Best Mini Chocolate Cupcakes Recipes

MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 16 mini muffin cups with paper liners.
• Mix flour, brown sugar, white sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Break up clumps lightly with a whisk.
• Mix milk, egg, oil, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl until well incorporated. Whisk into the flour mixture until well incorporated and there are no clumps. Do not overmix the batter. Fold in pudding with a spatula while scraping the bottom of the bowl. Stir in chocolate chips; batter will be runny and not very thick.
• Pour batter into the prepared cupcake cups with a Wilton® cookie scoop or measuring cup with a spout, filling each 2/3 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 10 minutes.

GHIRARDELLI MINI GINGERBREAD-CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKES WITH MOLASSES BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Prepare the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a food processor; process until ginger is finely ground, about 1 minute.
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in applesauce until blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
• Stir together hot brewed coffee and molasses in a 2-cup glass measuring cup until blended. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with coffee mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended after each addition. Gently stir in Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips.
• Place 48 miniature paper baking cups in four 12-cup miniature muffin pans, and coat cups with cooking spray. Spoon batter into cups, filling almost full.
• Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack and cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Prepare the Molasses Buttercream: Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth; beat in molasses and salt until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Gradually add powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of the milk; beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. If needed, add remaining 1 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, and beat until desired consistency is reached.
• Prepare the Chocolate Trees: Place 1 cup Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips in a small microwaveable bowl, and microwave on medium (50% power) until melted and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a piping bag or heavy-duty zip-top bag with a very small hole snipped in the corner.
• Pipe into small Christmas tree shapes on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Chill until set, about 15 minutes; keep chilled until ready to use.
• Pipe or dollop Molasses Buttercream on cupcakes. Garnish with finely chopped crystallized ginger, and top with chocolate Christmas trees.

MINI RASPBERRY-FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Place mini paper baking cup in each of 60 mini muffin cups.
• Make cake mix as directed on box, using water, oil and eggs. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full (about 1 heaping tablespoon each).
• Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• By slowly spinning end of round handle of wooden spoon back and forth, make deep, 1/2-inch-wide indentation in center of top of each cupcake, not quite to bottom (wiggle end of spoon in mini cake to make opening large enough).
• Spoon jam into small resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag. Cut 3/8-inch tip off 1 bottom corner of bag. Insert tip of bag into opening in each cupcake; squeeze bag to fill opening.
• In blender, place 1 cup raspberries. Cover; pulse 20 seconds or until pureed. Press puree through small strainer to remove seeds. Pour 1/4 cup raspberry puree into medium bowl; stir in frosting until well mixed. Frost cupcakes. Garnish each with 1 raspberry.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• This recipe makes about 50 to 60 miniature cupcakes.
• Line miniature muffin tins with liners (I purchase the mini liners at a craft store that carries cake supplies).
• Preheat oven to 350. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a bowl and blend.
• Cream butter thoroughly, until very soft. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat for a minute or two. Beat in coffee mixture and vanilla.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each addition.
• At low speed, add dry ingredients in three equal additions and milk in two equal additions. In other words, add one third of the dry mixture, then half of the milk, then another one third of the dry ingredients, followed by the rest of the milk, and then the last of the dry ingredients. Scrape down the bowl as needed. The mixture is about the consistency of a thick pudding.
• Stir in the miniature chocolate chips. Pour batter into cups. I fill them pretty close to the top; when they bake, they come over and make a mushroom shape, which is how I like them. If you prefer smaller, then fill accordingly. I have found that using a cookie scoop (looks like a small ice cream scoop, it's for cookie dough) works well to fill the muffin cups without too much mess.
• Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the pan and let cool completely.
• For glaze, put chocolate, butter and cream in top of a double boiler (I just use two pots). Use low heat and stir until mixture is smooth. The glaze doesn't look very chocolate-like until right at the end. Stir completely to make as smooth as possible. Remove from heat and let the glaze cool for five minutes. Spoon glaze on each cupcake and swirl. A miniature rubber spatula works well. The glaze is very shiny, but becomes more fudge-like as it cools.
• Each time I make this recipe, I have glaze left over; you probably could cut it by one fourth, but I've never wanted to take a chance on not having enough. Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, the glaze left in the pan is the cook's reward -- have a couple spoonsfuls when you're done!

