Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream icing

PREP TIME

25 min

TOTAL TIME

1 h 20 min

Makes

24 cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate buttercream icing

Photo, Erik Putz.

Delicious in their simplicity: our chocolate cupcake recipe with chocolate buttercream icing are a bake-sale classic or a tasty treat for your lunch box.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup hot strong coffee

Icing

1 cup unsalted butter , softened
3 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder , sifted
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup 35% cream
sprinkles , (optional)

Instructions

PREHEAT oven to 350F. Line 2 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.
WHISK flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
WHISK eggs in a large bowl, then whisk in buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Whisk in flour mixture until just combined. Whisk in hot coffee until smooth.
DIVIDE among prepared cups and bake until a cake tester inserted into centre of a chocolate cupcake comes out clean, 17 to 19 min. Let cool in pan for 5 min. Remove cupcakes to a rack to cool completely, 25 min.
ICING: Beat butter in a bowl, using an electric mixer on medium, until smooth, 1 to 2 min. Gradually beat in icing sugar and cocoa on low, scraping bottom and sides of bowl until just combined. Add vanilla and salt and beat on medium-high until very light and fluffy, 3 to 4 min. Add cream and beat 1 min. Frost cooled cupcakes and add sprinkles.