- 15 mins
- 37 mins
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dutch-process cocoa
- 2 1/3 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1 2/3 cups brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder, optional but tasty
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons King Arthur Cake Enhancer, optional but good for texture and freshness
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon vinegar, cider or white
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
Preparation
Step 1
Note: As a result of some of the reader reviews below, this recipe has been amended as of 12/2/12. The baking soda has been reduced to 1 teaspoon; the melted butter has been replaced by vegetable oil, and the baking time has been reduced by several minutes. The result will be cupcakes that are moister, and that rise more evenly. Thanks for your input, readers, as always!
1) Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two standard 12-cup muffin pans with paper or silicone muffin cups, and grease the cups.
2) In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking powder, espresso powder, baking soda, salt, Cake Enhancer, and chocolate chips. Set aside.
3) In a large measuring cup or medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, oil, and vinegar. Stir this mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing until everything is well combined.
4) Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pans, filling the cups about 3/4 full.
5) Bake the cupcakes for 20 to 22 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of one of the middle cupcakes comes out clean.
6) Remove the cupcakes from the oven, and as soon as you can handle them, remove them from the pan, and transfer to a rack to cool. Store cooled cupcakes airtight.
Yield: 24 cupcakes
Tips from our bakers
While cupcakes are tasty just as they are, feel free to top with Super-Simple Chocolate Frosting, White Buttercream Frosting, Chocolate Ganache, or your favorite glaze.
For fancier decorated cupcakes, check out our blog post on fondant-topped cupcakes.
For more even doming, use cupcake papers. Cupcakes baked without papers tend to peak in the center, or spread like a mushroom; this is due to the edges of the cake setting way before the center. Cupcake papers provide insulation, yielding a more even bake.