These delicious and easy chocolate cake mix cupcakes are so simple to make, but the flavor is anything but simple! If you are looking for an impressive chocolate cupcake recipe that is not overly complicated to make, this chocolate cake mix cupcakes recipe is your recipe!
I love homemade cupcakes, but I also love how quick and easy it is to doctor a cake mix and create absolutely delicious cupcakes.
These doctored chocolate cupcakes are one of my go to recipe for easy and delicious chocolate cupcakes.
To make these rich, moist and delicious chocolate cupcakes, packed full of chocolate flavor, you start with your favorite chocolate cake mix, but instead of following the directions on the box, you simply follow this easy recipe.
You will add sugar, flour, cocoa powder, water, eggs, vanilla and sour cream to the cake mix to create cupcakes that have a wonderful from scratch taste.
I love to use a dark chocolate cocoa powder in my baking, especially in cakes and cupcakes.
My grocery store doesn’t always carry dark cocoa powder, so I usually order online. I love Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa. I find it adds a lot of depth to the flavor.
If you are a dark chocolate lover like I am another tip is to replace the water in this recipe with coffee (make sure it’s cooled to room temp first). The cupcakes won’t have a coffee taste, but they will have a nice rich, deep chocolate flavor.
Chocolate Cake Mix Cupcakes
Chocolate Cake Mix Cupcakes
Equipment
- Cupcake Pan
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (I like Devil's Food or Chocolate Fuge)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder (preferably dark cocoa powder)
- 1 cup water (cooled coffee can also be used)
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips (this is optional, but really kicks up the chocolate flavor!)
- 1 cup sour cream
CHOCOLATE FROSTING
- 6 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt (you can omit, I like it to cut the sweetness)
Instructions
CUPCAKES
- Heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with 24 cupcake liners.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cake mix, sugar, cocoa and flour. Mix to combine. Add in water, eggs, vanilla extract, mini chocolate chips if using, and sour cream to the dry ingredients and mix well using an electric mixer. Mix for approximately two minutes.
- Scoop cupcake batter into cupcake liners. I like to use an ice cream scoop or large cookie scoop to scoop my batter. Batter should fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 of the way full. Place cupcakes in oven to bake for 15-20 minutes or until center springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on cooling racks.
- Once cooled completely, frost with your favorite frosting recipe. Here is one that I like to use.
FROSTING
- Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla. Mix well to combine. Frost your cupcakes.
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Can’t get enough chocolate cupcakes? I hear ya. And I’ve got even more great chocolate cupcake recipes you will want to save and try!
Salted Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes
Peanut Butter Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
Malted Milk Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Cupcakes With Raspberry Filling
Dark Chocolate Cream Filled Cupcakes
Pin Chocolate Cake Mix Cupcakes
Enjoy!
Meet Christi, Love From The Oven
I’m Christi I love sharing easy & delicious recipes that your family & friends will love. I’m a mom, baker, cookbook author and lover of sprinkles.
I spoke too soon! I see you have the vanilla cupcake recipe I’m looking for – yay!
I am soooo glad I found this recipe! I bake for a non-profit organization, providing decorated birthday cakes, cupcakes, brownies and cookies to under-served youth. Each order (cupcakes, brownies or cookies) calls for 2 dozen. With the way cake mixes are shrinking, I thought I might have to use 2 mixes for one order . . . until I found your recipe! I got 30 regular-sized cupcakes using a 3T. cookie scoop to fill each cup. I would love to find a similar recipe using a vanilla/yellow cake mix for those who aren’t into chocolate (I know, can you imagine?) 😆 BTW, these cupcakes are delicious1
Turned out perfect! Made 24 minis and 18 regular cupcakes. Paired it with a vanilla sour cream buttercream frosting and it was a hit! Will keep the recipe and do again. Thank you!
This recipe made a lot more than 24 cupcakes. Maybe I should have used the large muffin size liners.
Can you make this in a cake recipe