These vegan chocolate cupcakes are light, fluffy and made in just one bowl! They’re gluten free and are topped with an easy vegan chocolate buttercream. The perfect easy dessert recipe!
As I’m sure you know by now, all of my recipes are gluten free and I also create many vegan ones as well. Gluten free baking can be hard enough as it is, so recipes that are both gluten free and vegan are always a challenge.
I was expecting to get really frustrated with this vegan chocolate cupcake recipe before I even started testing, but it actually only took three tries to get these exactly perfectly right.
For reference, it takes some gf/v recipes like my brownies, up to 10 tries to perfect. So as you can imagine, I was pleasantly surprised to get these right so quickly!
These feature both gluten free all purpose flour (though you can just use regular if you aren’t gluten free), and almond flour to keep them light, fluffy and moist.
They have the perfect cupcake texture with just the right amount of sweetness and chocolate. If you love this recipe, try my vegan chocolate cake next!
Key ingredients
FLOUR. You will need a mix of gluten free all purpose baking flour and almond flour for this recipe. If you are not gluten free, just swap for all purpose flour, but still use the almond flour, it adds a lot of moisture!
SUGAR. You can use any kind of granulated sugar. I prefer white or light brown, but coconut also works for a refined sugar free option.
COCOA. Cocoa powder will of course make these vegan chocolate cupcakes!
OIL. I like using a neutral oil, but even olive oil works really well in chocolate recipes.
COFFEE. I promise, you won’t taste it! The coffee just enhances the chocolate flavor, but you can use boiling hot water if you prefer.
MILK. I suggest soy milk because the added protein content helps replace some of the fluffy lost without the use of eggs.
How to make vegan cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a muffin tray with liners and set aside.
Whisk together all wet ingredients in a bowl. If your milk was in the fridge, just warm it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Add in the dry ingredients, making sure to spoon and level to flours.
Whisk together until a batter forms. Scoop into the lined tray, filling about 3/4 of the way up.
Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. My oven is always 20 minutes, but all ovens are different.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes, then remove from the tray and let cool on a cooling rack until completely cool.
Frost with vegan chocolate buttercream or vegan vanilla buttercream.
Why did my cupcakes fall apart?
Vegan and gluten free baking is tricky, but these cupcakes should definitely not fall apart if you follow the recipe! We’re using some apple sauce to bind everything together plus a mix of flours to ensure to they don’t get too crumbly.
Plus, we’re using a combination of baking soda and vinegar, which when used in the right amounts, can act as an egg replacement by giving the cupcake a nice rise.
How to store
Once prepared, these vegan chocolate cupcakes will keep in the fridge for about 5 days or at room temperature for about 3. If kept at room temp, keep in mind the butter in the frosting will start to melt slightly and infused into the cupcake, making it very moist.
This is good in terms of preventing it from drying out, but it can seem soggy if left for too long, so keep this in mind!
How to prevent sinking in the middle
To prevent the cupcakes from sinking in the middle, you want to make sure you don’t open the oven while they’re baking and don’t over mix the batter. Mix just until combined!
Opening the oven while baking will cause a rapid drop in temperature (it’s more dramatic than you’d think!) which will prevent the cupcakes from cooking through in the middle.
If the center is unsupported, the cupcakes will sink. Just use your oven light if you need to take a look!
Flour tips
I used the Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten free baking flour, which I highly recommend if you’re making these GF! You can try other brands, just make sure it has xanthan gum in the mix.
You do not have to make these vegan gluten free cupcakes, just use regular all purpose flour in place of the gluten free if you want these to strictly be vegan.
You’ll still want to use the almond flour however, there is no good replacement or sub for this and is key to the light & moist texture.
More desserts you’ll love!
- Vegan Lemon Cupcakes
- Gluten Free Chocolate Cake
- Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Chocolate Protein Cake
- Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lastly, if you want more recipes straight to your inbox, be sure to subscribe to my email list. As always, if you make this recipe, be sure to tag me on instagram and leave a comment below so I can see your creation!
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
by: claire cary
Ingredients
Wet:
- ⅓ cup oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar white or brown both work
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup soy milk
- ½ cup fresh brewed coffee or hot water
- 2 tablespoons apple sauce
- 2 teaspoons apple cider or white vinegar
Dry:
- 1 ¼ cup gluten free all purpose baking flour can sub regular
- ¾ cup blanched almond flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a muffin tray with liners and set aside.
- Whisk together all wet ingredients in a bowl. If your milk was in the fridge, just warm it in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
- Add in the dry ingredients, making sure to spoon and level to flours.
- Whisk together until a batter forms.
- Scoop into the lined tray, filling about 3/4 of the way up.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. My oven is always 20 minutes, but all ovens are different.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes, then remove from the tray and let cool on a cooling rack until completely cool.
- Frost with vegan chocolate buttercream.
Corinne says
This cupcake recipe is the best GF vegan one I have found to date and are even BETTER than any kind I’ve purchased from a specialty bakery! They are moist, light, hold their shape beautifully and don’t have that gritty texture some gluten free items tend to have! Also, I’ve ALWAYS had a problem with my vegan baked goods sinking in the middle (even when I was using an already vegan recipe!) and I DO NOT have that issue with these. YOU MUST TRY THEM!!!!!
Claire Cary says
You are so sweet, thank you Corinne! Hope you try out some other recipes too 🙂
Dzifa Job says
These cupcakes were easy to make. In fact Eat with Clarity is my go to site if I’m looking to create something that’s gluten free, dairy free and yummy. All of Claire’s recipes are easy. The mac and cheese is another of my faves. When I made these cupcakes, my bf said it was the best he’s eaten in life. Claire – thank you all the way from Trinidad for make sure that eating dairy free and gluten free is not bland, boring or tasteless.
Claire Cary says
That just made my day, thank you so much Dzifa! That is my whole goal with Eat With Clarity and it makes me so happy that you’ve enjoyed everything! Than you for the love 🙂