Rich and moist mocha cupcakes with salted caramel frosting and drizzled with homemade salted caramel sauce.
The salted caramel frosting is the perfect match for these rich chocolate cupcakes.
Mocha Cupcakes
This recipe has been my go-to for many years. I've made these chocolate cupcakes for birthdays, potlucks, and Holiday celebrations.
This chocolate cupcake base has never failed me and everyone's feedback is positive. I make these cupcakes several times a year and they always come out delicious!
The trick to getting chocolate cupcakes the ultimate chocolate flavor is to add coffee into the mix. It enhances the chocolate richness and gives it a mocha flavor.
To get moist and delicious cupcakes buttermilk is a must when making this recipe! If there is no buttermilk on hand, the substitution of 1 cup of milk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice will yield the same results.
Simply mix the milk and lemon juice together and allow it to sit for about 3 minutes and then use the required amount that the recipe calls for.
RELATED: Irish Cream Cupcakes
Salted Caramel Frosting
Salted caramel pairs beautifully with chocolate so what better way to pair those flavors together than in a cupcake! This frosting uses my salted caramel sauce as an ingredient and it also doubles as the drizzle on these cupcakes.
Salted Caramel Sauce
Salted caramel sauce is easy to make at home and it's delicious drizzled on these cupcakes and it makes a delicious buttercream frosting.
This sauce is made on the stovetop and it takes less than 15 minutes to make. Allow the sauce to cool completely when using it to make buttercream frosting or else it will melt the sugars and the frosting won't pipe.
The sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 week - there will be some left! It tastes great as a dipper for fruit!
RELATED: Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
📖 Recipe
Mocha Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Equipment
Ingredients
Chocolate Cupcakes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs - room temp
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar - packed - I used Imperial Sugar
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup hot water
- 2 teaspoon instant coffee
Salted Caramel Frosting
- 1 cup butter - softened, unsalted
- ⅓ cup salted caramel sauce - use extra for drizzle
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup half and half - (if needed)
Instructions
Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Place 18 cupcake liners in muffin tins.
- In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together.
- In a separate bowl, beat together room temperature eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
- Combine hot water and the 2 teaspoon of instant coffee until dissolved. Add to bowl.
- Add in the buttermilk and stir together the ingredients until just combined. Don't over mix.
- Fill the cupcake liners about ¾ of the way full and bake in the oven for 14-16 minutes. Check the center with a toothpick to see if they're done. (The center will come out clean)
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
Salted Caramel Frosting
- Beat together the softened butter until creamy.
- Add in the vanilla extract.
- Beat in the salted caramel sauce.
- Beat in the powdered sugar slowly.
- Add in the ¼ cup half & half a little at a time until desired creaminess is achieved. Add more if you want it more creamy.
- Pipe onto cool cupcakes.
- Drizzle with additional salted caramel sauce.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Wendy Klik says
Mocha and Salted Caramel!!! Oh my YUM!
Karen says
You had me at salted caramel. These look amazing. I pinned it.
Robbin Tyo says
On the Mocha Cupcake with Salted Carmel Frosting recipe it does not list shortening as an ingredient for frosting but includes shortening in directions.
Dana says
Hi Robbin!
Somehow my Vanilla Frosting recipe snuck in on the recipe card. It has been replaced with the Salted Caramel Frosting directions. The ingredients list are still correct. Thank you!