If you're looking for a light wedding cake type cupcake check out my white cupcake recipe.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes are topped with a cinnamon flavored Mexican hot cocoa frosting and a smidge of fluffy, toasted marshmallow buttercream so that you'll get that rich hot chocolate flavor in each decadent bite.
You'll find even more cupcake recipes in this 65 best cupcakes recipes round up!
🥄 Equipment
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
🥫 Storage
Cover frosted cupcakes with plastic wrap or put them in an airtight cupcake carrier and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months.
💭 Tips
Expert Tip: You can use the same amount (3.2) of milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate plus ½ teaspoon each of ground chipotle chiles and cinnamon if you can't find Mexican chocolate.
- If you don't have espresso just use a strong, black coffee.
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
- Don't overbake the cupcakes - they'll be dry.
- Fill cupcake pans ¾ to allow them to rise properly in the oven.
👩🍳 FAQs
It's made with ground, roasted cacao nibs which gives the chocolate a distinctive flavor.
Yes, you can use the same amount of bittersweet chocolate but the flavor won't be the same.
🤔 What Is Mexican Chocolate?
Mexican chocolate is different than other kinds of chocolate. It's gritty, for one thing, and has cinnamon and spices added. It comes in a round disc and you break off a couple of wedges and melt it in your milk for hot chocolate. If you really want to warm up, and you're over 21, you add a couple of gluggs of tequila!
SO good.
These Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes taste like my favorite hot chocolate. They won't warm you up but they ARE a great way to end a meal.
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You May Need...
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Mexican chocolate is available in grocery stores here in Texas but you may need to find a Mexican or Latin American market where you are. OR you can do it the easy way and order from Amazon. Ibarra is my favorite brand but there are several.
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
📞 The last word
Warm and cozy flavors make these Hot Chocolate Cupcakes especially nice during the cold weather months. They're unique and a little exotic - and who doesn't need a little more exotic in their lives?
This cupcake recipe is so much fun to make with the kids because even the littlest guys can add the garnish to the top!
If you're looking for a light wedding cake type cupcake check out my white cupcake recipe.
📖 Recipe
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter, room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 3.2 ounces Mexican Chocolate, I used 1 disc of Ibarra
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 3 egg yolks, room temperature
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup dark cocoa powder
- ½ cup espresso, cooled to room temperature
Hot Chocolate Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups Confectioner's sugar
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 3.2 ounces Mexican chocolate
- 1 ounce instant hot chocolate mix, 1 packet
- 1 tablespoon chocolate instant pudding mix
Marshmallow Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 4 cups Confectioner's sugar
- 13 ounces marshmallow creme
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Mix the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and cocoa - set aside.
- Whisk the oil, buttermilk, and vanilla together - set aside.
- Heat the chocolate in the microwave until it is very soft - it won't get runny because of how Mexican chocolate it made.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the butter and sugar until well combined.
- Beat the chocolate into the butter mixture.
- Add the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time until well blended.
- Add the the oil mixture.
- With the mixer on low add the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Blend in the espresso.
- Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cupcakes rest in the cupcake tins for a minute or two before removing them to a cooling rack.
- Frost when completely cool.
Hot Chocolate Frosting
- Heat the cream just under a boil in the microwave.
- Add the Mexican chocolate and stir until thick and creamy - no lumps remain. It will be a little grainy because of the Mexican chocolate - it's ok.
- Stir in the hot chocolate mix and set aside.
- In the bowl of your mixer cream the butter.
- With mixer on low beat in half the Confectioner's sugar until crumbly.
- Add the remaining Confectioner's sugar and pudding mix.
- Beat until well mixed.
- With mixer running slowly pour in the cream mixture.
- Blend well and then turn the mixer up to medium high and whip until light and fluffy.
Marshmallow Frosting
- Whip together the butter and half the Confectioner's sugar.
- When crumbly add the almond extract.
- Slowly beat in the remaining Confectioner's sugar.
- Whip for 1 minute.
- Beat in the marshmallow creme
Assembly
- Swirl the hot chocolate frosting on the cupcake.
- Top with a swirl of the marshmallow frosting.
Notes
- If you don't have espresso just use a strong, black coffee.
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
- Don't overbake the cupcakes - they'll be dry.
- Fill cupcake pans ¾ to allow them to rise properly in the oven.
Nutrition Facts
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.That Moment When You NEED Hot Chocolate (Cupcakes or Cup)
Ok... so we don't get a lot of winter in Texas, I'll admit, but when the barb wire between the North Pole and Dallas City Limits blows down it gets bone shatteringly cold.
There's something about going from 70 degrees one day to 15 degrees the next day that will jar you to the center of your soul.
Seriously.
One time when I was around 14 I decided to go visit a friend that lived down the hill from where I lived. It was Christmas break but a gorgeous 75 degree afternoon so I strolled down the street barefoot and in cut-off shorts and a t-shirt.
We retreated to her room to hide from her pesky brothers and listened to Partridge Family, Bobby Sherman, and Three Dog Night albums.
Back then you stacked your vinyl records up on the record player and as one finished the next one dropped so that you had uninterrupted listening pleasure.
We were lounging on the thick, pink shag carpet on her bedroom floor and painting our nails while talking about ... well you know. Those things 14 year old girls talk about.
I didn't notice that the sky had darkened until she jumped up and flipped on her bedroom light.
As she did she caught sight of what was going on outside her window and she turned to me with a look of horror. "It's sleeting," she whispered hoarsely.
And it was.
I walked up that hill barefoot, without a coat, and with most of my skin exposed to a brisk wind that whipped my hair around my face and made my legs go numb in seconds.
I was never SO glad to get home in my life!
When it's that kind of cold my favorite drink is a frothy Mexican hot chocolate only now I'm apt to add a little bourbon to it.
First published October 16, 2017. Last updated August 7, 2021 for readability and better user experience.
Melissa
I made these for my niece’s bridal shower. Her fiancé is Mexican and I wanted a nod to his family for the event. They were delicious! Just the right amount of spice. I made it as described - no changes. I was able to find Abuelita instant hot cocoa at my local grocery store and they had the chocolate there as well. All positive reviews! Wonderful balanced flavors with the cocoa buttercream and the marshmallow buttercream. They were a hit! Glad I used this recipe over others.
Alice S.
What is the garnish on the hot chocolate cupcakes?
Marye
melted chocolate formed into a shape and let cool.
Jessica Watkins
I'm only 1/2 way through the process on these cupcakes and they smell divine but they deflated. I took to heart not cooking them too long and they came out of the oven perfect, but deflated after resting a bit. Not sure what I did wrong but I guess it just means more frosting!
Wendy
Perfect cupcakes!!
Catherine @ Whine and Dancing
These cupcakes look divine! I have a huge weakness for chocolate, especially rich, high quality chocolate. I want to just dive into those cupcakes right now!
Marye Audet
🙂 thanks! They're one of my favorite flavors.