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These Moist Chocolate Cupcakes are filled with a smooth chocolate ganache and topped with chocolate buttercream! They’re a chocolate lover’s dream and such a wonderful treat!
Moist Ganache-Filled Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate – that’s what’s in these lovely cupcakes. If you’re having a craving, these should do the trick. And fortunately they aren’t too complicated to make. They fave a couple extra steps than your average cupcake because of the filling, but chocolate ganache is about as easy as it gets!
These cupcakes start with a lovely chocolate cupcake base that I’ve used many times. You may have seen them before with my Baileys Chocolate Cupcakes or my Ice Cream Chocolate Cupcakes. It’s a butter-based cupcake that has great flavor and is a touch more dense than my Homemade Moist Chocolate Cupcakes, which is made with oil. Both are wonderful cupcakes, but this one is more “bakery-style” and works quite well with a filling.
To make the chocolate ganache, you’ll just add your chocolate chips to a bowl, heat the cream and then pour the cream over the chocolate. The heat from the cream will melt the chocolate and then you can whisk it all together until it’s nice and smooth. You’ll want to let it cool to at least room temperature, so that it stays in place when you fill the cupcakes later. You could even refrigerate it, if you wanted to make it a little ahead.
When you’re ready to put your cupcakes together, you’ll want to make the chocolate buttercream. This one is based on my Chocolate Buttercream Frosting, but makes just a little bit more since this recipe makes about 18 cupcakes. I found I needed just a bit more frosting.
After making the frosting, you’ll remove the center’s of the cupcakes. If you have a cupcake corer, you can use that. Otherwise, a sharp little knife should do the trick.
Remove the centers and fill them with about half a tablespoon of the ganache per cupcake. If you can fit a little more in there, then why not. Just be sure you have enough for all the cupcakes.
Finally, frost the cupcakes with the buttercream and you’re ready to go! I sprinkled a little cocoa on top of my cupcakes, but you could also use some sprinkles or just leave them as is. They’ll taste the same either way and are sure to be a hit!
These are truly the chocolate lover’s dream cupcake! I hope you love them as much as we did!
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Originally posted 3/25/2015, updated 9/6/2020. Download a PDF of the previous recipe here.
Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Filling
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 37 minutes
- Yield: 16-18 cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Moist Chocolate Cupcakes are only made more delicious by the ganache filling in the middle. They’re light and oh so chocolatey!
Ingredients
Chocolate Cupcakes
- 1 cup (130g) all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (207g) sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 6 tbsp (43g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 6 tbsp (90ml) warm water
- 6 tbsp (90ml) milk
Chocolate Ganache Filling
- 6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
Chocolate Buttercream
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3 3/4 cups (431g) powdered sugar
- 6 tbsp (44g) natural unsweetened cocoa powder
- 4–5 tbsp water or milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and line cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a medium sized bowl. Set aside.
3. Add butter and sugar to a large mixing bowl and cream together on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. You should be able to see a noticeable change in color and texture.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until combined.
5. Combine the cocoa powder, vanilla and water and stir until combined. Add the mixture to the cake batter and mix until well combined.
6. Alternate adding the flour mixture and milk to the batter. Begin by adding half of the dry mix, then mix until combined. Add the milk and mix until combined, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until well combined.
7. Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full and bake for 15-17 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs.
8. Remove cupcakes from the oven and allow to cool.
9. To make the ganache filling, add the chocolate chips and vanilla extract to a medium sized bowl.
10. Heat the heavy whipping cream until it just begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips.
11. Allow the chocolate and cream and to sit for 3-5 minutes, then whisk together until smooth. Set aside to cool until at least room temperature. You could also refrigerate it until cold.
12. When you’re ready to build the cupcakes, make the frosting. Add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth and creamy.
13. Add about half of the powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined.
14. Add the cocoa powder and mix until well combined and smooth.
15. Add the vanilla extract and 2-3 tablespoons of water or cream and mix until smooth and well combined.
16. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth and well combined.
17. Add more water or cream until desired consistency is reached, then add salt.
18. To put the cupcakes together, use a cupcake corer or knife to remove the centers of the cupcakes.
19. Fill the centers of the cupcakes with the ganache filling (about a 1/2 tablespoon of ganache per cupcake), then pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes with the chocolate buttercream. I used Ateco tip 844. I also dusted the tops of the cupcakes with a little cocoa powder, if you’d like to do that.
20. Serve cupcakes at room temperature, but store in the fridge. Cupcakes are best eaten within 2-3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
- Calories: 402
- Sugar: 41.5 g
- Sodium: 82.8 mg
- Fat: 22.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Protein: 3.2 g
- Cholesterol: 72 mg
Categories
Enjoy!
Love your recipes!! I have made several and they are amazing!! Wondering, could I substitute coffee for the water in these cupcakes? Thanks!
So glad you enjoy the recipes! Yes, coffee would be fine.
I made these but needed to decorate with sunflowers with cream cheese icing. Everyone at work loved them and were sad when they were gone. Eating this cupcake was a true experience of texture and tastes!!!!
So glad they were a hit!
How long could these stay at room temperature?
They should be ok at room temperature for up to 24 hours but should then be refrigerated.
Is it possible for me to do this recipe without a mixer?
If you are able to cream the butter and sugar properly without some kind of mixer, then yes.
Delicious flavor! But, the mixing time seemed extensive… I usually mix for a max of 2 minutes total..
I followed your recipe and mixed the first few ingredients for 3-4 minutes. My cupcakes came out super flat/sunk in. Has that happened to you when mixing for that long? Thanks!
3 to 4 minutes is meant to be a guide. Ultimately you want to stop mixing when the mixture is creamed properly. If two minutes usually is right for you, then that’s when I would stop.
My ganache was not “creamy” as in your final product picture. After cooling on the counter, it was very stiff. Where did I go wrong?
Could be the type or brand of chocolate or possibly overheating it. Did you use semi sweet chocolate?
When do you add the vanilla extract to the ganache?
I’ve updated the instructions to make that clear. Thanks!
This recipe is a huge hit. I’ve been told they were the best cupcakes they’ve ever tried by several people. I actually used a whipped cream frosting instead, but followed the cupcake and ganache recipe to a tee. Couldn’t recommend more. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Awesome! So glad to hear that!
Can I use heavy cream instead of heavy whipping cream… not sure if there’s a difference between the two
Yes, you can.
The Ganache and buttercream icing is to die for. Everyone loved it at the party. I didn’t make the cupcake part since I used a cake mix, but I will try that next. I can’t thank you enough for posting this.
Can I make this into a layer cake?
Sure. I haven’t tried it, but it should be fine.
Could the ganache be made in advance and kept in the fridge?
Yes, it can.
How long can you store the ganache in the refrigerator?
It should be good for up to 4 weeks, assuming your cream isn’t going to expire soon.
Can I use oil instead of butter?
I don’t think that would work.
So delicious!! I used this recipe for my inspired chocolate mint cupcake! I added some peppermint extract to the ganache and topped it with some crushed candy cane! Ganache was a perfect thickness, I piped it into the cupcake after de-coring them! Frosting recipe made tons! so I froze the leftovers for next time!!
Is the butter melted or room temp?
Room temperature
Hi, l love your cupcakes and cakes looking forward to try the recipe of chocolate cupcakes now do you add hot water to barter or you wait to cool.
I would suggest hot water.