Gluten Free Chocolate Cupcakes

These gluten free chocolate cupcakes are rich, moist, fluffy, spongey and dairy free optional. They’re easy to make and the perfect way to satisfy your chocolate craving! 

An oldie but goodie Eat With Clarity recipe, but now even better! This gluten free chocolate cupcake recipe is one of the first recipes on the blog, but it was time for a major upgrade. Both to the recipe and to the photos!

These cupcakes are more rich, easier to make, and better than ever. With a fluffy and perfectly sweet sponge and silky smooth dairy free buttercream, this is the perfect chocolate treat for every occasion.

I feel like cupcakes and cakes are desserts that get reserved for special occasions, whereas cookies are an everyday thing, but I’m here to tell you you don’t need an excuse or a holiday to indulge a little! These chocolate cupcakes are fluffy, moist, spongey, cakey, chocolatey, perfectly sweet, and all the things a chocolate cupcake should be. With the perfect amount of rich chocolate density like my brownie cookies.

They’re both gluten free and dairy free, but if you did a blind taste test, I promise you would have NO idea. Try my mini chocolate cake, gluten free snack cake or dairy free cupcakes next!

Before we get started…

• You can use either hot brewed coffee or hot water here. I like coffee to enhance the chocolate flavor, but you can also use boiling water and add some espresso powder.
• If you don’t have an electric mixer, a whisk will work just fine!
• Be sure to use a good quality cocoa powder. We aren’t using any other form of chocolate for this recipe, so it’s key to get that rich flavor! Same with my gluten free red velvet cupcakes.

How to make gluten free chocolate cupcakes

First, whisk together all dry ingredients. Beat in all wet ingredients with an electric mixer just until combined. Careful not to over mix, but make sure all ingredients from the bottom of the bowl are well combined.

Once the batter is ready, use a cookie scoop or spoon and add the batter in 12 lined cupcake tins, filling about 2/3 of the way full. 

Add to the center of the oven for 18-24 minutes. Check at 18 minutes and if a toothpick comes out clean, remove from the oven.

They will continue to cook slightly as they sit because the tray is still hot, so careful not to over bake because this will dry out the cupcakes.

In my oven, they are generally done at the 21 minute mark, but all ovens are different. Try my gluten free funfetti cupcakes or gluten free chocolate loaf cake next!

Key ingredients

FLOUR. I used the Bob’s Red Mill GF 1:1 All Purpose Baking Flour for this recipe which I recommend!

SUGAR. A mix of white sugar and brown sugar add such a nice flavor to these gluten free chocolate cupcakes. I do not recommend any liquid sweeteners here, but you can safely sub with coconut sugar.

OIL. Any plain, neutral flavored oil will work here. I used refined avocado oil, olive oil is also delicious and adds a rich flavor.

EGGS. Two eggs will help bind all ingredients together and help make the cupcakes nice and fluffy.

COCOA. Necessary for the chocolate flavor of course!

HOT WATER OR COFFEE. I love using brewed coffee to really enhance the chocolate flavor, but you can also use hot water and add some espresso powder.

How to make chocolate buttercream frosting

Dairy free buttercream is actually much easier than you would think. Buttercream is essentially a mixture of powdered sugar and butter, so to make it dairy free, all you need to do is use dairy free butter.

You want to use room temperature butter so it’s easy to beat but not too soft, but if yours was in the fridge, microwave for about 20 seconds and you should be good to go.

Add the butter to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Then, beat in the cocoa powder and powdered sugar until thick and creamy. Finally, beat in the milk and vanilla.

I used these large piping tips to get the ruffled look, but you can also take a blob of buttercream on a knife and swirl it around and it’ll taste just the same.

If you are going to use piping tips, the consistency of the buttercream is really important. Too thin and it won’t hold the shape, too thick and it won’t twirl around the cupcake. When in doubt, this video tutorial is really helpful when frosting!

The best flour for gluten free baking

There are other GF all purpose baking flours out there, but not all of them are the same blend. You can definitely try using other ones, but it may yield a slightly different result.

Whichever you use, make sure it has xanthan gum in the mix. 

This recipe does not call for almond flour because I wanted to keep it nut free, but you can try my almond flour chocolate cake instead! It’s just as rich and delicious, I promise!

How to store and freeze

Once prepared, these cupcakes will store for about 3-5 days. Keep them in an air tight container at room temperature for best results. Keeping them sealed will ensure these cupcakes stay nice and moist.

If you’re wondering if gluten free cupcakes can be frozen, the short answer is yes!

However, you’ll want to freeze them before they are frosted. I do not recommend storing these in the fridge, because gluten free baked goods can dry out if they get too cold unfortunately.

Try these recipes next

• Chocolate Energy Bites
• Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
• Red Velvet Cupcakes
• Lemon Cupcakes
• Gluten Free Mini Cupcakes

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