Homemade Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes that are not only rich and delicious with a delectable chocolate flavor. They are also super simple to make!

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What is So Special About Cupcakes?

Cupcakes. Tiny little cakes. They are the ultimate dessert because they can be casual or fancy.

For instance, we had cupcakes from the same bakery for our wedding, our first child’s gender reveal, and for a just because Saturday.

When we lived in PA, there were even several cupcake shops in the neighboring city. A whole shop devoted to cupcakes. And they were always busy!

Once on a trip to NYC, a friend and I stopped at the famed Magnolia Bakery for one of their world famous cupcakes. The line to even get in the bakery wrapped around the block!

How can such a small dessert gain such a loyal following? Because there is definitely a right way and a wrong way to make cupcakes. Which is why you don’t see the same line stretching around the block response for your local big box store’s cupcakes.

For the Love of Chocolate

What is it about chocolate? It is one of those foods where people either love it or hate it. It’s one of the top comfort foods. So many stereotypes surround chocolate and emotion.

Sad? Have chocolate! Mad? Have chocolate. That time of the month? Chocolate. Bad break-up? Alllll the chocolate.

Whether you love it or hate it we all know that when it comes to cake. You can definitely mess it up. If its overly sweet, dry, or chalky, it’s just no good.

But a cake like this one, where the cake is moist and spongy. Almost melts in your mouth. With a smooth, authentic chocolate flavor, instead of the fake plastic tasting stuff.

Well, it really takes the cake. (Don’t worry, even I eyerolled a little at that one.)

This recipe is quick and relatively simple. A great dessert for birthday parties, holidays, bake sales, or even just a Sunday potluck.

Best of all, you probably have most of these ingredients, including the secret ingredient, in your kitchen right now!

What is the secret to super moist cupcakes?

One word: Mayonnaise! Yes you read that right, you are going to put mayo in these cupcakes.

It’s definitely the secret sauce (yes, pun intended. you probably expect this type of behavior by now.) of this recipe.

And since mayonnaise is mostly egg and oil, it makes these cupcakes light, moist, and oh so fluffy.

Don’t like mayo? (gasp!) Don’t worry, you can’t even taste the mayonnaise. But what you will taste is the amazing rich flavor of chocolate in a melt-in-your-mouth cupcake.

Intrigued by this recipe incorporating mayo? Check out these other mayo based recipes: The Most Perfect Fluffy Biscuits and Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken or as my husband calls it, mayonnaise chicken.

Recipe for Homemade Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes

Supplies You Will Need:

• large bowl
• medium bowl
• whisk
• two cupcake pans
• 24 cupcake liner papers
• hand mixer or stand mixer
• spatula
• oven

Ingredients for Cupcakes

• All Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Cocoa Powder
• Granulated Sugar
• Vanilla Extract
• Mayonnaise
• Whole Milk

Ingredients for Cupcake Frosting

• Softened Butter
• Whole Milk
• Cocoa Powder
• Powdered Sugar
• Vanilla Extract

Directions for Cupcakes

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Line 2 cupcake pans with cupcake liner papers.
• Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sugar in a large bowl.
• Add in mayonnaise, milk, and vanilla extract.
• Mix until thoroughly combined, forming a batter.
• Pour or scoop your batter directly into each cupcake liner. Fill about halfway to 3/4 full, depending on how high you want the cupcakes to be.
• Bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until a cake tester is clean when removed.

Directions for Frosting

• With your hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment, combine butter, vanilla, salt, and cocoa until smooth.
• Slowly add in powdered sugar until combined fully.
• Mix in milk in small amounts until frosting is the right texture and holds together well.
• Allow cupcakes to cool before frosting, or the frosting will melt.

Helpful Hints

Use a spoon to fill your measuring cup with flour. Scooping your flour right into the measuring cup will pack the flour down which will affect the texture of your cupcakes

I could not imagine having any of these cupcakes left over. However if you have a small crowd and simply cannot finish them all, they freeze really well!

Place in a gallon freezer bag or a covered cake pan and freeze. The will last approximately 3 months in the freezer and still taste fresh.

I prefer to leave the ones I will freeze unfrosted and then frost them when I thaw them. Makes it a lot easier to freeze them, in my opinion.

Use a spoon to fill your measuring cup with flour. Scooping your flour right into the measuring cup will pack the flour down which will affect the texture of your cupcakes.

Pro tip: for an extra rich chocolate taste, replace 1/4 cup of milk with strong brewed coffee in your cupcake batter. This made the chocolate have a smooth but slightly rich flavor. I could not taste the coffee once incorporated into the recipe.

Make sure you do not overbake these cupcakes, they will dry out if over done.

Don’t be afraid to jazz these cupcakes up a bit if you like. Sprinkles, nuts, caramel drizzle. They all work well to dress up these tiny cakes for a special occasion.

Pro tip: This one may seem a little silly, but do you want the secret to eating a cupcake without getting frosting on your nose? Cut the cake portion in half horizontally. Then take the bottom portion of cake you just cut off, turn it upside down and place on top of the frosting. Voila! Cupcake sandwich!

One Last Thing…

This may very well become your go to for picnics, bake sales, and even birthdays. The combination on decadent chocolate flavor in a quick and easy recipe makes this a dessert that you will keep coming back to.

Plan to make this? Let me know what you think in the comments below! Even better, post yours on Instagram and tag me at _thecultivationofcozy_