- Introduction
- Chocolate Cupcake Recipe
- Chocolate Frosting
- Decoration
Introduction:
Finding easy recipes to follow with ingredients you can access are kind of tricky so I’m giving you this simple and delicious chocolate cupcake recipe that you can easily create to enjoy with your friends or family this holiday season. We’re going to take this recipe and put a fun holiday decorating twist on it for a simple and decadent Christmas treat!
Chocolate Cupcakes
- 12 cupcakes
- 350°F
- Prep time – 45 mins
- Cook time – 18 – 21 mins
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup (80ml) vegetable oil or canola oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk [room temp.]
Step One
Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. Set aside.
Step Two
In a large bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt until thoroughly combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil and vanilla until completely smooth. Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry then half of the buttermilk then mix thoroughly. Repeat with the remaining wet ingredients and buttermilk and fully combine the batter. Batter will be thin so don’t worry if it’s runny.
Step Three
Pour or spoon the batter into the liners. Fill only half way or ⅔ of the way full to avoid spillage!! Bake for 18-21 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Frosts 12 – 14 cupcakes
- prep time – 15-20 mins
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter [room temp.] (I prefer country churned unsalted butter for smoother consistency)
- 3 ½ cups icing sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp heavy cream or milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Step One
With a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter until creamy for about 2 minutes. Add icing sugar and cocoa powder. Beat thoroughly with butter. Add vanilla extract, salt and milk on low speed. Increase speed for one final whip.
Step Two
Test your frosting! If it’s too creamy add more icing sugar. If two stiff add a touch more milk or heavy cream. Frost your cupcakes once completely cooled. Enjoy!
Decoration
For this holiday treat I chose something really cute and festive but easy and quick to do. We’re going to create reindeer cupcakes!
You will need….
- Pretzels
- Red skittles or m&ms, smarties, jelly beans; whatever you prefer
- The chocolate frosting you just made
- A frosting bag (you could also use a regular zip-lock bag)
- Any piping tip you want or none at all (I used a standard Wilton 1M tip)
- Chocolate sprinkles [optional]
Step One
Wait for 45 minutes after your cupcakes have come out the oven or they are cool to the touch before frosting. Once they are cool remove them from the muffin pan to your serving plate.
Step Two
Frost your cupcakes anyway you like!
Step Three
Add your decorations! I broke the pretzels I had in half the best I could and placed them evenly above the cupcakes to look like reindeer antlers. I placed my red skittles right on the front of every cupcake as Rudolph’s red nose. Lastly I took some chocolate sprinkles and scattered them over the cupcakes.
Step Four
Take your delicious holiday cupcakes and enjoy!
Did you enjoy this recipe? Check out Iman’s favourite cookie recipes!
