Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes Easy

Homemade moist chocolate cupcakes decorated with Halloween cupcake toppers.

Are cupcakes better with oil or butter?

The texture of cakes made with oil is—in general—superior to the texture of cakes made with butter. Oil cakes tend to bake up loftier with a more even crumb and stay moist and tender far longer than cakes made with butter.

What is a cupcake without frosting called?

Frosting: The main difference between cupcakes and muffins lies in the use of frosting. While muffins do not feature frosting, the creamy, sweet whipped topping is a cupcake staple.

Make it

Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes Easy

For the Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, measured correctly

1 cup granulated sugar

1/3 cup natural unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup warm coffee, or 8 fluid oz

1 tbsp white distilled vinegar

1/3 cup olive oil or vegetable oil

1 large egg, room temperature

2 tsp vanilla extract

Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

3 cups confectioners sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

Food coloring (Optional)

Cupcakes

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350˚F or 177° C with the rack in the center of the oven. Fill a 12-count muffin tin with cupcake liners.

In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together dry ingredients, breaking up most of the cocoa clumps.

In a second mixing bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.

Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and whisk just until the ingredients come together and no dry streaks remain. The batter will be a little loose and lumpy.

Use an ice cream scoop to portion batter, filling each cup 2/3 full (do not over-fill). Bake 18-22 min (20 minutes was perfect), until a toothpick inserted in the center, comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in the pan then transfer to a rack to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

Instructions

With a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat butter on high speed for about 3 minutes or until creamy and lightened in color, scraping down the bowl as needed.

Add confectioners sugar, cocoa powder, 2 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/4 tsp salt.

Beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated then increase to medium/high speed and beat for 3 minutes, scraping down the bowl several times to ensure everything is well blended. Add food coloring as desired.

Transfer the frosting into a piping bag and decorate each cupcake with frosting and Halloween cupcake toppers.

Halloween Cupcake Toppers on Amazon

Enjoy your Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes Easy Recipe