MINI VANILLA BEAN YELLOW CUPCAKES WITH CREAMY CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 F. Fill mini-muffin tins with cupcake liners and spray the liners with baking spray.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and 1 1/2 cups cane sugar together in a large bowl. Whisk together the melted butter, buttermilk, oil, vanilla extract, vanilla seeds and egg yolks in a medium bowl.
• In a clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites at medium-high speed until foamy, about 30 seconds. With the machine running, gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue to beat until stiff peaks just form, 30 to 60 seconds. Transfer to a separate bowl and set aside. Wash the bowl and dry.
• Add the flour mixture to the now-empty mixing bowl. With the mixer running at low speed with the whisk attachment, gradually pour in the butter mixture and mix until almost incorporated (a few streaks of dry flour will remain), about 15 seconds. Stop the mixer and scrape the whisk and sides of the bowl. Return the mixer to medium-low speed and beat until smooth and fully incorporated, 10 to 15 seconds.
• Using a rubber spatula, stir one-third of the whites into the batter to lighten. Then add the remaining whites and gently fold into the batter until no white streaks remain.
• Fill the mini-muffin tin liners three-quarters full and bake until just firm, 8 to 12 minutes. Let cool, and then frost with Creamy Chocolate Frosting.
• Add the butter, sugar, cocoa and salt to a food processor. Process until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl once or twice, about 30 seconds. Add the corn syrup, vanilla and espresso powder and process just until combined, about 10 seconds. Scrape the sides of the bowl one more time, and then drizzle in the chocolate. Pulse until the frosting is creamy, about 15 seconds.

CHOCOLATE-BOTTOM MINI-CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips; set aside. , For batter, in a large bowl, combine the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Combine remaining ingredients; add to the liquid mixture and mix well (batter will be thin). , Spoon about 2 teaspoons of batter into greased or paper-lined miniature muffin cups. Top with about 1 teaspoon of filling. , Bake at 350° for 18-23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in cupcake portion comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

MINI FLOURLESS ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat 2 (12 cup mini muffin tins) with cooking spray.
• Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave safe glass bowl and microwave for 1 minute on high. Stir until melted.
• Whisk in sugar, vanilla extract, espresso powder, and eggs until well combined.
• Sift cocoa over top and whisk until smooth.
• Divide batter among prepared pans and bake until cakes have risen. Bake 10 minutes.
• Cool in pans on rack 10 minutes.
• Carefully remove cakes and cool on rack.
• Dust with confectioners' sugar. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE MARSHMALLOW-GHOST CAKE AND MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter three 6-inch round cake pans. Dust with cocoa powder, and tap out excess; set aside. Alternatively, line six mini muffin tins with paper liners.
• Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing until combined after each addition. Mix in vanilla.
• Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the milk. Mix until just combined. Divide batter evenly among pans (about 2 cups batter per pan) or lined muffin cups (about 1 tablespoon batter per cup).
• Bake until a cake tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes for cake layers and 14 to 16 minutes for mini cupcakes. Let cool in pans or muffin tins on a wire rack.
• To frost the ghost cake, cover each of two layers with 2/3 cup Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, and stack the layers; spread remaining frosting over top and sides of assembled cake. To frost the mini cupcakes, use the Chocolate Cream-Cheese Frosting.
• To make the ghosts, you will need a miniature marshmallow, 2 regular marshmallows, and 2 chocolate sprinkles. Twist top of miniature marshmallow into a point by rolling it between your thumb and index finger. Trim all 3 marshmallows, and stick together. Twist top 2 slightly to shape. With a toothpick, poke holes, and insert sprinkle eyes.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CINNAMON MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Place foil or paper baking cups into 30 mini (1 1/4-inch) muffin pan cups. Set aside.
• Combine sugar and 1/4 cup Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread in large bowl; beat at medium speed until well mixed. Add buttermilk, 1 ounce melted chocolate, egg and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, baking soda and salt. Beat until well mixed. Add boiling water; continue beating until smooth.
• Spoon about 1 tablespoon batter into each prepared muffin pan cups. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
• Place 1/3 cup Cinnamon Sugar Butter Spread and melted chocolate in medium bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and cocoa, alternately with whipping cream, beating well after each addition until creamy.
• Pipe or frost each cupcake with about 1 tablespoon frosting; sprinkle with decorator sprinkles, if desired.

