The Ultimate Death-by-Chocolate Cupcakes

(Yes, They’re as Dangerous as They Sound)

Posted on November 18, 2025 by the BakeCraft Tools Team

If you’ve been on baking TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen cupcakes so fudgy and glossy they look fake. Spoiler: most of them are heavily edited.

These are not those cupcakes.

These are the real-deal, one-bowl, 30-minute Death-by-Chocolate Cupcakes that have been breaking our DMs for the past week. One tester said, “I actually gasped when I cut one open.” Another said she had to hide them from her husband… in the laundry room.

Here’s the full recipe plus the exact BakeCraft Tools we refuse to live without while making them.

Why These Cupcakes Win Every Time

•  Deep chocolate flavor from both cocoa powder and hot coffee (don’t worry, you won’t taste coffee—it just amplifies the chocolate)

•  Insanely moist crumb that stays soft for 3 days (if they last that long)

•  Surprise molten ganache core

•  Sky-high swirl of silky chocolate buttercream that holds its shape like a pro

Ingredients (makes 12 standard cupcakes)

For the cupcakes

•  150 g all-purpose flour

•  200 g granulated sugar

•  50 g unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch-processed if you have it)

•  1 tsp baking soda

•  ½ tsp fine salt

•  1 large egg (room temp)

•  120 ml buttermilk

•  120 ml hot coffee (or hot water)

•  80 ml neutral oil (vegetable/canola)

•  1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Ganache filling

•  100 g dark chocolate (60-70%), chopped

•  100 ml heavy cream

Chocolate buttercream

•  200 g unsalted butter, softened but still cool

•  300 g powdered sugar

•  80 g unsweetened cocoa powder

•  4–6 Tbsp heavy cream or milk

•  1 tsp vanilla + pinch of salt

Step-by-Step (with the BakeCraft Tools we actually used)

1.  Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F) and line your BakeCraft Tools 12-Cup Non-Stick Muffin Pan with liners. (Trust us—these cupcakes release like a dream even without greasing.)

2.  In a large bowl, whisk all dry ingredients (flour → salt). The BakeCraft Pro Stainless Whisk glides through in seconds—no lumps, no flying cocoa clouds.

3.  Add all wet ingredients and mix just until smooth (about 30 seconds). The batter will be thin—that’s correct!

4.  Fill liners ⅔ full (we love the BakeCraft Portion Scoop for zero mess). Bake 17–19 minutes. A toothpick should come out with moist crumbs, not wet batter.

5.  While they bake, make the ganache: heat cream until steaming, pour over chopped chocolate, wait 2 minutes, stir until glossy. Done.

6.  Cool cupcakes 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a rack. While still warm, use the small end of a piping tip or the BakeCraft Cupcake Corer to remove the centers. Spoon in warm ganache—it will sink in and create that lava effect.

7.  Buttercream time: Beat softened butter 1 minute until creamy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa, salt, and vanilla. Drizzle in cream while mixing until fluffy. The BakeCraft Reusable Piping Bag + 1M Open Star Tip gives you that bakery swirl on the very first try—no practice needed.

8.  Pipe tall swirls, add a drizzle of leftover ganache, maybe a sprinkle of flaky salt or chocolate shavings. Try not to cry tears of joy.

Pro Tips from the BakeCraft Kitchen

•  Hot coffee is the secret weapon. Decaf works too.

•  Don’t overbake—18 minutes is usually perfect.

•  Make the ganache first so it has time to thicken slightly before filling.

•  Store at room temp for 2 days or fridge for 5 (bring to room temp before serving for maximum fudginess).

The Tools That Made This Stupidly Easy

•  12-Cup Non-Stick Muffin Pan → perfect release every single time

•  Pro Stainless Whisk Set → lightweight, ergonomic, and dishwasher-safe

•  Reusable Silicone Piping Bag + 6-Nozzle Set → no exploding disposable bags ever again

•  Cupcake Corer → uniform centers in one twist (or just use a tip if you’re old-school)

Ready to make the cupcakes that will ruin all other cupcakes for you? Grab the full BakeCraft Chocolate Cupcake Kit here (limited bundles with the exact tools + printable recipe card included).

Tag us @bakecrafttools and #BakeCraftChocolate when you make them—we repost our favorites every single week (and yes, we’ve sent surprise tool bundles to a few bakers already 👀).

Now go preheat that oven. Your new favorite recipe is waiting.

Happy baking! 🍫🧁

—The BakeCraft Tools Team