Spring is officially here. Why not celebrate with chocolate nest cupcakes with chocolate buttercream and chocolate eggs? (Unless you’ve given up chocolate for Lent, in which case I apologise. Perhaps save this recipe to use in a few weeks’ time?)
In my family this recipe is known as “THE” chocolate cake recipe. I think my Mum found it ages ago in a copy of Good Housekeeping. The oil and golden syrup in the recipe makes the chocolate cake dense, moist and close to a fudge cake.
I made a large sandwich cake version of this recipe last year with Cadbury’s mini eggs – you can check that out here.
As these chocolate cupcakes are smaller, I used “micro” chocolate eggs this time (yes, that’s what they were called on the packet).
This is a great recipe if you don’t have the luxury of an electric mixer to help you. As long as you sift the dry ingredients, it’ll all very easy to stir by hand without having to worry about lumps.
Ingredients (makes 18-24 chocolate cupcakes)
- 10 oz / 280 g self-raising flour
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 6 oz / 170 g caster sugar
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 0.5 pints / 280 ml / 3.4 fl oz vegetable oil (sunflower oil or any of your choice).
-
0.25 pints / 140 ml of milk (I used full fat)
-
3 tbsp golden syrup
-
0.5 tsp vanilla essence
For the buttercream:
- 125 g / 4.5 oz icing sugar
- 65 g / 2.25 oz butter
- 25 g / 1 oz dark chocolate
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C (160 fan)/ Gas Mark 4 / 350 degrees F. Put your cupcake cases into your baking trays. I managed to get 18 “decent-sized” chocolate cupcakes from the mixture. If you prefer your cupcakes smaller, you can divide the mixture between 24 cases.
Sift the flour and cocoa powder into a bowl. Add the sugar.
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients. Pour in the milk and add the bicarbonate of soda. Add the syrup, oil and vanilla. Beat until mixed well. Make sure you scrape down to the bottom of the bowl so you don’t miss any sneaky pockets of flour.
Pour the mixture into your cupcake cases:
Bake for 25-30 minutes until a knife or skewer inserted into the middle of one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Take the chocolate cupcakes out of the oven and leave to cool in the baking trays for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Decoration
Begin by cutting shallow circles out of the top of your chocolate cupcakes to create holes for the nests. In this case, a picture is far more illuminating than an explanation:
Feel free to scoff the bits you’ve cut out! 🙂
Now make the chocolate buttercream. I mixed 65 g / 2.25 oz butter with 125 g / 4.5 oz icing sugar. Once this basic buttercream mixture is smooth, add melted dark chocolate. I melted 25 g / 1 oz dark chocolate. I chopped the dark chocolate into small pieces and melted it in the microwave, giving it a minute, stirring, then additional 20-second bursts until it was all melted. You can, of course, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water.
Leave the chocolate to cool slightly before adding to the basic buttercream mix. I added a dessertspoonful of the melted chocolate at a time, stirring it through until it was fully incorporated and I had the colour and consistency of buttercream I wanted. If you do add too much melted chocolate and it leaves the buttercream too runny, add a little more icing sugar until you get the thicker consistency you want.
You can pipe the chocolate buttercream into the nests, but you can also use a knife and then a small fork to make the buttercream look “rough” and more like a nest!
Finally add the chocolate eggs to your chocolate nest cupcakes!
These chocolate nest cupcakes are best eaten within three days of baking. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.
Appreciated by children of all ages! And if you need an idea for a children’s party or school bake sale, this is perfect.
If you’re looking for other chocolate cake recipes, you could try:
Easter double layer chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream and mini eggs.
My chocolate fudge cake with chocolate buttercream rosettes.
mmmmmmmmmmm you did it again x
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Thank you 🙂 I’m sorry/not sorry to say they’ve all been scoffed!! My 4-year old was particularly keen to pick all the eggs off first 🙂
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I think I just fainted with desire! (And it isn’t a fast day!)
