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!
Ama
Hi! Is the calorie count icing included or just the cupcake?
Allison
I just updated the nutrition information. It is for one serving with icing. Enjoy!
Kiran
These cupcakes were perfect! So decadent and moist! I did add a bit more milk (1-2 tablespoons) for extra moistness. This recipe made 9 cupcakes (yay for extras!)
Thank you!
Allison
You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Wendi Romero
Can I mix cupcake batter and frosting by hand ?
Allison
You can prepare the cupcake batter by hand, just use a whisk. The frosting will be a bit more difficult though, as it’s fairly thick. You can try it. Enjoy!
Megan Jenkins
These cupcakes are perfection. I live in Denver (altitude 5280′) and I always have to adjust chocolate cupcake recipes, particularly thin-battered ones like this. I used 1 TBSP less sugar, 2 TBSP additional flour, 1/4 TSP Baking Powder, 1/8 TSP baking soda, and 5 TBSP milk (I even used almond milk and it turned out great!). All of these are following the very helpful guides on the King Arthur Flour website for high altitude baking. I also raised the temp to 360 degrees and baked for somewhere between 13 and 14 minutes. I will say this recipe gave me 8 cupcakes and that was with a generous scoop using a standard cupcake scoop. My batter was about 3/4 full in each cupcake liner and they rose and domed beautifully. The cupcake itself was moist, dense but also fluffy, rich, and delicious. Would definitely make them again, especially when in need for a small amount of cupcakes that come together SO fast (you could easily be eating one of these in half an hour). Thanks for the great recipe!
Allison
You’re welcome. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. 🙂
Shelley B
Good recipe. I was out of canola oil so I used two T of lightly melted butter. Used a little less baking powder since you included the soda. Mine needed to bake a total of 18 min.
After cooling them, Had a little leftover cream cheese icing so I used a light smear of that and they were perfect .
Allison
Thanks for sharing. I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
pavani
the cupcakes were the best!
Nilam
Please share eggless chocolate cupcakes recipe serving 6
Timie
These are amazing! Granddaughters wanted chocolate frosting so I zapped a tablespoon of milk chocolate chips for about 45 seconds, Then I followed the rest of the instructions. I kid you not the frosting taste like Wendy’s frosties. So yummy and I love the small recipe.
Allison
I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Mel
I had to double the water because as-is, it was very very thick!!
it came out perfectly when i doubled the water
Lauren Caplan
Can I double the cupcake recipe to make 12 cupcakes?
Allison
Yes. That should be fine.