Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes

Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes is a cake recipe built around cocoa powder, hot water and all-purpose flour. Plan on 24 cupcakes and about 33 minutes.

• Yield 24 cupcakes
• Ready in 33 minutes
• Prep 15 minutes
• Cook 18 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (Dutch-process or regular unsweetened)
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter (at room temperature)
• 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup sour cream

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 standard cupcake pans with paper liners. In a glass liquid measuring cup, combine the cocoa powder and hot water and whisk until smooth.
2. In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
3. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter and sugar (I often do this in the microwave so I can use the same bowl for mixing). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is smooth and the butter is completely melted.
4. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer (or to a stand-alone bowl, using a handheld electric mixer) and beat on medium-low speed until the mixture is cool, about 4-5 minutes.
5. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla and then the cocoa mixture until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three additions alternating with the sour cream, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing each addition just until incorporated. So basically you'll add 1/3 of the flour, mix, then add 1/2 of the sour cream, mix, add another 1/3 of the flour, mix, add the rest of the sour cream, and finish with the last 1/3 of the dry ingredients.
6. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling no more than 2/3 full. If you live at a high altitude or have had overflowing cupcakes in the past, err on the side of filling the liner of one cupcake 1/2 full and baking it alone first to judge how the cupcake will rise in the oven.
7. Bake the cupcakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 15-18 minutes. Remove the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.

Let the center settle before you cut it, or the slices will slump.