Indulge yourself with this recipe for Devil’s Food Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting. It’s a heavenly moist and fudgy chocolate cake topped beautifully with dark chocolate, cream cheese frosting.
Don’t you just love a good cupcake? There’s just something about a cupcake that just fills me with nostalgic excitement. I got the inspiration for these from my amazing Classic Devils Food Cake with Ganache Frosting, and gave these cupcakes a cream cheese icing twist!
And when a cupcake is pretty – it just screams ‘Taste Me, you won’t be disappointed’ and I promise you these little beauties will taste as good as they look.
The best part of these cupcakes is the deep chocolate taste with just the right amount of sweetness.
These decadent cupcakes are perfectly chocolaty with a soft and moist crumb and that dark chocolate, cream cheese frosting – try not to eat it by the spoonful before you top the cupcakes!
Why This Recipe Works
- Using Dark Chocolate instead of milk chocolate deepens the flavor of the frosting.
- Using extra cocoa powder instead of sugar thickens the frosting without the added sweetness.
- Adding coffee to the batter enhances the deep chocolate taste of the cake.
How to Make The Perfect Cupcake
Use Room Temperature Ingredients
When you use eggs or milk straight out of the refrigerator, they won’t combine as well with the dry ingredients that are at room temperature. Poorly combined ingredients can also cause cupcakes to be too dense rather than fluffy and light.
Don’t Over Mix
Over mixing the batter will result in a cupcake that’s denser, with a tighter grain (almost bread-like). So be careful not to overbeat the batter.
To ensure proper mixing, beat cake batter on low until ingredients have just combined or when in doubt, use a wooden spoon once the butter and sugar are creamed.
How Far To Fill The Cupcake Papers
There is much debate on how much to fill a cupcake liner. Many recipes will say to fill them 3/4 of the way full, but not all ovens are created equally and the cake rises differently depending on the oven.
I fill mine almost to the top and use an ice cream scoop to fill the papers with batter. This ensures the cake fills the paper and a uniform size across the entire batch.
Keep That Door Closed!
Avoid opening the oven door during baking. Opening the door lets heat escape and lets in the cold air causing uneven baking, especially with cupcakes. If you want to check on them as they bake, just peek through the oven window.
You should also Bake cupcakes on the center rack in the middle of the oven for the most even baking.
How to Tell When A Cupcake Is Done
There are several ways to tell if a cupcake is ready to come out of the oven, but it’s not always easy to judge. I’m here to make things a little clearer.
Test your cupcakes by gently tapping the top. If they feel springy and bounces back, you know they’re done.
If the cupcakes jiggle in any way, it means they need more time in the oven.
If you’re new to baking and want to double-check, you can also use a cake tester by sticking it into the center of the cupcake. If it comes out clean, your cupcakes are done.
Cool Out Of the Pan
Remove the cupcakes from the pan to cool. Once your cupcakes are out of the oven, transfer them to a wire rack to cool out of the pan. Keeping them in the pan will allow them to continue baking and may dry them out.
These are some of the most amazing cupcakes (or cakes) I’ve ever made! They are light, moist, and oh so irresistible!
I know I do a lot of chocolate cake recipes, but this is one of my new favorites!
Here’s how to make them:
Add cocoa powder, instant coffee, and brown sugar to a mixing bowl.
Add hot water.
Mix until smooth and set aside.
Next, in a separate bowl, mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together and set aside.
Cream the butter and sugar together, beating well until pale and fluffy.
Add the vanilla extract and the eggs.
Mix well and add half the flour mixture.
Followed by the cocoa mixture. (alternating until fully combined).
Divide evenly into a cupcake pan (I use an ice cream scoop).
Bake 20-25 minutes and cool completely before frosting.
To prepare the frosting, start with softened butter, cream cheese, and melted chocolate.
Mix well to combine.
Add vanilla, salt, dark cocoa powder, and mix until smooth before adding the black food coloring.
Mix until combined and the desired color is achieved (be aware that the color will deepen more as it sits).
To make the rose-shaped frosting is super easy too! I used a large Wilton 2D Tip (pictured below) which you can get here, on Amazon (#paidlink).
I just swirled them from the middle out (see the video for how it’s done). Nothing really fancy. If you want to practice, you can just scrape it off and do it again until you get it the way you want.
Top Tips:
- Be careful not to overbeat the batter. To ensure proper mixing, beat cake batter on low until ingredients have just combined. Over mixing the batter will result in a cupcake that’s denser, with a tighter grain (almost bread-like).
- Always bake with ingredients that are at room temperature. When you use eggs or milk straight out of the refrigerator, they won’t combine as well with the dry ingredients that are at room temperature. Poorly combined ingredients can also cause a cake to be too dense rather than fluffy and light.
- Avoid opening the oven door. Opening the door lets heat escape and lets in the cold air causing uneven baking, especially with cupcakes. If you want to check on them as they bake, just peek through the oven window.
- Bake cupcakes on the center rack in the middle of the oven for the evenest baking.
- Remove the cupcakes from the pan to cool. Once your cupcakes are out of the oven, transfer them to a wire rack to cool out of the pan. Keeping them in the pan will allow them to continue baking and may dry them out.
What Chocolate?
