My Top Five Chocolate Cupcake Recipes

Cupcakes are the ultimate dessert for children and who doesn't love chocolate. Okay, there are a few of you out there that don't like chocolate..

...something I will never understand but for the most part, chocolate is a treasured treat.

If you are a chocolate lover, as I am, you will love these recipes.

Cupcakes are so versatile and can be decorated in so many different ways. You can have different colors of frosting, different toppings on top of the frosting or no frosting at all.

Change it up. Instead of the normal cake to bring to the potluck dinner. Bring a couple dozen cupcakes and watch how fast they disappear.

I'm telling you right now to make a double batch of these because they are sure to go fast. These also make a terrific dessert if you are having company for dinner.

Here are your ingredients:

4 tablespoons of butter, softened

1/4 cup of sugar

1 large egg

2/3 cup flour

1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa

2 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate

Confectioner's sugar for frosting, if desired

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Line cupcake pan with 12 liners

Place the butter, sugar, egg, flour and cocoa in a large bowl and beat together until just smooth.

Spoon half the batter into paper liners.

Using a teaspoon, make an indentation in the center of each cake.

Divide the chocolate up between each cupcake and place chocolate in each indentation.

Spoon remaining batter on top of chocolate.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until well risen and springy to the touch.

Leave the cupcakes in the pan for 2 or 3 minutes before serving.

You may dust each cupcake with confectioner's sugar or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

One of my favorite candies is chocolate covered cherries so when I found this recipe my heart skipped a beat. This is a great tasting cupcake with chocolate cherry flavors.

Here is what you will need for your batter:

1 3/4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

4 1/2 tablespoons of butter

1/3 cup cherry jam

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

3/4 cup flour

Topping:

2/3 cup heavy whipping cream

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1 tablespoon vanilla

12 fresh, candied or maraschino cherries ( I prefer these)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a 12 hole muffin pan with 12 paper liners.

Place the chocolate and butter in a saucepan and heat gently, stirring continuously, until melted. Pour into a large bowl, then stir until smooth and let slightly cool.

Add the jam, sugar and eggs to the cooked chocolate and beat together. Add the flour and stir together until combined.

Spoon the batter into the paper liners.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

While waiting for the cupcakes to cool make your whipping cream.

Place the cream in a bowl and beat until soft peaks form, gradually add the powdered sugar then the vanilla and beat until peaks are slightly stiff.

Dip each cupcake into whipping cream and top with cherry. Serve and enjoy.

Add some fun to your cupcakes with these special liners

If you like chocolate chip cookies you will like this recipe. It's quick, it's easy and the children will adore you.

Here is what you will need:

7 tablespoons of butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

2 large eggs

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup chocolate chips....I always add a few more, but I love chocolate

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Line 12 hole muffin pan with paper liners

Place the butter, sugar, eggs and flour in a large bowl and beat together until just smooth.

Fold in the chocolate chips.

Spoon batter into paper liners and bake in the preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until well risen and golden brown.

Cool before eating or eat them hot out of the oven but be careful you don't burn yourself on the melted hot chocolae. There is no need to frost these.

If you already have some maybe it is time for some more. If you don't have any, you really do need some.... When making cupcakes it is always easier to have enough cupcake pans for 24 cupcakes.

Not that there is much difference but what would you prefer for dessert tonight. A cupcake? Or a slice of cake?

These are to die for. Really. They are so decadent and moist and just plain goodness in a paper liner.

Here is what you will need:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

3/4 cup water

2 teaspoons white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup cream cheese, softened

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line cupcake pan with 12 paper liners

Sift together the flour, cocoa and baking soda into a large bowl

Stir 3/4 cup of the sugar into the flour

Add the oil, water, vinegar and vanilla extract and stir well until all is combined

Place the remaining sugar, cream cheese and egg in a large bowl and beat together until well mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Spoon the batter into the paper liners and top each with a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 mnutes or until firm to the touch. Let the cupcakes cook in the pan for 10 minutes then transfer them to a wire rack.

Not just for cupcakes but for much of your baking. You'll find these racks a very handy item to have in your kitchen. I use my cooling racks for just about everything...from cupcakes to baked bread. They look like they might be hard to clean but not so....they clean up very easily.

These are like having individual little brownies made just for you. You can leave them plain or add nuts. You can frost them with your favorite frosting, dust them with powdered sugar or leave them alone. Anyway you choose to serve these delightful cupcakes will be a big hit.

Here is what you will need:

8 ounces of chocolate chips

6 tablespoons of butter

2 large eggs

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup flour

3/4 cup chopped walnuts, if desired

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a 12 hole muffin pan with 12 paper liners

Place the chocolate and butter in a saucepan and heat gently stirring constantly until melted. You can also use the microwave to melt the two together. Stir until smooth. Let cool slightly.

Place the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and whisk together, then add the vanilla extract. stir in the flour until mixed together. Add the melted chocolate mixture into the flour until well combined. Stir in the chopped walnuts.

Spoon the batter into the liners and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until firm to the touch but still slightly moist in the center (just as you would for brownies).

Let the brownies cool on a wire rack and frost or not frost as you please.

If you do choose to add frosting to these cupcakes here is one of my all time favorites:

6 oz chocolate chips

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

In saucepan add the 2 ingredients and on low heat mix until chocolate has been melted. You must stir constantly so the chocolate does not burn. Once the chocoalte and milk have been mixed thoroughly add enough milk (just a 1/2 teaspoon at a time) until you have the consistency that you want for your frosting.

It is always nice to know when someone has made a visit.