The Best Homemade Chocolate Cupcake Recipe Ever

When you think of cupcakes, the first two types that come to mind are chocolate and vanilla. While vanilla is good, chocolate is a much more rich, satisfying food. Eating chocolate can release the same endorphines associated with sex, which might be the reason so many people are chocoholics. So, go ahead, satisfy your sweet tooth and make up a batch of these classic homemade chocolate cupcakes! Here's what you'll need to make it:

• 3 eggs


• 3/4 cup butter


• 2 cups all purpose flour


• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder


• 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract


• 2 cups sugar


• 1 1/2 cups milk


• 1 teaspoon baking soda


• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder


• 1/2 teaspoon salt

As long as you have the proper kitchen tools, cupcakes are pretty basic. Expect to spend an hour from start to finish making cupcakes, unless you don't have enough cupcake pans (then it might take you longer). This recipe will yield about 12-16 medium sized cupcakes.

Directions:

1. Soften the butter at room temperature, while taking the eggs out to also warm to room temperature, approximately 20 minutes. Grease the cupcake pans, and if desired, line them with cupcake wrappers and set aside. Meanwhile, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl, then set aside.



2. Preheat oven to 350° F. Beat the butter in a mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the eggs, then add the sugar gradually until fully combined. Scrape the sides and beat again until combined. Beat in the vanilla, adding the milk and flour on low speed. Beat on a higher speed for one minute, or until well combined and smooth.


3. Pour the batter into cupcake pan, filling each indention no more than 3/4 full.


4. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of a cupcake. Cool for at least 15 minutes, then remove the cupcakes. Frost immediately.

Once you've made the chocolate cupcakes, you can make whatever frosting suits you at the moment, whether it's chocolate, vanilla, or ganache.

Vanilla Frosting or Chocolate Frosting

• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar


• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla


• 1/2 teaspoon milk


• 1 Tablespoon butter, softened

1. Combine the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk in a bowl. Once combined, beat in the butter using an electric mixer. Beat until smooth, then frost the cupcakes.
2. To make the frosting chocolate, add 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder and beat into the frosting mix.


Ganache Frosting

• 1 cup whipping cream


• 12 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate

1. On medium heat, bring the whipping cream to a high heat to a boiling point, then remove from the heat. Add the chocolate to the whipping cream, and let the mixture sit for five minutes. Stir to combine, then allow the ganache to cool for another 15 minutes.
2. Frost the cupcakes as usual. The ganache frosting will harden as the cupcakes cool more. Top with icing or vanilla frosting for a decorative look.

The Cupcake Club on Squidoo is an ever-growing collection of the best cupcake recipes ever. It's also home for cute and unique decorating ideas, debates about chocolate vs. vanilla frosting, recommendations for the best kitchen gadgets, cupcake sightings at hot bakeries around town, colorful cupcake photography... If you've got a sweet tooth for cupcakes, you're in the right place. You can make pages for your favorite cupcakes (and even earn money from them).



Click the big cupcake you see at the right to learn more and get started.