Vegan Life > Recipes > Desserts & Sweets > Divine Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Divine Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

August 27, 2020

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Many years ago, I had a small baking business selling cupcakes at pop-up markets. I was obsessed with creating the perfect cupcake recipes, and I was known to most people as "the cupcake lady."

My original (non-vegan) chocolate cupcake.

Now that I'm vegan, I can't use those recipes anymore. But lucky for you, I've been in the kitchen working hard at making vegan versions of some of those recipes! Chocolate is always my first choice of flavor for any sweet food, so the first recipe I've veganized is, of course, my famous chocolate cupcake recipe. I made these over and over, tweaking amounts and ingredients until I had them just right. I knew I finally had a winner when I almost made myself sick from eating so many of them. 🙈🤣

These cupcakes make a wonderful gift for the vegan chocolate lovers in your life, for birthdays, valentine's day, and more.

Pair these with any frosting you like; I recommend my cookie butter frosting recipe or my vegan buttercream frosting! Hint: replace a bit of the powdered sugar with unsweetened cocoa powder or cacao powder in the buttercream frosting for chocolate buttercream. You can also stir in some melted chocolate chips instead of cocoa powder.

I recommend using high-fat vegan butter sticks for this recipe, such as Earth Balance or Miyoko's. If vegan butter is unavailable in your area, or unreasonably priced, try my homemade vegan butter recipe.

Recipe makes approximately 20 cupcakes.

Divine Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Yield20 cupcakes

Prep Time30 minutes

Cook Time20 minutes

Total Time50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 89 mL aquafaba (liquid from a can of chickpeas)
  • 200 g vegan granulated sugar
  • 59 mL plain, unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 237 mL water
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 175 g all-purpose flour*
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

  2. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat (or a double-boiler), melt the vegan butter and unsweetened chocolate, stirring constantly. Once everything is melted and combined, remove from heat.

    Vegan butter and chocolate melting in a pan
    The chocolate can burn easily if you don't keep stirring it.
  3. Using an electric mixer (a stand mixer is preferred, but you can use a hand mixer as well), whip the aquafaba until it is white and foamy (this should take around 5-10 minutes).

    Aquafaba whipped in a mixing bowl
    Your aquafaba should turn white and foamy after 5-10 minutes of whipping.
  4. Slowly add the sugar to the aquafaba and mix it together. (You can continue to use the mixer, or you can stir by hand if you don't have a stand mixer).

  5. Add the chocolate mix to the aquafaba mix, and combine.

  6. Combine the almond milk and vinegar and set it aside for a few minutes to curdle.

    Almond milk and vinegar in a bowl with a fork.
    Mixing vinegar with almond milk will curdle the almond milk.
  7. In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil, then remove it from the heat. Stir it into the chocolate mix. Add the vanilla and mix.

  8. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a small mixing bowl.

  9. Alternate adding the milk and dry ingredients into the chocolate mix, and stir. Make sure everything is combined, but don't over-stir.

    Chocolate cake batter being mixed in a mixing bowl.
    Alternate adding the flour and milk little by little.
  10. Line two muffin pans with paper cupcake liners. Fill the liners about 80% full with batter.

    Cake batter in a cupcake tray
    Fill approximately 2/3 of the liner cups with batter.
  11. Bake about 20-21 minutes (an inserted toothpick should come out clean when they're done).

  12. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack, then use a piping bag to pipe your choice of frosting on top. Enjoy!

    Cupcakes on a cooling rack
    Allow your cupcakes to cool completely before frosting them.

Notes & Hints

For the most accurate flour measurement, switch to metric and weigh your flour. If you don't have a kitchen scale, be sure to spoon the flour into the measuring cup before leveling it off; don't scoop the cup into the flour.

I don't recommend substituting the vegan butter for oil because the vegan butter adds to the flavor of the cakes.

The best way to pour the batter into the paper liners is with a measuring cup or pitcher with a spout. The batter is thin, so it pours easily.

To adapt the recipe to cake pans, divide the batter evenly between the two greased pans. Full-sized cakes will require more time to cook; start checking the cakes for doneness after around 27 minutes at 350°F (180°C).

Store in an airtight container (or cover with plastic wrap) at room temperature for 3-4 days. Refrigerate for slightly longer storage, or freeze for several months.

Nutrition Data

Serving Size 1/20 of recipe 

Amount Per Serving
Calories 142Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g9%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 113mg5%
Total Carbohydrate 17g6%
Dietary Fiber 2g8%
Sugars 10g
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 1mcg RAE0%
Vitamin B12 0mcg0%
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Vitamin D 0mcg0%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
Potassium 42mg1%
Zinc 0mg0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note: This data should be used only as an estimate. Please see the nutrition section of my terms and conditions for more information on how this data is calculated.

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Frost your cupcakes and enjoy!
StephSunshine

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