- To avoid icing that’s too sweet, use dark chocolate that is between 54- 66% cocoa, I use Couverture Dark Chocolate Callets (54.5% Cacao). It’s the only chocolate I bake with. You can get it on Amazon by clicking here (#paidlink)
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Let's Make Devil's Food Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 stick softened butter plus some for greasing if not using liners
- ¾ cup sugar superfine or granulated
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 eggs at room temperature
For the frosting:
- ½ cup butter softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 4 ounces Dark chocolate melted (see recipe notes)
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt optional (to cut sweetness)
- ½ cup unsweetened dark or black cocoa powder sifted
- 1½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- Black gel food coloring optional (as needed)
Instructions
For the cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F/180 C.
- In a mixing bowl whisk together the cocoa powder, instant coffee, brown sugar, and hot water. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda together and set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar together, beating well until pale and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract.
- Add eggs, one at a time with a cup of the flour mixture in between eggs. Mix in the half the flour mixture followed by half the cocoa mixture followed by the cocoa mixture (alternating until fully combined).
- Divide the batter evenly into 12 cupcakes and bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting:
- In a large bowl, beat the melted chocolate with the softened butter and cream cheese.
- Add the cocoa, vanilla extract, salt and ½ cup of the powdered sugar adding another ½ cup of the sugar until smooth and desired consistency. If using, add the black food coloring a little at a time (mixing in between) until the color deepens to your liking.
- Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
Tips + Notes
Tips:
- Be careful not to over beat the batter. To ensure proper mixing, beat cake batter on low until ingredients have just combined. Overmixing the batter will result in a cupcake that's denser, with a tighter grain (almost bread-like).
- Always bake with ingredients that are at room temperature. When you use eggs or milk straight out of the refrigerator, they won't combine as well with the dry ingredients that are at room temperature. Poorly combined ingredients can also cause a cake to be too dense rather than fluffy and light.
- Avoid opening the oven door. Opening the door lets heat escape and lets in the cold air causing uneven baking, especially with cupcakes. If you want to check on them as they bake, just peek through the oven window.
- Bake cupcakes on the center rack in the middle of the oven for the most even bake.
- Remove the cupcakes from the pan to cool. Once your cupcakes are out of the oven, transfer them to a wire rack to cool out of the pan. Keeping them in the pan will allow them to continue baking and may dry them out.
Nutrition Information:
Update Notes: This post was originally published in Jan of 2017, but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions & photos, baking tips, and a video in September of 2018.
Keisha says
Thank you for the recipe! The frosting tastes amazing. I made the frosting to ice a vanilla cake. I doubled the recipe (24 cupcakes) and had a bit of trouble with the consistency. Everything was smooth and silky until I added the cocoa powder. I am a novice baker and perhaps it’s user error. I added all of the cocoa powder and stirred before mixing with a stand mixer (whisk attachment). I had to add about half a cup of milk and still ended up with a rather stiff but spreadable and pipable consistency. I only ended up using 1/2 cup of powdered sugar because the taste was sweet enough for me.
I’d appreciate any tips as I would like to make the recipe again without having to thin it out with (so much) milk.
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi Keisha, The butter and the cream cheese should be very soft, did you make sure it was soft enough before using? and did you make sure the chocolate was still pouring consistency as this can affect the thickness also! I hope this helps, touch base when you have tried again! Good luck!
M says
The frosting ingredients list says 1.5 cups sugar but the recipe instructions say half a cup then half a cup as needed.
Erren's Kitchen says
Hi, yes thank you for pointing that out, it’s meant to say use half of 1.5cups then gradually add rest add rest until it’s the right desired consistency! I will make it more clear!
Sallie Foster says
In the frosting do you use melted unsweetened dark chocolate, dark chocolate chips, bar dark chocolate? Thanks. Can’t wait to make these.
Erren's Kitchen says
What Chocolate?
To avoid icing that’s too sweet, use dark chocolate that is between 54- 66% cocoa or in the US, Bittersweet chocolate chips work well. Hope this answers your question!
MEGAN says
hi! for the butter used in the cake mix do i use salted or unsalted? wanna try making it!!
Erren says
Hi Megan, so sorry for the late reply. I use slightly salted butter, but it’s a personal choice.
Nancy says
Question. (Dark chocolate frosting)
I noticed the frosting in the bowl was not as dark as the frosting on the cup cakes. I have tried many times to get it that dark. Mine comes out light brown every time. How do I get that dark chocolate looking frosting?
Erren says
Hi Nancy, Sorry for the late reply. Your comment made me go back and test different methods. I tried it with regular cocoa powder to help others that may not have access to my dark powder. I used black gel food coloring and it worked great!
ben simpkins says
What is the dark powder! I’ve scoured the internet trying to find what it is but I can’t find any concrete answers
Erren Hart says
Hi Ben, It’s simply a cocoa powder that has been heavily dutched or alkalized.
Presley says
Love this recipe, and I can’t wait to make it! Would a peanut butter filling work on the inside of these cupcakes? If so, what would go into that? Let me know! Thanks!
Deeksha says
I have a question. What would happen if I substituted the water for milk?
The cupcake look great !!
Thuri says
These are pretty much the best chocolate cupcakes I have ever tasted. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing the recepie with us. Perfect combination of flavors and texture
Erren says
Wow Thuri, what a great comment! I’m so glad you liked it so much! 😀
Deborah Cole says
instead of using powdered sugar, can I add whipped cream instead, don’t really like the sweeteness with the sugar.
Matilda says
Hi..
What happens if I use dark brown sugar instead of light?
Erren says
Hi Matilda, it would be less sweet if you used dark brown sugar. If you used it, I would increase the white sugar by a quarter cup.