MINI PUMPKIN CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cupcakes: Put an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 36 mini cupcake molds with paper liners. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin, cake mix, milk, oil, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice. Using an electric hand mixer, beat the mixture on low speed until smooth. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Using a small ice cream scoop, fill the prepared molds with the batter. Bake until puffed and golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting, about 20 minutes.
• Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, cocoa powder, and sour cream. Using a hand mixer, beat on low speed until smooth. Increase the speed to high and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Using a small spatula, spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes. Decorate with mini-chocolate chips, sprinkles, colored sugar, and small candies.

MINI CHOCOLATE BUTTERMILK CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three 12-cup mini muffin trays with paper liners. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
• With an electric mixer, combine cocoa and 3 tablespoons hot water until a thick paste forms. Add butter, buttermilk, egg, and egg white; beat until combined. Whisk in flour mixture until smooth.
• Transfer batter to prepared tins. Each cup should be about 2/3 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread icing over tops. Decorate as desired.

MINI CHOCOLATE CHIP CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Prepare the mini muffin pans by inserting the mini baking paper cups.
• Chocolate Cake Batter:.
• Sift all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Combine the wet ingredients and mix into the dry ingredients until thoroughly blended, about 2 minutes. The batter will be thin. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cream Cheese Topping:.
• Beat the cream cheese then add the sugar, salt and the egg and blend with electric mixer until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Using a small cookie scoop, fill all of the prepared baking cups approximately 3/4 full with the chocolate cake mixture. Drop about a 1/2 teaspoon of the cream cheese filling on the centre of each cupcake. Bake for about 10 - 12 minutes or until they spring back. Make sure the cheese filling stays white--do not over bake.
• Cool the cupcakes on a rack then refrigerate.
• Yield depends on the size of the paper cups. Can also be baked in larger cups, simply adjust the cooking time.

MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Bring water and dates just to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan, then transfer mixture to a food processor and add cocoa powder and chocolate, pulsing once to combine. Let cool 2 minutes, then add brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, and a pinch of salt, then purée until smooth. Add flour and pulse just until incorporated.
• Spray muffin cups with cooking spray. (If pan is not nonstick, line sprayed bottoms with rounds of wax paper, then spray paper.) Spoon batter into cups, dividing it evenly, and bake in middle of oven until a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack (remove wax paper, if using) and cool completely, right side up. Just before serving, sprinkle tops lightly with confectioners sugar.

MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH MULTICOLORED FROSTING

Steps:

• Line mini-muffin tins with mini paper liners. Divide chocolate cupcake batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 10 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks.
• Reserve 1 cup frosting in a bowl. Divide remaining frosting among several bowls. (If making 1 color, place remaining frosting in a large bowl.) Dab a rubber spatula against a tiny drop of gel-paste coloring, and mix into a bowl of frosting. Add more, drop by drop, to reach desired color. Repeat with remaining frosting. If frosting is too dark, mix in some reserved white frosting. Frost cupcakes with tinted buttercream.

MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH EARL GREY FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two 24-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners.
• Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure the bowl isn't touching the water. Whisk until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl; keep water simmering in the saucepan.
• Whisk sugar and flour together in another bowl. Mix into the melted chocolate mixture. Add eggs one at a time, then whisk vanilla extract into the batter.
• Divide batter among the prepared cups, filling each 3/4 of the way.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool on a wire rack, at least 20 minutes.
• While cupcakes are cooling, make the icing. Use a whisk to combine sugar, egg whites, lemon juice, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Empty tea bags and add loose tea to the bowl.
• Set the bowl over the saucepan of simmering water; whisk until the mixture is hot and the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and lock the whisk attachment in place. Beat on medium-high speed until frosting holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer frosting to a large resealable plastic bag. Snip off 1 corner and pipe over the cooled cupcakes.

