Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

These hot chocolate cupcakes with marshmallow frosting are cozy desserts for the holiday season. Fluffy, tender and rich, they’re super delicious. Pair these decadent treats with hot cocoa bombs, milk, eggnog, or coffee.

📌 PIN HOT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

During Christmastime, along with candy canes, these special treats add to the magic of the season. The contrast between dark chocolate cake and tall glossy white swirls of marshmallow fluff frosting is luxurious and elegant.

Garnish hot chocolate cupcakes with mini marshmallow bits. It’s an easy way to elevate the look and taste of these cozy desserts. Take them to parties, or up to the cabin to enjoy with family after a day in the snow.

Why THIS RECIPE WORKS

• Easy Recipe: These hot chocolate cupcakes are made with basic pantry staples. You may have everything you need for this recipe right now. Just check your fridge and pantry.
• Quick Results: Mix the batter in 10 minutes. Fill the cupcake wrappers. Bake for 16 to 18 minutes. So quick and simple.
• Hot Chocolate Experience in a Hand-held Dessert: These holiday cupcakes are fluffy, tender and super chocolaty. They feature tall swirls of marshmallow frosting. Garnish with mini marshmallow bits.
• Potluck Friendly: These small cakes travel well. Place them in a cupcake carrier. Or repurpose a cardboard ornament box (with square or round wells) to transport the cupcakes to a party.

🛒 INGREDIENTS

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

• Whole Milk: Adds creamy delicious moisture to the batter.
• Vegetable Oil: Adds richness and ensures the cupcakes stay moist.
• Large Eggs: Are used to bind the batter together while adding richness and softness for a tender crumb.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the other ingredients while providing a classic bakery taste and aroma.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds the perfect amount of sweetness.
• All-Purpose Flour: This is the best type of flour for these small cakes. Its strength makes them easy to frost and best supports the marshmallow frosting. Using cake flour would result in a very delicate crumb that would be hard to frost.
• Dutch Process Cocoa: I use Hershey’s Cocoa Special Dark. It’s what gives these hot chocolate cupcakes that beautiful deep-dark color with an irresistible chocolatey taste. But if desired, you can use Hershey’s natural unsweetened cocoa instead.
• Baking Powder: This leavening agent ensures the cupcakes have the perfect rise and a light airy texture.
• Sea Salt: Enhances the chocolate’s depth of flavor while perking up the taste of the other ingredients so the flavors are multi-dimensional. Without salt these desserts would taste flat, bitter and bland.

Marshmallow Fluff Frosting

• Egg Whites: To create a simple meringue.
• Granulated Sugar: To sweeten the frosting.
• Marshmallow Fluff: To provide a delicious marshmallow taste.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: To enhance the flavor.

Optional Garnishes

• Dehydrated Marshmallow Bits: Give these cozy treats a true hot chocolate vibe. If you can’t find this product at the store, chop up regular-sized marshmallows into tiny bits.
• Chocolate Jimmies (Sprinkles): Add a festive touch.

RECIPE STEPS

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

RECIPE PREP: Adjust oven rack to the center position. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line the 12 wells of a cupcake tin with paper cupcake liners.

• STEP 1: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla extract.
• STEP 2: Add granulated sugar to the bowl. Whisk to combine. Add remaining ingredients: flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Whisk to combine, but do not overmix.
• STEP 3: Divide the batter equally between the wells of the prepared cupcake pan. Fill each well 2/3 full. Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of 2 cupcakes comes out clean. Transfer the desserts to a wire rack and cool completely before frosting.
• STEP 4: Make this easy recipe for 👉🏻 marshmallow frosting.

• STEP 5: Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a metal tip. Pipe frosting onto the cupcakes, leaving a bare border around the edges so the dark chocolate cake is visible. Garnish as desired.

RECIPE FAQ

These are the most commonly-asked questions for making the BEST hot chocolate cupcakes, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

MORE CHOCOLATY RECIPES

Is your sweet tooth craving chocolate? Add these family favorites to your recipe collection. Pin them to Pinterest to save for later.

• Chocolate Pop Tarts
• Chocolate M&M Cookies
• Chocolate Pancakes
• Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
• Double Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Chocolate Mousse Trifles
• Chocolate Ganache Tarts
• Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

RATE THIS RECIPE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flavor testers rated these the BEST hot chocolate cupcakes. They loved the deep chocolate look and flavor and the luxurious marshmallow creme frosting. They were also wowed at how easy it is to make them.

If you agree these hot cocoa cupcakes are super delicious, give them a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with a friend.

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HOT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES 👉🏻 JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Have you ever experienced the joy of biting into a hot cocoa cupcake with marshmallow frosting? Was the dessert from a bakery? What do you think of this easy recipe? Share your thoughts below.