Super Easy Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
Tender, chocolatey vegan chocolate cupcakes frosted with a sumptuous vegan chocolate buttercream are out-of-this-world good! This one-bowl recipe is made with easy pantry ingredients - everyone loves them!
Here's a reliable and easy recipe for chocolate cupcakes that just happen to be vegan. Even better? It's a one-bowl method that's kid and novice-friendly! Could you ask for anything more?
I'm not vegan, but I regularly make this recipe when I want to bake chocolate cupcakes because it's so quick to throw together, and if I'm out of eggs, no problem, I can still make it. I've included a recipe for a vegan chocolate buttercream, but feel free to use any kind of frosting you love.
If you love chocolate cupcakes, I promise you will love them made vegan! In my opinion, this is the best vegan chocolate cupcake recipe around.
For a gluten-free version, see the vegan gluten-free chocolate cupcakes on Cucina Nicolina!
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Why You'll Love Them
This is a delicious recipe that's beautiful in its simplicity. Here's why you'll love it:
- A simple one-bowl recipe. I truly love a recipe that needs just one bowl to whip it together. You just need a few minutes and some elbow grease to whisk the batter together.
- Easily made gluten-free. While this recipe is written as a classic baking recipe, it's beyond easy to make it gluten-free with a simple substitute of a gluten-free baking flour blend.
- Sturdy crumb but a tender texture. There's a lot going on in these vegan cupcakes, from the tender yet sturdy crumb to the fluffy buttercream frosting. Trust me, you're going to love them!
What You'll Need
Here's what you'll need to make these delicious vegan chocolate cupcakes. The full ingredient amounts and instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Whole wheat flour - I love whole wheat flour or whole wheat pastry flour in chocolate cake recipes, and it adds texture and extra whole grains to this batch. Use all-purpose flour if needed.
- Brown sugar - Light or dark brown sugar is fine.
- Cocoa powder - Use unsweetened cocoa powder so that the cupcakes don't turn out overly sweet.
- Baking soda
- Salt - I use fine sea salt in all of my baking recipes, and table salt works, too.
- Oil - Any type of oil will work, including vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil.
- Vanilla extract - Use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Vinegar - I used apple cider vinegar, and distilled white vinegar is also fine! The vinegar reacts with the baking soda to help the cupcakes rise.
- Water - For a richer flavor, sub your favorite non-dairy milk for the water. Or try coffee.
- Frosting - Semisweet (vegan) chocolate chips, powdered sugar (choose vegan powdered sugar if needed), non-dairy butter, and non-dairy milk.
How to Make Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
Follow along with the photos below to get an idea of how quickly this recipe comes together:
Step 1: Whisk the dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Step 2: Now stir in the oil, water, and vinegar until smooth.
Step 3: Divide the batter between a 12-cup lined cupcake tin.
Step 4: Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes until a tester comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
Recipe Notes
- Make these gluten-free. For easy gluten-free vegan cupcakes, swap 1 ¾ cups of gluten-free all-purpose flour for the wheat flour.
- Make these refined sugar-free. Substitute coconut sugar for the brown sugar for a natural sweetener option.
- Make a cake. This recipe bakes up beautifully into a 9-inch cake layer. Double the recipe for a double-layer cake.
- Top with other frosting: Use this vegan chocolate cupcake recipe as a base for all sorts of frosting! Try cream cheese frosting, vanilla buttercream, salted caramel frosting ... you get the idea.
- Or leave them plain. For a more muffin-y vibe, leave the cupcakes unfrosted, or dust them with a little sifted powdered sugar.
Storage Options
- Counter - Cover the plate of cupcakes or place them in an airtight container and store them on the counter for up to 2 days.
- Fridge - Store the frosted cupcakes tightly covered with foil or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer - Leave the cupcakes unfrosted and transfer them to a freezer-safe, airtight bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months, then thaw completely in the fridge before frosting and serving.
If you tried this recipe, please let me know how it went in the comments below! And I always appreciate a star rating if you loved it ❤️
Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Line a 12-cup cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
- Whisk together the 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour, ¾ cup packed light or dark brown sugar, ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ½ teaspoon fine sea salt. Add the ⅓ cup oil, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup water. Whisk and mix together until smooth.
- Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 20-25 minutes, until a tester inserted in the middle of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
- Heat 4 ounces vegan chocolate in a double boiler until melted. Let cool to room temperature.
- In a bowl, using an electric mixer, combine 3 cups powdered sugar, ½ cup non-dairy butter, and 2-3 tablespoons non-dairy milkand beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, then reduce the speed to low.
- Add the chocolate and beat until combined, then increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute more.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes.
Notes
- Make these gluten-free. For easy gluten-free vegan cupcakes, swap 1 ¾ cups of gluten-free all-purpose flour for the wheat flour.
- Make these refined sugar-free. Substitute coconut sugar for the brown sugar for a natural sweetener option.
- Make a cake. This recipe bakes up beautifully into a 9-inch cake layer. Double the recipe for a double-layer cake.
- Top with other frosting: Use this vegan chocolate cupcake recipe as a base for all sorts of frosting! Try cream cheese frosting, vanilla buttercream, salted caramel frosting ... you get the idea.
