Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Filling

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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!

Chocolate cupcake with a bite taken out

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.

close up of chocolate cupcake on black platter

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.

Chocolate cupcake with a bite taken out

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.

chocolate cupcakes on black platter

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.

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Chocolate cupcake with a bite taken out
Recipe

Moist Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache Filling

  • Author: Lindsay
  • 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
  • 45 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!

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43 Comments
  1. Anne Jernigan

    These cupcakes were absolutely delicious. I used this recipe for my Christmas cupcakes and there were no leftovers. This will be my go to recipe from now on!!!






  2. Brittany

    Did you just update this? I was literally in the middle of following it about to add the buttermilk and my page refreshed and now my measurements of previous ingredients are off. I’m panicking as I’m baking for a wedding and this has been my go to chocolate cupcake recipe.






  3. Maryann Durkin

    I’m sorry I started this I got to where you’re talking and it’s confusing me about adding milk where I already added milk to the cocoa powder now you’re telling me to add the cocoa powder to the batter what batter alternate adding flour with the milk I already put the milk in the cocoa butter I am so confused I’ll do my best I hope I don’t have to end up making another batch of cupcakes after this😑

    1. Lindsay

      The directions don’t say to add milk to the cocoa powder. The cocoa powder is mixed with the water and vanilla extract, then added to the batter. Then you alternate adding the milk and the dry ingredients. I hope that helps.

      1. Maryann Durkin

        I think I got mixed up reading this on my phone having to scroll up and down. In the future I will print the recipe out. I was confused wanting to add the cocoa mixture to the BATTER. The batter is just the butter, eggs and sugar creamed together then I presume. Because after that then you say add the flour.. I don’t consider it the batter until the flour is in it. They did all turn out great and everybody loved them, they thought I bought them at the store. thank you

  4. Michelle

    Love your recipes!! I have made several and they are amazing!! Wondering, could I substitute coffee for the water in these cupcakes? Thanks!

  5. Molly

    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!!!!






  6. Anna

    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!

    1. Lindsay

      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.

  7. Mary

    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?

  8. Jade

    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!






  9. Valerie

    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.

  10. Madisson

    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!!






  11. Ireen

    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.

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I'm a wife and a mom to twin boys and a baby girl! And I've got a serious sweets addiction! Bring on the treats!

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29