These chocolate fudge cupcakes are like a dream for chocolate lovers! They have a moist chocolate cake at the bottom, filled with creamy chocolate ganache, and topped with rich chocolate buttercream.
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Why You’ll Love These Cupcakes:
Perfect Birthday Treat: Ideal for celebrating a chocolate lover’s birthday – a delicious way to say happy birthday!
Better Than Box Mix: Once you try these, you won’t go back to buying boxed chocolate cake mix. They’re that good!
Rich Chocolate Buttercream: The buttercream is whipped to perfection, giving it a light, fluffy texture and a velvety chocolate taste.
Super Easy to Make and Decorate: These cupcakes are a breeze to make, and they’re adorned with delightful crunchy chocolate pearls.
More Chocolate Goodness: If you’re a chocolate enthusiast, check out our black forest cupcakes or the indulgent triple chocolate layer cake – you’re in for a treat!
Ingredients
You only need a few ingredients (and a LOT of chocolate) to make these wonderfully moist chocolate fudge cupcakes!
- Vegetable Oil: Instead of butter, I use oil in these cupcakes to make the cake exceptionally moist and delicious. Canola oil or a neutral olive oil also work well.
- Cake Flour: I always opt for cake flour in my cupcakes because it makes them incredibly soft and tender. However, all-purpose flour is a great alternative.
- Cocoa Powder: My top pick for cocoa powder is the King Arthur Flour Triple Cocoa Blend, a mix of natural, Dutch, and black cocoa. It’s perfect for baking, but you can easily substitute unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa.
- Espresso Powder: While optional, espresso powder adds depth and intensifies the chocolate flavor. I recommend King Arthur for high-quality espresso powder.
- Dark Chocolate: Use dark chocolate baking bars instead of chocolate chips. Chips have emulsifiers that maintain their shape, which can affect smooth blending. If preferred, you can use milk chocolate.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Essential for the ganache and cannot be substituted.
Follow these tips for better baking results:
Room Temperature Ingredients: Allow butter, eggs, milk, yogurt, etc., to reach room temperature before baking, unless the recipe says otherwise. This ensures smoother incorporation into the batter and better overall texture. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before baking for optimal results.
Accurate Flour Measurement: For precise results, use a kitchen scale. If measuring by volume, spoon and level your flour. Fluff it up with a spoon, then spoon it into the measuring cup. Once overflowing, use a knife to level it. Avoid packing flour, as it can lead to dry and dense baked goods. Apply the same technique when measuring cocoa powder.
Oven Thermometer: Don’t solely rely on your oven’s display temperature. Ovens can be off by up to 30 degrees if not calibrated recently. Use an oven thermometer—it’s an easy and inexpensive way to ensure your oven is always at the correct temperature. This is crucial for all baked goods, from cakes to macarons.
Fresh Baking Powder: Baking powder is essential for proper rising in baked goods. Since it has a short shelf life once opened, avoid buying in bulk. Test its freshness by adding a small amount to boiling water. If it bubbles, it’s still good; if not, it’s time to replace it.
Decorating Tips & Tricks:
- Complete Cooling: Ensure your cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
- Cupcake Corer: Make use of a cupcake corer to easily remove the center of your cupcakes. This creates a perfect space for filling with delicious chocolate ganache.
- Decorating Kit: Achieve those big, beautiful frosting swirls by using the 1M tip from a decorating kit. These tips are larger than standard sizes, adding a fun touch to your cupcake decorations.
Recipe FAQs:
How long will these chocolate fudge cupcakes last?
These cupcakes can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. However, for the best taste, allow them to reach room temperature before serving. I recommend letting them sit at room temperature for about an hour before enjoying.
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