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I’m really glad it’s not a fast day for you today 🙂
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Me too!
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Love this! Thanks for sharing this!
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Thank you!
I like that they look cheerful and springlike. Now we just need some sunshine to go with them 🙂
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These look amazing !
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Thank you 🙂 They were lovely, even if I do say so myself!
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I want these so bad!
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They were very nice and vanished in record time!
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Oh goodness gracious me- these look like heaven!!!
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They were very nice 🙂 Sometimes you can’t have too much chocolate!
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hahaha very true!!
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Micro chocolate eggs.. so cute! These cupcakes look soooo yummy, it’s a feast for our eyes again!
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I already had the mini eggs in my shopping basket and then I saw the micro ones! 🙂
Thank you! They were delicious 🙂
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They are so cute Claire. I love it.
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Thank you 🙂
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I have given up chocolate for lent and so has my mum but I will definitely be making these when it’s over!! 🙂
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I admire your willpower so much! These will be a lovely treat after Easter 🙂
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Thanks, I’m trying, but sometimes I’m so tempted, especially when I see a recipe like this 🙂
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I need these oh my gosh. ❤ They look SO GOOD.
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They were very nice 🙂 A big hit with kids and grown-ups!
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How did I miss these?! These cupcakes look adorable and are perfect Easter sweets! 😀
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Thank you 🙂 I’ll have to make them again soon!
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Mmmm these look amazing!!! We can’t wait to bake for Easter 🙂
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Thank you. They were delicious. I hope they turn out well for you 🙂
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Delicious 😄
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Thank you! I have to make a large batch for a children’s Easter party this week 🙂
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That sounds awesome, they’ll love it!
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Yum these look so good!
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Thank you! They were delicious (even if I do say so myself) and I’m making another big batch later this week for a children’s Easter party 🙂
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I always bake something to bring to Easter lunch with my family. I think I may have found this years recipe… haha
If you have time, check out my latest post at https://tootinghustle.wordpress.com/2017/04/10/is-it-mum-or-mom/ and let me know what you think! Don’t forget to comment 🙂
Happy Blogging x
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Thank you 🙂 I hope they turn out well for you. I have to make another batch this week!
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Fantastic recipe Claire.. I was including some Easter treats in my blog update today and have included the link.. I know my lot are chocoholics. thanks Sally
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Thank you very much! 🙂
Chocoholics here too!
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Very sweet! The mini nests look adorable, as you say, for kids of all ages!
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Thank you! I’ve just made another batch today for a children’s party tomorrow… so I’ll soon find out how they go down with the masses there! 🙂
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I´m sure all polished off!
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Oh yum! These look delicious – made me want to do some Easter baking 🙂
xx
https://colourpotblog.wordpress.com/
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Thank you 🙂 I’ve made them a few times now and they’ve always been popular!
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These look adorable!
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Thank you! They’re very nice (even if I do say so myself!).
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Yum! Yum! Yum! Looks so good 😀
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Thank you! Even though I say it myself, they were delicious 🙂
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Thanks for the recipe. I am going to try this. I also have a chocolate cake recipe made with milk but the golden syrup is an unusual addition. I shall leave out the bicarb as I live high above sea level and it will be to much raising agent.
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I hope it works well for you. I’ve never had to think about the altitude issue before, always having lived in flat, low places. I hope they rise nicely 🙂
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torture!!!! I am doing a 30 day no sweets challenge (and blogging about it https://koriahweb.wordpress.com/) so all the dessert blogs are really hard to read! Looks delicious! Love good chocolate cupcake recipes!
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Thank you!
Wow! That’s an impressive challenge. Good luck! I admire your willpower 🙂
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Aww thanks!!!! All your desserts look yummy! If you want to read about my no sweets i write about it on my blog!
https://koriahweb.wordpress.com/
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This cupcake is very yummy. I always wanted to eat this but I didn’t know how to making it, now I got its recipe and I will sure try it. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us. People also can try other tasty and favorable food on Indian Famous Food
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