MINI POUND CAKE / CUPCAKES WITH CHOCOLATE BITS

Steps:

• NOTE: If you want to bake the cake as cupcakes, bake at 375F for 20-25 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease form.
• Mix cake flour and baking powder in a small bowl. If not using chocolate chips, chop chocolate with a large knife into 1/8 inch pieces (average).
• Cream butter and sugar and salt until well blended. Add egg and vanilla and beat until batter is light in color and increased in volume.
• Add flour and milk and mix until well blended, but don't overbeat. Mix in chocolate chips. Fill form with batter, level top and bake in the middle of the oven for 30-35 minutes, until a wooden skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Remove cake from oven and let cool for 5 minutes in the form before taking it out. Cool completely and serve at once, or better, wrap tightly in foil and serve the next day. Flavors will have blended then.
• With a sieve dust powdered sugar on top of cake before serving. Freezes well.

STRAWBERRY-CHOCOLATE MINI CUPCAKES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line the cups of four 24-cup mini cupcake pans with paper liners. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, all the cocoa powder, 1 package of strawberry drink mix, and salt in a mixing bowl.
• In a separate bowl, beat butter and white sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy; beat the eggs in, one at a time, adding each egg after the previous one has been completely incorporated. Beat in vanilla extract; mix in the flour-cocoa mixture in 4 additions, alternating each time with milk. Reduce mixer speed to low, and beat in the cream. Fill the cupcake cups 1/2 to 3/4 full.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to racks, and allow the cupcakes to cool.
• Bring 2 cups of cream almost to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat; dissolve the 2 packets of strawberry drink mix into the cream. Stir in the white chocolate until the chunks melt and the mixture becomes melted, smooth, and shiny. Set aside and allow ganache to cool to warm temperature (about 95 degrees F/ 35 degrees C). Frost each cupcake with ganache.

MINI CHOCOLATE-MERINGUE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: arrange an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 24-count mini-muffin pan with 1.25-inch diameter paper liners and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the egg yolks, vegetable oil, 1/3 cup of the sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt, at high speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Mix in the melted chocolate chips and stir until smooth (mixture will be thick).
• In a separate bowl, using an electric hand mixer, beat the egg whites at high speed until they hold soft peaks, about 3 minutes. With the machine running, gradually add the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and continue to beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks, about 2 minutes. Stir 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture. Using a spatula, fold the remaining egg white mixture. In batches, sift the flour over the batter and fold it in using a spatula. Fill each paper liner to the top with batter and bake for 12 minutes until puffed. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the melted chocolate chips and oil. Stir until smooth.
• Using a fork, drizzle the chocolate mixture over the cupcakes. Allow the topping to harden for at least 1 1/2 hours at room temperature before serving. Store at room temperature in an airtight container.

MINI CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Make the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 24-cup mini-muffin pan with paper liners. Combine the chocolate, cocoa powder and brown sugar in a large bowl; add the hot coffee and whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature.
• Whisk the flour, granulated sugar, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Whisk the egg, egg yolk, vegetable oil, buttermilk and vanilla into the melted chocolate mixture. Add the flour mixture and whisk until smooth. Spoon a scant tablespoon of batter into each mini-muffin cup. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool a few minutes in the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Combine the heavy cream, corn syrup, butter and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat; add the chocolate and whisk until smooth, then let cool to room temperature. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice water. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a medium bowl; then carefully place it in the ice water and let sit, stirring every few minutes, until the frosting is thick enough to spread, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip and pipe onto the cupcakes.

MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES FLAG

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 80 miniature muffin cups.
• In large bowl, beat Cupcake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, then on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling about three-fourths full.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Just before serving, spread about 1 teaspoon whipped topping on each cupcake. Arrange 70 cupcakes on tray as shown in photo. Place blueberries and strawberries on cupcakes to make stars and stripes pattern as shown in photo. Serve remaining cupcakes on another plate. Store in refrigerator.