Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
A small batch cupcake recipe for moist and airy chocolate cupcakes topped off with creamy homemade vanilla buttercream.
I made these cupcakes last week to celebrate Baked by Rachel turning three! Unfortunately they didn’t last long enough for us to snack on during the blizzard, which btw was kind of crazy. We went to bed with maybe 4 or 5 inches of snow only to wake up to 26″! And that wasn’t the end of the storm. We gained several more inches before all was said and done. Thankfully we lucked out and managed to somehow not lose power, even with the high winds overnight. Normally we aren’t quite as lucky. Others didn’t fare quite as well, which was expected.
Knowing the storm was coming, I should’ve made a larger batch. But who’s to say if even a larger batch would’ve made it to the weekend. These were that good. I truly think my favorite part was the frosting. It wasn’t nearly as super sugary as homemade frostings I’ve made in the past. Maybe using just butter had something to do with that? Whatever the case, it was good and I plan on sticking to that recipe until I find another to love even more.
My favorite cupcake recipe has been these perfect white cupcakes for quite a long time. I felt it was time to experiment with another flavor. Chocolate is tricky. It can be dry or not chocolatey enough. These were just moist enough while being airy and not too chocolatey. They’re perfect for chocolate lovers and those that like, but don’t love chocolate. They’re not overly sweet and are pretty much just right.
Top these devil’s food cupcakes off with a lightly sweet fresh vanilla buttercream. Or your own favorite chocolate frosting, if you prefer. I like the combination of chocolate and vanilla. It’s a nice blend and isn’t overpowering in any way.
Since Valentine’s Day is literally days away, why not make these for your sweet? They’d also be a perfect treat if you’ve signed up to bring something sweet for the class party. What kid doesn’t love a cupcake?
Devil's Food Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients:
- 1/4 C unsalted butter, softened
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 3 Tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 C all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 C sour cream
- 1/4 C milk
- 1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
Vanilla Buttercream Ingredients:
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 3 C powdered sugar
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 Tbsp milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a cupcake pan with 8 liners.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add vanilla and egg, mixing until just barely combined. Continue mixing on medium-low, add flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Carefully add remaining wet ingredients, mixing well. With the mixer turned off, add cocoa powder. Mix on low until fully incorporated.
- Divide batter among prepared baking liners with one large cookie scoop each.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- When cupcakes are completely cool, prepare frosting.
- In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla. Add 1 Tbsp milk at a time until spreadable consistency is reached. Frost cupcakes as desired.
I will be working all day but I will treat my team to some wonderful cupcakes, brownies and cookies. Then I will go home and make my wonderful husband a dinner of…..wings and beer, a favorite basic. It’s about the small things:)
I am a fan of both Baked by Rachel and Brookside Chocolate on Facebook.
Following both Baked by Rachel and Brookside Chocolate on Twitter
We’ll stay home and have a quiet homecooked meal, then go out on the 15th to celebrate the hubby’s birthday.
liked baked by rachel and brookside on facebook
My boyfriend and I are celebrating on Wednesday – he has to work all Thursday night,
But we’re going to make the most of Wednesday for sure!
I follow you both on Twitter!
I like you both on Facebook!
These cupcakes look great! I love devil’s food cake!
Me and Hubs are staying in this year and having lots of fondue!
Will be watching my 3yo granddaughter, so that will be it! Helped her make Valentin’s today :)
I’m a fan of Baked by Rachel and Brookside Chocolate on Facebook
Shared on Facebook
Staying home with my sweetie and making a delicious dinner!
i will be spending valentines day serving all the lovely couples going out for dinner and then heading to my local bar for a glass of wine afterwards :)
I’m going to see Lady Gaga in concert! Not very Valentine’s Dayish, I know…
I follow both on facebook!
I follow both on twitter @jfong1130
shared on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.w.fong/posts/486258691430329
We are going to see the new Bruce Willis movie (I know, real romantic but it was my idea) and we probably go to my son’s classroom party. It doesn’t matter what we do, just as long as I get to be with my guys.
I am a real fan of Baked By Rachel and Brookside Chocolate!! :)
No concrete plans yet….
No plans for anything out of the daily ordinary for Valentines Day.
I am a fan of both Baked by Rachel and
Brookside Chocolate on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/joanne.gregory.543/posts/468880159828394
I follow both Baked by Rachel and Brookside Chocolate on Twitter.
@jednc2
https://twitter.com/jednc2/status/301350702490476545
I am a fan of both of you on facebook!
I follow you both on twitter!
i plan to make a home cooked meal for my man!
i like both the facebook pages (my name is realia mazing on fb)
Not much, my husband has a 6:30 am flight and will be gone through Sunday night.
we don’t have plans yet. I’m thinking of making steak and drinking a lot of red wine.
I like you and Brookside on FB!
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/iamahoneybee/status/301385450050957312
I follow you and Brookside on twitter
I shared on FB!
No plans for Valentines Day – my love will be out of town at a conference. We’ll celebrate when he returns.
Tweeted about this giveaway.
I now follow @bakedbyrachel and @Brookside_Choc on twitter.
I plan on waking up my sweetheart with heartshaped sourdough crisp bread, hot black coffee, and maybe a croissant!
I am a fan of both Baked by Rachel and Brookside Chocolate on Facebook!
I follow both @bakedbyrachel and @Brookside_choc on Twitter!
And I’ve been posting and tweeting about your post! (the cupcakes look awesome by the way, I was hoping you’d be posting the recipe :) )
Actual Valentine’s Day is just going to be me, a homemade dessert from the freezer (most likely some form of chocolate, naturally!) and Grey’s Anatomy. But my boyfriend and I are celebrating with a homecooked meal together and then a movie over the weekend.
I like your page and Brookside’s on FB as Floptimism!
I shared the post on FB: https://www.facebook.com/Floptimism/posts/206424449500314
I follow both you and Brookside on Twitter as @floptimism!
And I tweeted about the giveaway: https://twitter.com/floptimism/status/301476213170524162
For valentines day I am cooking my husband steak & potatoes and making him a special dessert (as of now it is still undecided). I bough a board book about love for my son!
I’m going to make cookies with my grandkids.