Recipe for chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese filling

Perfect light & fluffy chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. The rich chocolate taste of these cupcakes pairs so deliciously with the creamy frosting – you’ll be in cupcake heaven. 

Ok – Bold statement alert! These are the best chocolate cupcakes I’ve ever made. Maybe the best chocolate cupcakes I’ve ever eaten. And that says a lot. Super chocolatey and topped with cream cheese buttercream that’s perfectly pipe-able and absolutely delicious. Trust me – you’ll be in cupcake heaven.

I made these cupcakes on Sunday and ate 3 within 24 hours…. So be warned, they’re delicious. If you’re trying to be healthy, I also suggest planning your cupcake give aways. I had no willpower with these.

Now these chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting are everything that a cupcake should be.

• Pretty to look at
• A moist cupcake texture
• The softest crumb
• And light & fluffy.

They have a rich chocolate flavor, but they don’t taste the least bit bitter. Then frosted with delicious cream cheese buttercream – you’ll be wondering why you didn’t always put cream cheese frosting on your chocolate cupcakes.

I realize 100% that cream cheese frosting on chocolate cupcakes might seem a little unorthodox, but I had a hankering for cream cheese frosting and cupcakes. So I did it. And it’s incredible.

Just think…. Cream cheese and chocolate go amazing together in cheesecake brownies. And cream cheese frosting goes perfectly on red velvet cupcakes. And really, you can’t go wrong with cream cheese frosting ever. So naturally, a chocolate cupcake piled high with a cream cheese buttercream frosting is going to be perfect.

How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Now, for the secrets to getting your cupcakes that perfect texture. Well there’s a few.

1. We use a combination of butter & oil. Oil creates a super soft crumb and stops your cupcakes from drying out. But we use butter too so the cupcakes don’t get too oily. I’d NEVER oil use in vanilla cupcakes, but because these cupcakes are chocolate you can’t taste the oil.
2. Then buttermilk and sour cream make them ultra moist. No dry cupcake crumbs here.
3. Then for that deep chocolate taste? Cocoa, semi-sweet chocolate & coffee. Yup – we’re adding cocoa & melted chocolate for the true chocolate aficionado in all of us, then the coffee brings out the chocolate even more. You definitely don’t taste any bitterness from the coffee – so there’s no need to worry if you’re serving these to non-coffee lovers.

And for the icing on the cupcakes – CREAM CHEESE FROSTING!!!!!! If you only want to make cupcakes for the frosting, I support you 100%. The frosting is nice and thick. It can  be piped onto your cupcakes easily because the recipe calls for a higher ratio of butter to cream cheese.

For the creamiest, thickest frosting I’d also definitely recommend using whipping cream as opposed to milk. But if you plan to spread the icing on instead of pipe it then milk will do just fine.

I then topped my cupcakes with some chocolate shavings – but you could definitely leave them plain or even add a few chocolate chips for decorations.

After eating these chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, you’ll be in love. Chocolate + cream cheese frosting = perfection!

Perfect light & fluffy chocolate cupcakes topped with cream cheese buttercream. The rich chocolate taste of these cupcakes pairs so deliciously with the creamy frosting - you'll be in cupcake heaven. 

Prep Time1 hr 30 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time1 hr 45 mins

Servings: 18 cupcakes

Calories: 339kcal

For the Cupcakes

• ⅔ cups natural cocoa , sifted
• 1 cup all purpose flour , spooned and leveled
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup unsalted butter , softened to room temperature
• ¼ cup oil
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 2 oz semi-sweet chocolate , melted and cooled to room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 large eggs*
• ¼ cup sour cream*
• ⅔ cups buttermilk**
• ¼ cup warm brewed coffee

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
• 4 oz brick-style cream cheese
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 ½ to 4 12 cups powdered sugar , sifted
• 1-2 tablespoons whipping cream

• Preheat the oven to 350F degrees and line 2 muffin pans with muffin papers.

• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the cocoa, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

• In a large bowl beat together the butter, oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar and melted chocolate on medium speed until light and fluffy. 

• Beat in the eggs and vanilla, then turn down the mixer to low speed and mix in the sour cream. 

• Slowly beat in the flour mixture followed by the buttermilk with the mixer on low speed.

• Then turn off the mixer stir in the warm coffee with a large rubber spatula while scraping down the sides of the bowl.

• Pour about ¼ cup of batter into each cavity of the prepared muffin tin. Bake for 16-18 minutes until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. 

• Allow cupcakes to cool in their pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to continue cooling.

• While the cupcakes are cooling, you can start making the icing. Beat together the cream cheese and butter until evenly combined. 

• Add in the salt & vanilla, and mix in the icing sugar about 1 cup at a time. Then turn the mixer to high speed and beat in the whipping cream 1 tablespoon at a time.  

• Frosting the cupcakes by spooning the batter into a piping bag and piping a swirl (I used a star tip for this) or a knife. 

*Ensure your eggs, buttermilk & sour cream are at room temperature before baking
**If you don't have buttermilk you can make your own by adding two teaspoons of vinegar to a liquid measuring cup then fill with milk to the ⅔ cup line. Allow the milk to sour for 5 minutes before using.

Calories: 339kcal

Love cupcakes? Here’s some of my other favorites!

• Ultimate Double Chocolate Cupcakes
• Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting
• Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting