For super moist chocolate cupcakes, try this recipe for Chocolate Cupcakes from a doctored cake mix. It really does make the absolute best chocolate cupcakes! Top with my homemade buttercream frosting and chocolate shavings.
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Pin RecipeYou’re going to love the chocolate flavor in these cupcakes. I honestly think that this is the best chocolate cupcake recipe ever! And it’s so simple – I bet this will become your new favorite way to make cake mix cupcakes easily at home!
If you’re looking for how to improve a box cake mix, I have a fantastic post with tips for how to make a box cake better. I love a homemade chocolate cupcake recipe from scratch as much as the next person, but I also love to pull out just a few ingredients from my pantry along with a cake mix for the added security of knowing my cake will turn out perfectly. Plus, you can really cut your prep time in half when you use a cake mix.
Chocolate Cupcakes (From a Doctored Cake Mix) Recipe
You can always find a cake mix in my pantry to use whenever it’s needed for a chocolate craving, a birthday, bake sale, or just a Friday night. I believe it’s just a good idea to always have ingredients needed for cupcakes on hand at all times, right? I’m sure you’re going to love these chocolate cupcakes with a few extra ingredients to make them really stand out. Top them with homemade frosting for a real treat (learn how to make the fluffiest buttercream frosting).
Like this recipe? Try some of my other favorites: The Best Easy Cake Recipes, Coconut Cream Cupcakes, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies.
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Ingredients for Chocolate Cupcakes (From a Doctored Cake Mix) Recipe
See the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Devil’s Food Cake Box Mix – Any brand will work, so use your favorite brand.
- Eggs – Needed to bind together all the other ingredients.
- Sour Cream – This adds a great moistness to the cupcakes!
- Milk – I use whole milk as I like the added richness.
- Pudding – Adding pudding is another great way to create a moist texture. No one wants dried-out cupcakes!
- Oil – I like to use vegetable oil for cake mix recipes.
- Vanilla – The added hint of vanilla is so good!
Frosting Options
How To Make Chocolate Cupcakes From a Doctored Cake Mix
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 325° Place cupcake liners in cupcake pans.
- Combine the dry ingredients: Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add the rest of the ingredients: Add the remaining ingredients and beat with a hand mixer for 2 minutes.
- Fill the cupcake liners: Use an ice cream scoop to fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full.
- Bake the cupcakes: Bake for about 18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and apply frosting: Cool the cupcakes completely before frosting. Pipe on frosting with a large star tip for a swirl or just by hand!
Quick Tip
Make sure the cupcakes are completely cooled before icing to avoid any crumbs getting in the frosting. You can also place the cupcakes in the fridge to get a bit cold before frosting.
How To Store Chocolate Cupcakes From a Doctored Cake Mix
Store cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Eat cold from the fridge or bring to room temperature before serving.
FAQs
Duncan Hines brand chocolate cake mix is recommended as the best cake mix to use at popular cake making and decorating classes.
The milk adds fat, which results in better flavor and density in your cake.
Yes! The only two differences between cake and cupcake mix is that you bake cupcakes in a cupcake tin and you’ll bake them a bit shorter than you would a cake.
The answer is – add ins! Stir in no more than 1 cup of mix-ins. For vanilla or yellow cake mixes, try adding diced crystallized ginger, dried fruit, or fresh berries. For chocolate or vanilla cake mixes, try adding unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted chopped nuts, or chocolate chips.
More Cupcake Recipes
How to Make A Box Cake Mix Taste Homemade
Ingredients
- 1 15 oz. ounce box box devil’s food cake mix
- 1 3.4 oz box instant chocolate pudding (dry)
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan.
- Place all cake mix ingredients in a bowl. Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed until well combined and fluffy for about 3 minutes.
- Pour into baking pan and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Video
Nutrition
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Hi! I’m sure this is okay to bake as a cake, just increasing the baking time, but wanted to double check!! Thank you!
Hello! Am I able to freeze these cupcakes?
Yes, they should freeze well! Carefully wrap them in plastic wrap, and keep them frozen for 3-4 weeks.
This recipe is amazing. Moist and full of flavor. My husband also really loved it. Will definitely make again and again.
Can I make this same recipe using a yellow or white cake mix? Thank you!
Yes, that should work just fine! We would recommend using a vanilla pudding mix too. 😊
The absolute best chocolate cupcakes ever! I can finally stop looking.
This is a winner!! Thank you!
Looks good. Can’t wait to make them
made these for my son’s birthday party, they were the best cupcakes and were so easy to make! I had at least 10 people telling me how much they loved the cupcakes and no one has ever commented so much on a cupcake I have made before!
That is awesome to hear!!
These were the best chocolate cupcakes I have ever made. I made them into a snickers cupcake and they did not disappoint. Everyone loved them. Thank you for sharing.
Hi! Can I sub butter for the oil?