Description
Get ready to be the hero of every birthday party with these incredibly Easy Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes that are guaranteed to make everyone smile! These super moist, chocolatey cupcakes are topped with the most amazing fudgy frosting that tastes like pure happiness. What makes them so special? They’re foolproof, use simple ingredients you probably already have, and turn out perfect every single time. Whether you’re a baking beginner or just need a reliable go-to recipe for celebrations, these cupcakes deliver big chocolate flavor without any fuss. Perfect for birthdays, school parties, or whenever you need to make something that looks impressive but is actually super easy to pull off!
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup hot water
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Fudgy Frosting:
- 1½ cups heavy cream
- 12 oz chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark)
- ½–1½ tablespoons honey (optional, for extra sweetness)
Instructions
- Start with the Frosting: This needs time to chill, so let’s make it first! Put your chocolate chips in a bowl. Heat the cream in a small pot until it just starts to bubble, then pour it over the chocolate. Stir until smooth and melty—it’s like magic! Add honey if you want it sweeter, then pop it in the fridge.
- Get Your Oven Ready: Preheat to 350°F and line your cupcake pan with paper liners. Easy prep means easy cleanup later!
- Mix the Dry Stuff: In a big bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Don’t worry about being perfect—just get it all combined!
- Add the Wet Ingredients: Pour in the egg, vanilla, oil, milk, and hot water. Mix it all up until it’s smooth. The batter will be a little thin, but that’s exactly what we want for super moist cupcakes!
- Fill and Bake: Scoop the batter into your liners, filling them about ⅔ full. Bake for 11-15 minutes—they’re done when a toothpick comes out clean. Don’t peek too early!
- Let Them Cool: Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then move to a wire rack. This step is important—hot cupcakes will melt your beautiful frosting!
- Frost Like a Pro: Once everything’s cool, take your ganache out of the fridge and give it a quick whip with a hand mixer. Then spread or pipe it on top—however you like it!
- Enjoy the Smiles: Serve these beauties and watch everyone’s face light up. You just made the best chocolate cupcakes ever, and it was so easy!
Notes
These cupcakes are super forgiving—perfect for baking with kids or if you’re new to baking! The ganache frosting might seem fancy, but it’s actually just chocolate and cream, so don’t let it intimidate you. If you don’t have a hand mixer, a whisk works fine for the frosting. These keep fresh for days covered on the counter, and they actually taste even better the next day! Great for making ahead for parties. Pro tip: let the kids help with the mixing—it’s almost impossible to mess up!
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Easy Baking
- Cuisine: Family Favorite
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 381
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 119mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.03g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg