Today is Little Miss’s half birthday, which means that we do cupcakes. Because that’s how we roll here: cakes are for your whole birthday, and cupcakes celebrate your half birthday. This year, Little Miss asked for chocolate cupcakes.
Bleh.
I am the rare person who actually doesn’t really like chocolate cake. Except for molten chocolate cake, which is in an entirely different category altogether. That said, I needed to make a cupcake that tasted good.
Oh yeah, and that was dairy and nut-free since Little Miss is again off dairy. And her best friend in kindergarten has an egg allergy. So I got really creative. And I made a cupcake that is vegan (dairy and egg-free), soy-free, egg-free, rice-free, and nut-free. And then put an awesome chocolate ganache topping on it.
When I picked up Little Miss from school today, her teachers told me that they were … wary of the cupcakes. Looking at all the things that weren’t in the cupcakes, they weren’t sure whether they wanted to even try them. I have to admit that I’d probably feel the same way. But the teachers told me they were awesome cupcakes. In fact, one teacher followed me to beg for a leftover cupcake. My husband told me these were probably the best cupcakes I’d ever made. And he might be right.
How to Make Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes
Place the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a large bowl. Stir well to combine.
Some links in this article are affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them.
Chop your cherries into smaller pieces – even in half would be fine. I’m lazy and just chop until there aren’t any pieces that are too big for me. Note that I was making a double batch (36 cupcakes) and this is 1 cup of cherries for that reason.
Using a liquid measuring cup, put in your water, then the oil atop that (to avoid dirtying yet another dish!) with the vinegar and vanilla atop that.
Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients slowly while mixing. Stir only until mostly combined, then add the chopped cherries and mix until they are barely distributed – don’t overmix this.
Immediately scoop the batter into cupcake pans, filling them a little less than 2/3 of the way full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes until a cake taster comes out clean.
I frost mine with my chocolate ganache, which is a really yummy cooked icing. They. Were. Awesome.
Chocolate Cinnamon Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup dried cherries chopped
Instructions
- Place the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a large bowl. Stir well to combine.1 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, 2/3 cup cocoa powder, 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Chop your cherries into smaller pieces – even in half would be fine.
- Using a liquid measuring cup, put in your water, then the oil with the vinegar and vanilla atop that.1 cup water, 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients slowly while mixing. Stir only until mostly combined, then add the chopped cherries and mix until they are barely distributed – don’t overmix this.1/2 cup dried cherries
- Immediately scoop the batter into cupcake pans, filling them a little less than 2/3 of the way full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes until a cake taster comes out clean.
- Frost with chocolate ganache. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Use the non-alkalized kind for the cocoa powder.
- For more tips and tricks, be sure to read the full article above.
Nutrition
This site uses an online source to provide nutrition estimates as a courtesy. If you need exact values, please calculate yourself.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Chocolate and cinnamon is such an excellent combination that I often wonder why it's not used more. These cupcakes look beautiful. I am going to try them.
That ganache looks amazing! Glad they were a hit.
Yummo!!
Pattie – It is a great combination and worked really well for the Mexican slant to her kindergarten. They were super easy. Little Miss actually did all of it herself, except for the liquid pouring.
Cris – Super easy, too. I never measure: a bit of butter (non dairy for us), milk (rice milk), cocoa, and powdered sugar. Cook until it comes off the spatula easily then add a bit of vanilla and coat the cupcakes immediately. It's like a fudge top. Yum!
Susie – Absolutely. Although not nearly so beautiful as your cupcakes!
Hungry! Hungry! Hungry! Thanks Michelle!
Kelly – Enjoy. I'm still surprised that these were as good as they were. AND I just got a new cupcake book. Can't WAIT to try out some new ones 🙂 (And change them up to suit me, too)