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!
Priya
The best cupcake recipe ever….. Moist and delicious.
Celebrating Sweets
So glad that you like them! Thanks for stopping by!
Erika
As stated the batter is really thin. My batch actually made 9 cupcakes. I used water, it wasn’t enough chocolate flavor for me… I don’t know if maybe since I don’t use coffee maybe I will add a bit more chocolate. I really like the fluffy and airy texture. They baked faster than 15 minutes. This recipe is a keeper. Next time just might add more cocoa powder. Thanks so much for sharing.
Celebrating Sweets
I’m glad you liked them, Erika! Thanks for stopping by!
Maria
Just made a batch for my husband and grandson , they leaving in a few hours for an overnight fishing trip. Easy and quick to make, love them. Thanks for the recipe.
Celebrating Sweets
You’re welcome! That sounds perfect. I’m so glad that you liked them.
Lilac
I made these as 3 jumbo cupcakes and they are so adorable! Perfect for gifts. I also made the frosting and that came out great too. The proportions are so accurate and you have just enough!
Celebrating Sweets
Awesome! Thanks for stopping by to let me know that you liked them. 🙂
ChiChi
I want to say a massive thank you for providing small batch recipes. It has made life easier for me as I often need to make small batch cupcakes for friends.
I appreciate the recipes and you are doing a great job.
Much love from Leeds, England
Celebrating Sweets
Thank you SO much for your kind words. I am glad that you enjoy my recipes. Thanks for stopping by. Happy baking!
Vicky
These were delicious! I had enough batter for 7 cupcakes. Will definitely make them again.
Celebrating Sweets
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Kristen
These cupcakes are divine!! My husband was making espresso stove top so I just used what he had left over… I’m not sure if that’s what made the chocolate flavor explode, but they turned out like little dark chocolate pieces of heaven! I followed your recipe exactly and made 6 enormous cupcakes. I don’t mind the overflow; just a good excuse to have a good size portion of cupcake! Thank you for the recipe. It’s perfect for this stay at home mommy of one and my love for baking!
Celebrating Sweets
Hi Kristen! Thanks SO much for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m happy to hear that you liked these. I created this recipe back when we were a little family of three and we didn’t need two dozen cupcakes sitting around. It sounds like they’re the perfect fit for your family too. Thanks again!
Debbie Martin
Could you leave the frosting off and place pear slices on top?
Celebrating Sweets
Hi Debbie. If you’re planning on baking the cupcakes with pear slices on top I would be concerned that the pears might sink into the batter. This specific cupcake batter is quite thin and it might not be able to hold the weight of the pears. You could try adding them partially through the baking time. Sorry I can’t say for sure. Good luck!
Lindar
Thank you very much for your recipes..at last my new cupcakes baking tin can be used after long storage in my kitchen cabinets..your chocolate cupcakes were so yummy delicious! I was extremely happy because it was my first baking on cupcakes too. 🙂
Celebrating Sweets
Fantastic! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for taking the time to stop by.
Zoya
My cupcakes were made good but they didn’t rise.Can someone tell me why??Although the taste was good.
Celebrating Sweets
Usually if a cupcake doesn’t rise it’s because the baking powder and/or baking soda is not fresh. These cupcakes do not have a large dome. Once baked they just barely reach over the top of the cupcake liner. Sorry they didn’t work out for you. Thanks for stopping by!