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    Home » Food

    Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

    Published: Jan 16, 2024 · Modified: Feb 26, 2025 by Jennifer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    104 shares

    Celebrate Valentine's Day with these deliciously easy Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes with pink vanilla buttercream frosting. These easy cupcakes turn out picture-perfect every single time!

    Are you in charge of bringing Valentine treats to a party or event? Or maybe you just want something fun to give someone you. Either way, these scrumptious Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes are completely homemade and taste absolutely heavenly.

    Since they are homemade cupcakes, they take a little more time to make than boxed - but you can taste the difference. The chocolate is richer and the buttercream frosting is creamier.

    It's basically the best cupcake you'll ever make, or eat.

    Chocolate cupcakes with pink buttercream frosting

    Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe

    Why did I call this a Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes recipe? Because it only makes about 12 cupcakes. If you need to make more than that, I suggest doubling the recipe.

    When you bake cupcakes in small batches, the flavors will stand out more and it's also a lot easier to follow the directions. The risk of making mistakes is a lot lower, too.

    So, if this is your first time making homemade cupcakes, you found the perfect recipe in our Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes!!!

    Chocolate cupcakes with pink buttercream frosting - all sitting on a tray

    More Valentine's Day Recipes

    Check out these really fun Valentine's Day recipes on The Rebel Chick, like my favorite Valentine’s Booty Dip Recipe that is sure to please a crowd! I am always adding new recipes, especially during the holiday months!

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      43 Valentine's Day Recipes
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    See more Valentine's Day Recipes →
    An unwrapped chocolate cupcake

    Make Chocolate Cupcakes For Galentine's Day!

    Don't worry, doubling the recipe is SUPER EASY! When you scroll down to the recipe card, click the 1x 2x 3x option - you can either double or even triple this Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes recipe!

    Ingredients

    There are two parts to this delicious recipe - the cupcakes, and the frosting. Here's what you'll need for both.

    Cupcakes

    • 1 cup all purpose flour
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 4 tablespoon unsalted butter 
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil 
    • ½ cup cold brew coffee
    • 1 large egg
    • ¼ cup buttermilk
    • 1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract 
    The ingredients for homemade chocolate cupcakes

    Vanilla Buttercream

    • ¾ cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
    • 2.5 cups powdered sugar 
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
    • 2 tablespoon heavy cream 
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt 
    • Red food coloring
    • Additional:
    • ¼ cup red melting wafers
    • ¼ cup white melting wafers
    The ingredients for buttercream frosting

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    Chocolate Cupcake Directions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to a pan and set aside.

    In a mixing bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix to combine. 

    Mixing the dry ingredients for chocolate cupcakes

    In a larger mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, oil, coffee, egg, buttermilk and vanilla. 

    Mixing the wet ingredients for chocolate cupcakes

    Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix with a hand mixer for 1 minute or until the batter is fully combined and smooth. 

    Combining wet and dry ingredients together.

    Scoop 3 tablespoon of mixture into each cupcake liner. Bake for 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.

     Transfer to a rack and allow to come to room temperature before frosting.

    Baked chocolate cupcakes cooling on a cooling rack.

    Chocolate Heart Directions:

    Warm chocolates in the microwave in 30 second increments until fully melted. Transfer to a piping bag with a very fine tip and pipe red and white hearts onto parchment paper. Allow chocolate to set. 

    Red Chocolate hearts on a piece of parchment paper

    Frosting Directions: 

    To make the frosting, add butter to a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat on medium high speed for 1 minute.

    Whipping the buttercream frosting.

    Reduce speed and slowly add in powdered sugar, cream, vanilla and salt. Continue to mix until frosting is smooth and fluffy. 

    Homemade vanilla buttercream frosting in a mixing bowl.

    Add in food coloring until desired pink shade has been achieved. Transfer frosting to a piping bag. 

    Adding food coloring to make the frosting pink.

    Share this Valentine Small Batch Chocolate Cupcake Recipe with your friends and family on social media!

    If you love this Chocolate Cupcake Recipe as much as we do, please leave me a 5-star review below and help me share this recipe on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

    If you do make the recipe, I hope you’ll share that you tried it on Pinterest! I love it SO MUCH when readers share their feedback!

    Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

    Dessert Recipes

    • Applesauce Coffee Cake
      Applesauce Coffee Cake
    • White Chocolate Easter Bark
      White Chocolate Easter Bark
    • Bunny Peeps Smores Dip
      Bunny Peeps Smores Dip
    • Apple Cinnamon Pie with Cinnamon Rolls
      Apple Cinnamon Pie with Cinnamon Rolls
    See more Dessert Recipes →

    To print this Valentine Double Chocolate Cookie Pie Recipe, simply click the recipe card below!

    I know that many people still like to print out recipes and keep them in a recipe binder, or simply have the printed recipe sitting in front of them when it comes time to cook! You can also email this recipe!

    Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

    Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

    Jennifer
    The rich chocolate flavors and smooth buttercream make these small batch chocolate cupcakes stand out as the best you'll ever make!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 25 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Cool Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 12 cupcakes

    Equipment

    • Cupcake Tin
    • 12 cupcake liners
    • Mixing Bowls

    Ingredients
      

    Chocolate Cupcakes

    • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
    • 1 cup Sugar
    • ⅓ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder + 1 tablespoon
    • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
    • ¼ teaspoon Salt
    • 4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
    • ¼ cup Vegetable Oil
    • ½ cup Cold Brew Coffee
    • 1 large Egg
    • ¼ cup Buttermilk
    • 1 ½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract

    Frosting

    • ¾ cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
    • 2 ½ cups Powdered Sugar
    • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
    • 2 tablespoon Heavy Cream
    • ⅛ teaspoon Salt
    • Red Food Coloring

    Additional

    • ¼ cup Red Melting Wafers
    • ¼ cup White Melting Wafers

    Instructions
     

    Cupcakes

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add cupcake liners to a pan and set aside.
    • In a mixing bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Mix to combine. 
    • In a larger mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, oil, coffee, egg, buttermilk and vanilla.
    • Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix with a hand mixer for 1 minute or until the batter is fully combined and smooth. 
    • Scoop 3 tablespoon of mixture into each cupcake liner. Bake for 22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
    • Transfer to a rack and allow to come to room temperature before frosting.

    Chocolate Hearts

    • Warm chocolates in the microwave in 30 second increments until fully melted. Transfer to a piping bag with a very fine tip and pipe red and white hearts onto parchment paper. Allow chocolate to set. 

    Frosting

    • To make the frosting, add butter to a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat on medium high speed for 1 minute.
    • Reduce speed and slowly add in powdered sugar, cream, vanilla and salt. Continue to mix until frosting is smooth and fluffy. 
    • Add in food coloring until desired pink shade has been achieved. Transfer frosting to a piping bag.

    Video

    Keyword small batch chocolate cupcakes
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    104 shares

    About Jennifer

    Jennifer, AKA "The Rebel Chick," is a 40-something Gen Xer who strives to help her readers live their best lives possible with easy recipes, travel inspiration and lifestyle tips!

    5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Jennifer! I'm a Miami native and I love sharing easy dinner recipes, baking recipes, travel ideas and general Miami Lifestyle fun! Follow along for inspiration on how to make the most of your life!

    More about me →

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