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These tiny decadent chocolate treats are fluffy and chocolatey, and they can be made without buttermilk! Easy and Fluffy Mini Chocolate Cupcakes are the perfect size for a sweet snack or party dessert for any chocolate lover.
What’s better than a cupcake? A bite-sized cupcake! In pastry school we made a lot of cakes and fancy desserts, but cupcakes, especially mini sized, have always held a special place in my heart (and stomach).
These mini chocolate cupcakes are fluffy and moist, with a rich chocolate flavor. They can be made without buttermilk, so they’re perfect for people who don’t have any on hand or don’t like the taste of it.
These little guys are a scaled down version of my chocolate filled cupcakes but without the filling. You can frost them with classic American buttercream frosting, but don’t stop there! Try them with coffee buttercream frosting, caramel buttercream frosting, or even a fruity raspberry buttercream frosting.
WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE THIS RECIPE
- The chocolate cupcake batter is moist and super light
- Mini cupcakes are great for parties or an after-school snack.
- The ingredients are simple and you may already have them on hand.
- Customize these cupcakes using your favorite homemade frosting or toppings.
Equipment needed
To make this recipe you need mini muffin liners and a mini muffin pan.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED
- Granulated Sugar – Adds a necessary sweet flavor to the base of the cupcakes.
- All-Purpose Flour – Makes up the base of these cupcakes giving them structure and texture.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – Adds a rich chocolatey flavor to the mini cupcakes.
- Espresso Powder – Helps enhance and deepen the natural flavor of the chocolate.
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder – Helps the cupcakes rise to become fluffy while still staying moist and dense.
- Kosher Salt – Helps balance the sweet and bitter flavor of the sugar and cocoa powder.
- Egg – Helps bind all of the ingredients together to set the cupcake while baking.
- Plain Yogurt – An unflavored yogurt or sour cream is the secret ingredient to making these cupcakes moist.
- Water & Vegetable Oil – Helps thin out the cupcake batter to make it the perfect consistency for baking.
- Vanilla Extract – Infuses the cupcakes with a light and warm vanilla flavor.
HOW TO MAKE MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
- Prepare for baking: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a mini muffin tray with mini muffin liners. Set aside.
- Mix the dry ingredients: To a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk to fully combine the ingredients.
- Add the wet ingredients: To the same bowl, add the yogurt, water, vegetable oil, and vanilla. Whisk the mixture until a smooth chocolate cupcake batter forms. Make sure you pay attention to any dry mixture that may get trapped on the bottom.
- Bake the cupcakes: Fill each mini muffin liner with ⅔ cup batter. Bake for 12 minutes or until the center is set. Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting with your favorite buttercream frosting recipe.
How to decorate
To decorate mini cupcakes easily use a piping bag with a star tip to pipe the frosting. It’s much harder to frost mini cupcakes with just a spatula because they are so tiny. Top with sprinkles!
TIPS FOR RECIPE SUCCESS
- Measure your flour properly. Use a scale for the most precise measurements or spoon flour into your measuring cup, then level it off with a knife.
- When mixing the batter, make sure you don’t overwork the batter. Overworking the batter will result in a tough cupcake.
- Don’t over bake the mini cupcakes or they will easily become dry.
- If you don’t have yogurt on hand, sour cream can be substituted, just make sure you’re using full-fat dairy for the best texture.
- The eggs, butter, and yogurt should be at room temperature before beginning to bake. Room temperature ingredients mix together more easily and produce a more consistent cupcake.
- Only fill the muffin liners 2/3 full to prevent them from overflowing while baking.
- If you don’t have espresso powder, you can omit it from the recipe.
STORAGE AND FREEZING
Storing: To store mini cupcakes, place them in an airtight container or bag and keep them at room temperature for up to three days. They can also be stored in the fridge for up to one week.
Freezing: For longer-term storage, mini cupcakes can be frozen for up to two months. Before freezing, wrap the cupcakes tightly in plastic wrap then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Thaw the cupcakes overnight in the fridge before frosting and enjoying.
Making these gluten free
To make these gluten free use gluten free flour and make a flax egg with 1 tablespoon flaxseed and 3 tablespoons water.
Can I make these regular sized?
Yes, just make my easy chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting instead, it’s the same!
MINI CUPCAKE FROSTING IDEAS
- Mascarpone Frosting
- Zesty Lemon Buttercream Frosting
- Fluffy Espresso Buttercream Frosting
- Raspberry Buttercream Frosting
- Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Easy and Fluffy Mini Chocolate Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup sugar (100g)
- ½ cup all purpose flour (60g)
- 4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (21g)
- ½ tsp espresso powder (optional) (1g)
- ¼ tsp baking soda (1.5 g)
- ¼ tsp baking powder (1g)
- ¼ tsp kosher salt (1.5g)
- 1 egg (50g)
- ¼ cup plain yogurt or sour cream (57g)
- 3 tbsp water (39g)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil (12g)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (2.5g)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a mini muffin tray with mini muffin liners. Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl add the ½ cup sugar, ½ cup flour, 4 tbsp cocoa powder, ½ tsp espresso powder (if using) ¼ tsp baking soda, ¼ tsp baking powder, and ¼ tsp kosher salt. Whisk to combine.
- Add the 1 egg, ¼ cup yogurt, 3 tbsp water, 1 tbsp vegetable oil, and ½ tsp vanilla extract and whisk until a smooth batter forms. Make sure you whisk well, some dry ingredients can get trapped on the bottom of the bowl.
- Fill each muffin liner with ⅔ cup batter and bake for 12 minutes.
- Cool completely, then frost with buttercream frosting.
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