Chocolate Cupcake Ideas

Tired of the same old chocolate cupcakes? Have you ever thought about adding fruit such as cherries, raspberries or oranges to your cupcakes? Do you like the taste of java or espresso? There are an almost endless variety of chocolate cupcake ideas to keep things fresh and exciting at dessert time. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Fruit-Filled

Raspberry-filled cupcakes are made with a box of devil's food cake. Mix the cake by following the instructions on the box. Spoon it evenly into paper-lined muffin cups, filling each cup 1/2 full and bake until done. When cupcakes are cool, insert the end of a wooden spoon into the center and create a ½-inch deep well. Fill with raspberry jam. For topping, blend a cup of raspberries with ready-made white frosting, spread over cupcakes and garnish with fresh raspberries. For more fruit flavor options, add a can of pie cherries or 1/2-cup of orange juice to your batter.

Java Cupcakes

For making java or espresso cupcakes, follow the instructions on a box of chocolate cake mix, but substitute brewed coffee for the water needed. The coffee you use can be any variety. Spoon the batter into lined muffins cups, fill each cup half full and bake until done. For topping, mix ½ cup of coffee with ½ cup cold milk then add one package (four-serving size) vanilla instant pudding mix. Using a wire whisk beat about two minutes then fold in 8 oz. thawed, whipped topping and spread over cupcakes.

Holiday Decorations

You can make chocolate cupcakes for almost any holiday with cute decorations. Top the cupcakes with white frosting or you can add food dye to get the color of frosting to match the holiday. For Easter, mix green food color with coconut to create grass and sprinkle over the frosting on the cupcakes. Add bunny-shaped marshmallows and jelly beans. For Valentine's Day, add heart-shaped candy to the top the cupcakes. Decorate with bats, black cats and ghost-shaped candies for Halloween.

No-Bake

To make a chocolate cream cupcake, you will need ½ cup thawed whipped topping, 2 oz. of softened, cream cheese, 1 square of melted, semi-sweet chocolate and 1 tbsp. of powdered sugar. Mix them together until they are well blended. Layer two vanilla wafers in the bottom of medium muffin cups lined with two paper cups and cover with 1 tbsp. of whipped mixture. Repeat wafers layers and top evenly with whipped mixture. Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.