Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes With Buttercream Swirls For World Chocolate Day Celebrations

Chocolate cupcakes are a wonderful way to celebrate World Chocolate Day and enjoy its true spirit. When all the other chocolate desserts feel too simple or too overwhelming to make at home for a huge crowd, you can simply prepare delicious chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting and create a crowd pleasing treat in no time. Making chocolate cupcakes with a homemade buttercream frosting is easier than you think when you follow this easy recipe.

This recipe will show you how you can make perfect chocolate cupcakes in no time. The recipe also provides in-depth information about how you should mix the ingredients, prepare in advance, and serve the cupcakes to display its scrumptiousness in every aspect. The recipe uses simple and easy to acquire ingredients like all purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, leavening agents, buttermilk, vanilla, eggs, and coffee to make the most basic recipe. This is obviously versatile as you can switch the ingredients with their healthier alternatives to make the recipe wholesome. For the buttercream frosting, the recipe uses only unsalted butter, powdered sugar, and heavy cream through which you will be able to make the frosting at home and don’t have to buy it from stores. Check out the recipe below and indulge yourself in a sweet treat this World Chocolate Day.

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cupcakes:

• 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• ½ cup (45g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk (or use milk + 1 tsp vinegar)
• ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120ml) hot water or coffee

For the Buttercream Swirls:

• 1 cup (225g) unsalted butter, softened
• 3–4 cups (360–480g) powdered sugar, sifted
• 2–3 tbsp milk or heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Food coloring, chocolate shavings, or sprinkles for decoration

Step 1: Preheat & Prepare the Muffin Tin

Set your oven to 175°C or 350°F depending on your oven settings. While it is heating up, take a 12 cup muffin tin and line it with cupcake liners or parchment paper. Preheating the oven is necessary to cook cupcakes evenly.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

Take a large mixing bowl and in it sift together 1 cup flour, 1 cup powdered sugar, ½ cup cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon salt for flavor enhancement. Mixing dry and wet ingredients separately because it helps in even mixing and avoiding overmixing.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients

Take a different bowl and combine ½ cup buttermilk with ½ cup oil, 2 eggs with the yolk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix it until just well combined.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixes

Now carefully pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and combine slowly until you make a perfectly thick batter. Set this batter aside.

Step 5: Add Hot Water or Coffee

Once the batter is prepared, it is time to infuse it with some coffee to enhance the flavor. For this, stir in ½ cup of hot water or brewed coffee slowly and mix. The batter will become thin but it will deepen the chocolate flavor.

Step 6: Bake

Now it is time to bake the cupcakes. Fill the prepared cupcake tray with the batter until it is about ⅔ rd full. This will give it some room at the top to help the cupcake rise. Bake it for about 18 to 20 minutes and check the doneness with the help of a toothpick. To do this, insert a toothpick in the center of the cupcake and take it out, if the stick comes out clean with no crumbs then the cupcakes are ready. Take out the cupcakes, unmold, set on a wire rack, and let cool completely.

Step 7: Make Buttercream

While the cupcakes are cooling off at room temperature, prepare the buttercream frosting to top the cupcakes. For this, beat 1 cup softened butter until it is creamy. To this, gradually add 3 to 4 cups of powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk or cream. Add milk if you like a thin and runny frosting or add creamy if you like the frosting thick and cloudy. Beat it until it becomes light and fluffy and stir in color if you like to add more appeal to the frosting. You can stir in different colors if you like to create a rainbow effect or a whimsical twist.

Step 8: Decorate & Serve

After the cupcakes have cooled down, pipe the prepared buttercream frosting over them in beautiful swirls or rosettes with the help of a piping bag. Top it off with sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or chocolate chips as per your preference.