I’m unsure about what you’re referring to…