• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Live to Sweet
  • Contact
  • About
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Work with Me
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cakes and Cupcakes

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    October 30, 2018 by Amee Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Sometimes, you just need a little chocolate...and sometimes, just a little chocolate won't do. Maybe your toddler is being extra toddler-y, and your tweens have been expressing a little extra tween angst. Hypothetically, of course. It's at those times that you need ALL the chocolate. My friend, that's when you need these Death by Chocolate Cupcakes.

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    This post may contain affiliate links, and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I’ll never link to anything I don’t use and love! Click here for full disclosure and privacy policy.

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes! Because: Holy. Chocolate. Batman. You will feel like you died and went to heaven. And, I mean, there are worse ways to go, right? 😉 These beautiful little gems are dark chocolate cupcakes filled with dark chocolate ganache, topped with the deepest, darkest chocolate cream cheese frosting you've ever seen!

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    For the Best Dark Chocolate Cupcakes!

    There are a few secret weapons in our baking arsenal for the BEST dark chocolate cupcakes!

    • Black cocoa powder gives these cupcakes their deep, dark chocolate color and flavor. It's just heavily dutched cocoa for the darkest chocolate flavor (think Oreos). If you can't find black cocoa in your local grocery store, you can find it here. You can use regular dutch-process cocoa to substitute, but it won't be as dark or flavorful!
    • I highly recommend using chocolate extract in the recipe! This (often overlooked) extract lends an amazing depth of flavor to chocolate baked goods! If you can’t find it in your local grocery store, you can find some here. Even better, makes yourself some Homemade Chocolate Extract for next time!
    • There's also coffee in this cake batter! The cake won't taste like coffee, I swear. The coffee enhances the chocolate flavor, and I highly recommend it! If you would prefer not to use coffee, you can use hot water instead.
    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    That Chocolate Ganache Filling, Tho...

    I mean, if I'm going to call them Death by Chocolate Cupcakes, we gotta have ALL the chocolate, amirite?? As such, I filled each cupcake with a dark chocolate ganache for a fun surprise in the center! You could choose to skip this step if you'd like...though for the life of me I can't fathom why you would! 😉

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    Dark Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

    This cream cheese frosting is the darkest, chocolatiest, dreamiest frosting ever!! With both melted (and cooled!) chocolate and *even more* black cocoa, you really can't go wrong!! You might want to make a double batch so you can just eat the extra frosting with a spoon!

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    So the next time you need some chocolate in your life (like every day...?), don't settle for just anything. Head to your kitchen and make these Death by Chocolate Cupcakes. I'm sure there are those that will say that using (loads of) chocolate as a coping mechanism isn't healthy. Don't be friends with those people. 😉

    Other posts you may like:

    Oatmeal Brownies

    Kahlua Brownie Pie

    Dark Chocolate Madeleines

    High Hat Cupcakes

    Death by Chocolate Cupcakes

    Amee
    Dark chocolate cupcakes filled with dark chocolate ganache, and topped with the deepest, darkest chocolate cream cheese frosting you've ever seen!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 45 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Cupcakes
    Servings 13 cupcakes
    Prevent your screen from going dark while you bake!

    Ingredients
      

    Dark Chocolate Cupcakes:

    • 1½ cups cake flour
    • ¼ cup black cocoa powder (see note)
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
    • ½ cup sugar
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon chocolate extract (see note)
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup sour cream, at room temperature
    • ¼ cup strong coffee, hot (see note)

    Dark Chocolate Ganache:

    • 3 oz dark chocolate chips (I used 72% cacao)
    • 2 tablespoon heavy (whipping) cream
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • pinch salt

    Dark Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting:

    • 4 oz dark chocolate, melted and cooled (I used 72% cacao)
    • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon chocolate extract (see note)
    • ½ cup black cocoa powder, sifted (see note)
    • 1½ cups powdered sugar, sifted

    Instructions
     

    For Cake:

    • Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease cupcake pan or line with paper liners. Set aside.
    • In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder [see note], baking soda, and salt). Set aside.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • Add eggs, one at a time, allowing the first egg to incorporate before adding the second. Add vanilla and chocolate extracts (see note). Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • Add half the dry ingredients, followed by the sour cream, then the remaining dry ingredients. Mix until just incorporated. Add coffee and mix to combine.
    • Divide batter equally among muffin cups, filling each about ¾ full. Bake 16-19 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

    For Ganache:

    • In a medium heatproof bowl, combine all ganache ingredients. Microwave on 30-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until smooth. Allow ganache to cool to room temperature.
    • Using a small knife, cut a core from the center of each cupcake and fill with ganache. Cut the bottom off of each core so that just the top surface remains. Place this piece of the core back on top of the ganache to cover.

    For Frosting:

    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter and cream cheese. Mix until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • Add the cooled, melted chocolate and mix to combine. Add vanilla and chocolate extracts (see note). Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
    • Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Mix until combined. Frost each ganache-filled cupcake.
      Enjoy!

    Notes

    Note on black cocoa: Black cocoa gives that deep, dark chocolate color and flavor. If you can't find black cocoa in your local grocery store, you can find it here. You can use dutch-process cocoa to substitute, but it won't be as dark.
    Note on chocolate extract: I highly recommend using chocolate extract in the recipe! This (sometimes overlooked) extract lends an amazing depth of flavor to chocolate baked goods! If you can’t find it in your local grocery store, you can find some here. Even better, makes yourself some Homemade Chocolate Extract for next time!
    Note on coffee: The cake won't taste like coffee, I swear! The coffee enhances the chocolate flavor, and I highly recommend it! If you would prefer not to use coffee, you can use hot water instead.
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to hear all about it! Leave a review below, then snap a pic and tag me on Instagram!
    « Pumpkin Hazelnut Cheesecake
    Oatmeal Brownies »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Picture of Amee, founder of Live to Sweet.

    Hi, I'm Amee! Here at Live to Sweet you'll find unique and flavorful dessert recipes. Always delicious, and always from scratch!

    Click for More About Me -->

    New & Seasonal Recipes

    • Honey Lavender Latte Cookies
    • Blackberry Buttermilk Muffins
    • Strawberry Cheesecake Cookies
    • Blueberry Angel Food Cake
    • Lavender Lemon Cake
    • Strawberry Thyme Blondies

    Follow Along with Me!

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Popular Recipes

    • Honey Cookies
    • Blackberry Cream Pie
    • Raspberry Tartlets with Pistachio Crust
    • Strawberry Angel Food Cake

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Live to Sweet © 2018-2022. All Rights Reserved.