Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
ShareAn easy recipe for moist homemade chocolate cupcakes topped off with creamy vanilla buttercream frosting. A perfect dessert for any occasion!
Happy July! How did that happen?! It’s so hard to believe that we’re already three weeks into summer break! It’s flying by crazy fast. I hope you had a fun 4th of July! Our day and weekend was full of family time, birthday festivities and of course sparkler fun for the 4th. Now the kids are already requesting to play with more sparklers. Friendly tip, if you’ve never bought the colored sparklers, skip them. They’re not nearly as fun as the regular non-colored variety and they smoke like crazy, or at least the ones we had. Definitely not a fan. In the future we’ll stick to the regular sparklers.
Yesterday I learned that Amazon Prime members get to download one free book a month, from a specific selection. What?! That’s pretty awesome. I know you can borrow from the library for free too, but I don’t like waiting for books and even with digital books, there’s a wait. I’m seriously already hooked on the book I picked: Everything We Keep. I won’t give you any spoilers, but I’d say it’s basically a Nicholas Sparks type book with a mysterious twist. So far so good and already I’m half way through. A quick but fun read.
These cupcakes were part of our birthday celebrations over the weekend. I asked my oldest what kind of cake or cupcake she wanted… “Chocolate with vanilla frosting.” Done and done.
These are SO ridiculously good. Even on the third day these were still perfectly moist. A very good thing!
This recipe makes a perfect 12 cupcakes. Just enough to share with friends and family!
Easy homemade moist chocolate cupcakes, topped off with creamy vanilla buttercream frosting and garnished with sprinkles. Sprinkles are always a must! These absolutely need to be part of all of your upcoming party plans. They’re sure to be a new family favorite and a crowd pleaser!
Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 6 Tb unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 C granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 6 Tb unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 C all purpose flour
- 6 Tb sour cream or plain yogurt
- 1/4 C warm water
Frosting:
- 1/2 C unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 C shortening
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 C powdered sugar
- 1 Tb heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare a standard cupcake pan with 12 paper liners.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beach together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla until fully combined. Scrape bowl as needed. Add salt, baking soda and cocoa powder, followed by flour. Mix until smooth. With mixer running on low, add sour cream. Finally, slowly drizzle in warm water, mixing until no streaks remain. Use a large cookie scoop to evenly divide batter between 12 standard cupcake liners.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When cupcakes have cooled completely, prepare frosting. In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat together butter and shortening until fully combined. Mix in vanilla and powdered sugar, followed by heavy cream. Mix until light and fluffy and fully combined. Transfer to a large piping bag, fit with desired piping tip. Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Immediately decorate with sprinkles.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container for up to several days.
Notes
Items used in this recipe:
More recipes you’ll love:
Strawberry lemonade cupcakes with strawberry buttercream frosting
Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting
Cinnamon churro cupcakes with chocolate cream cheese frosting
Maple bacon French toast cupcakes
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These look great! Sometimes classic chocolate and vanilla is just what you need! Happy belated 4th!
Thanks, Anna! I totally agree!
These cupcakes look so good! I seriously wish I could grab one out of the computer right now. I’m actually drooling right now haha. I will definitely need to look into that book, I’ve been needing a good summer read.
Thanks so much, Amanda! And you definitely need to read that one!
Cupcakes are perfect for satisfying that sweet craving in perfect portion sizes! These look heavenly!
Thanks Taylor!
Rachel, these look absolutely wonderful! You are the cupcake queen. The frosting is irresistible. xo Catherine
Thanks Catherine!
Love those cupcakes! Perfect for any holiday. Or a day that ends in “y”.
Thanks Jessica!
Hi Rachel, I love your baking tips and especially your double chocolate banana muffins :)
Thanks Peter!
These are so cute.
And you’re right, sprinkles are a must!
Thanks Nicole!
Cupcake perfection! And yes, you must add sprinkles.
Thanks, Emily!
Been missing your posts. That’s one LONG vacation!
That’s so sweet of you! A new post went live today! I hope you enjoy it. :)
this is so good. i made it once. i’ll make it again.
I’m glad you enjoyed them, Valerie! Thanks for sharing. :)