Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes (2024)

Published: Feb 13, 2016 · Modified: Jul 7, 2021 by Laura · This post may contain affiliate links.

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Small batch chocolate cupcakes - for those timesyou really feel like a chocolate cupcake but don't want need 12!

I'm not usually one to celebrate Valentine's Day...I kind of think it's a bit of a Hallmark holiday and that you should do nice things for each other all the time, not just on one day of the year buuuut I'm feeling a little extra loved up this year. May have something to do with the fact that this time last week I was getting ready to get married!

I'll go into the whole amazingness that was our wedding day later when we have our photos back but for now, let's talk chocolate cupcakes of the small batch variety!

I can't even count the number of times I have had a proper hankering for a cupcake but the thought of lugging out the mixer, remembering to take butter out of the fridge to soften and making a huge batch of frosting is just way too much to deal with. This sweet recipe makes 4 cupcakes with no mixer required and in 30 minutes you have just the right number of little delights to satisfy that sweet tooth.

Even though I am a huge advocate for always using butter, I opted for oil in this recipe. The cocoa and vanilla extract sing through loud enough that you don't miss the flavour of the butter and the oil plays a key part in keeping the cupcakes from drying out. Plus, the lack of butter makes for a much speedier process - no softening or creaming of the butter necessary!

Whip together the frosting, pipe it or even just spread it on, cover the cupcakes in sprinkles or edible glitter if you're feeling fancy and you have 4 perfect little treats.

Click here to pin this post to your cupcakes recipes board to save it for later and followThe Kiwi Country Girl on Pinterest for more great recipes!

And there might even be one left to share with someone special!

Happy Valentine's Day!

More cupcake recipes for you to try:

Small Batch Vanilla Cupcakes

Small Batch Caramilk Cupcakes

Chocolate Baileys Cupcakes with Mint Frosting

Classic Vanilla Cupcakes

Triple Salted Caramel Cupcakes

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Made these? Tag me on Instagram @thekiwicountrygirl and hashtag it #thekiwicountrygirl.And if you tried and loved this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below!

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Small batch chocolate cupcakes - for those times you really feel like a chocolate cupcake but don't want need 12!

4.89 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 cupcakes

Author: Laura

Ingredients

Cupcakes

▢ ¼ cup (35g) flour
▢ 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon baking powder
▢ ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
▢ ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
▢ Pinch of salt
▢ 1 egg
▢ 2 tablespoon oil
▢ ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
▢ 2 tablespoon milk

Frosting

▢ ¾ cup icing sugar
▢ 15 g butter
▢ 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
▢ 1-1.5 tablespoon milk

Instructions

Cupcakes

Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar and salt.
Add remaining egg, oil, vanilla and milk and mix well until combined.
Spoon into 4 cupcake liners and bake at 180°C/350°F for 12-14 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Transfer the cupcakes to a cooling rack and while the cupcakes are cooling prepare the frosting.

Frosting

Sift icing sugar and cocoa powder into a small bowl with the softened butter and milk. Mix well until combined adding more milk if necessary until it is the right consistency for frosting.
Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, frost and decorate them with sprinkles or edible glitter.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.

Nutrition Facts

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes

Amount per Serving

Calories

322

% Daily Value*

Fat

Reader Interactions

Comments

Maritza Medrano says
February 01, 2023 at 5:08 pm

Loved this recipe! Added a shot of espresso with about 1-2 tbsp of melted chocolate (in the hot espresso). I also used protein pancake flour instead of regular flour. Will be making again!
Reply
Lori says
February 03, 2022 at 10:38 am

I've made these so many times and they're always a hit! Realized I'd never commented to say so when I came back for the recipe for the tiny birthday party we're having on Saturday. Thanks!
Reply
MommaM says
December 03, 2021 at 9:43 am

Hi. I tried your recipe for my daughter’s birthday and followed everything up to a T but why does my cupcake dense? What did I do wrong? I used APF since it didn’t really specify what flour. I love the taste but it’s just dense. I’m just a cake box baker kind of person but trying to slowly learn to make things from scratch. ☺️Help!
Reply
- Laura says
  June 14, 2022 at 10:08 am
  Hi! They make have been over mixed or baked too long in the oven! Try those amendments and see how you go next time 🙂
  Reply
Moxie says
January 29, 2021 at 7:37 pm

These turned out ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!! The texture of the cupcake and the chocolate flavor that lingers in the mouth is just insanely good. My niece who is used to her cake decorating mom making her cakes from boxes, never likes my from scratch Pinterest attempts. So I stopped searching for cake recipes to make her birthday cakes and just do one from a boxed mix. But she are one of these and list her mind! Said this is what she wants every year for her birthday!!! Thank you for sharing!
Reply
- Moxie says
  January 29, 2021 at 7:40 pm
  *Ate one of these* *Lost her mind*
  Reply
  - Bobbie says
    March 17, 2021 at 12:37 pm
    Hahaha. I knew what you meant. I do that all the time. Never could type 😆
Peggy says
December 04, 2020 at 1:30 pm
I made these and they are awesome, used vanilla oat milk for the cupcake portion and I made whipped cream frosting. Also I learned long ago to set the oven temp to 325 instead of 350 and the cupcakes turn out great every time
Reply
Kris says
July 30, 2020 at 8:30 am

These were really good! Made them today, they were soo easy to make & I was enjoying a cupcake within an hour of first deciding to make them..that is with making, baking, cooling and frosting time included! I wish I could attach the cute picture I took of them. I've been pinning a lot of small batch baking lately! It's such a great idea! Thanks again for the yummy recipe!
Reply
Subhashini says
July 10, 2020 at 2:17 pm
Can I use regular white sugar instead of brown in this recipe?
Reply
- Laura says
  July 13, 2020 at 3:53 pm
  Hi there, yes they will be totally fine, the brown sugar just adds extra flavour and moisture! Laura
  Reply
Alysha says
July 23, 2016 at 7:03 am
Could you substitute almond milk for the milk? I want to make these now haha and I can if I can substitute that. But I'm not sure if the cupcakes would set up right.
Reply
- Laura says
  July 23, 2016 at 8:53 am
  Hi Alysha! Yes you can definitely substitute the milk for almond milk...it's such a small quantity that you won't even notice the difference! Now go make cupcakes! ☺
  Reply
Lisa @ Chocolate Meets Strawberry says
February 14, 2016 at 10:36 am
Laura, congratulations!! How exciting! Wishing you very much happiness together:D Also wishing I had these cupcakes. They would be perfect for me and my valentine, seeing as there are only two of us in the house and when we are left alone with 12 chocolate cupcakes, it doesn't end well! Well, it doesn't end well for the cupcakes 😛
Reply
- Laura says
  February 23, 2016 at 10:43 am
  Hahaha it never ends well for cupcakes!! Poor things! 😀
  Reply