Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

An easy recipe for moist homemade chocolate cupcakes topped off with creamy vanilla buttercream frosting. A perfect dessert for any occasion!

Moist homemade chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel

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.

Moist homemade chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel

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!

Moist homemade chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

An easy recipe for moist homemade chocolate cupcakes topped off with creamy vanilla buttercream frosting. A perfect dessert for any occasion!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time20 mins
Total Time25 mins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chocolate, Cupcake
Servings: 12 cupcakes

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

An original recipe from Baked by Rachel

Items used in this recipe:

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Maple bacon French toast cupcakes



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Moist homemade chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream frosting recipe from @bakedbyrachel
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20 Responses to “Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting”

  1. #
    1
    Anna Hettick — July 6, 2016 at 11:24 am

    These look great! Sometimes classic chocolate and vanilla is just what you need! Happy belated 4th!

    • #
      1.1
      Rachel — July 7, 2016 at 7:35 am

      Thanks, Anna! I totally agree!

  2. #
    2
    Amanda @ Cookie Named Desire — July 6, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    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.

    • #
      2.1
      Rachel — July 7, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Thanks so much, Amanda! And you definitely need to read that one!

  3. #
    3
    Taylor Kiser — July 6, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    Cupcakes are perfect for satisfying that sweet craving in perfect portion sizes! These look heavenly!

    • #
      3.1
      Rachel — July 7, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Thanks Taylor!

  4. #
    4
    Catherine — July 6, 2016 at 2:07 pm

    Rachel, these look absolutely wonderful! You are the cupcake queen. The frosting is irresistible. xo Catherine

    • #
      4.1
      Rachel — July 7, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Thanks Catherine!

  5. #
    5
    Jessica Wilson - Sweetooth — July 6, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    Love those cupcakes! Perfect for any holiday. Or a day that ends in “y”.

    • #
      5.1
      Rachel — July 7, 2016 at 7:36 am

      Thanks Jessica!

  6. #
    6
    peter — July 7, 2016 at 11:07 pm

    Hi Rachel, I love your baking tips and especially your double chocolate banana muffins :)

    • #
      6.1
      Rachel — July 8, 2016 at 7:13 am

      Thanks Peter!

  7. #
    7
    Nicole Taggart — July 8, 2016 at 6:15 am

    These are so cute.
    And you’re right, sprinkles are a must!

    • #
      7.1
      Rachel — July 8, 2016 at 7:13 am

      Thanks Nicole!

  8. #
    8
    Emily @ Life on Food — July 20, 2016 at 2:56 pm

    Cupcake perfection! And yes, you must add sprinkles.

    • #
      8.1
      Rachel — July 20, 2016 at 6:52 pm

      Thanks, Emily!

  9. #
    9
    Barbara — July 31, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    Been missing your posts. That’s one LONG vacation!

    • #
      9.1
      Rachel — August 1, 2016 at 7:16 am

      That’s so sweet of you! A new post went live today! I hope you enjoy it. :)

  10. #
    10
    Valerie — August 3, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    this is so good. i made it once. i’ll make it again.

    • #
      10.1
      Rachel — August 4, 2016 at 7:57 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed them, Valerie! Thanks for sharing. :)

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