Whatever you had planned as a Father’s Day dessert, cancel it! You will want to make these Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting topped with sweet Bourbon Glaze. These cupcakes are unbelievably delicious, soft, and sweet with lots of chocolate flavors and a hint of bourbon.
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
What an amazing treat these cupcakes would make for any dad this Father’s day! I think these cupcakes even trump my Root Beer Cupcakes with Cream Soda Frosting from last year. Those were fantastic cupcakes, don’t get me wrong, but these are on a whole new level.
Of course, you would have to love chocolate to enjoy these little pieces of chocolate heaven because this is recipe is for chocolate lovers for sure. The cupcakes and the frosting is rich in chocolate.
Chocolate cupcakes themselves are made with addition of bourbon. Chocolate and bourbon makes a delicious flavor combination and wonderful in sweet desserts. Bourbon is not just for savory dishes, it enhances the flavor of chocolate and aroma that will fill your house is intoxicating!
Of course, what else could I pair these delightful cupcakes with but my chocolate buttercream frosting. It’s so creamy and smooth, with just the right amount of chocolate so it is not overbearing.
It’s perfect frosting for cupcakes, any cake, and great for dipping fruit. Try a banana or a strawberry with some of this chocolate buttercream, it will change your world.
I also made an easy bourbon glaze to drizzle on top. This addition is optional for those who don’t like to cook with alcohol but HIGHLY recommended. It brings everything together and adds a great flavor pop. (This bourbon glaze is slow simmered for quite a while, so the alcohol does cook out.) Some of the drizzle also seeps into the cupcake, between the cupcake liner and the cake, and it’s so delicious!
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
Chocolate cupcakes are my favorite because they taste rich, soft, and moist. Another reason it because it’s very hard to mess them up.
Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly spray cupcake pan with cooking spray. Line each cup with cupcake liners.
In a small saucepot, mix water with unsweetened cocoa powder and bring it to a simmer. Stir in bourbon and cook for about a minute and set the moisture aside to cool.
In a bowl of an electric mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined.
Separately, whisk together the vegetable oil, vanilla extract, eggs, and sour cream.
Slowly pour in the egg mixture into the dry ingredients while mixing on low speed. Once it’s combined, bring the speed up to medium and beat for about two minutes.
Lower the speed to low again and slowly pour in the hot cocoa mixture. Mix until just combined and turn off the mixer.
Using a rubber spatula, scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl, continue mixing with the spatula until the batter is smooth.
Scoop batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 of the way. I like to use an ice cream scoop that way I get an even amount of batter each time. Bake for 18-20 minutes. To check if the cupcakes are done, do a toothpick test at 18 minutes.
Cool cupcakes completely before frosting.
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING
I highly recommend using a double boiler for melting chocolate. If you don’t have a double boiler, set a glass mixing bowl over a pot of water. Use a bowl that fits into the pot about half way. Warm the chocolate in a double boiler until melted and allow to cool slightly.
NOTE: if you are not able to use a double boiler, you can use microwave but be careful or the chocolate might seize. Heat chocolate in a microwave in 30-45 second intervals at half the power.
Beat softened butter until it is fluffy on high speed (3-5 minutes), lower the speed to low and add in icing sugar and the egg yolk alternately, beating after each addition.
The mixture should be very fluffy. Set the mixer speed to medium low and gradually drizzle in melted chocolate.
Transfer the frosting into a pastry bag and frost the cooled cupcakes.
HOW TO STORE CUPCAKES
Make sure to store cupcakes in the refrigerator.
It’s best to store cupcakes in an air-tight container with a lid. Many cupcake bake pans come with a plastic lid that can be latched onto the pan to make it air-tight. I highly recommend using that kind of baking pan with a lid to store the cupcakes. Cupcakes will be kept safe in the pan and away from contact with the air.
Frosted cupcakes should last 2-3 days stored in an air-tight container, in the refrigerator.
SOME MORE RECIPES TO TRY
Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes
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Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting and Bourbon Glaze
Ingredients
Chocolate Cupcakes
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups hot water
- 1/4 cup bourbon
- 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 eggs room temperature
- 3/4 cups vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- 16 oz unsalted butter room temperature
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 5 oz dark semi-sweet chocolate melted and cooled a little
Bourbon Glaze
- 3/4 cup bourbon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly spray cupcake pan with cooking spray. Line each cup with cupcake liners.
- In a small sauce pot, mix water with unsweetened cocoa powder. Bring to simmer and stir in bourbon. Simmer for about a minute and set aside to cool.
- In a bowl of an electric mixer, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix until combined.
- Separately, whisk together the vegetable oil, vanilla extract, eggs and sour cream.
- On low speed, slowly pour in the egg mixture into the dry ingredients. Once it's combined, bring the speed up to medium and beat for about two minutes.
- Lower the speed to low again and slowly pour in the hot cocoa mixture. Mix until just combined. Turn off the mixer.
- Using the spatula, scrape the sides and the bottom of the bowl, continue mixing with the spatula until the batter is smooth.
- Pour patter into the cupcake liners, filling them about 3/4 of the way. I use an ice cream scoop to get even amount of batter each time. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Do a toothpick test at 18 minutes to check for doneness.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Bourbon Glaze
- Glaze should be prepared ahead of time to allow it enough time to cool before adding to cupcakes.
- In a small sauce pot, over medium heat, whisk sugar and bourbon together and bring it to simmer. Cook for about 10-15 minutes, until the mixture is reduced in half. Cool completely.
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
- Warm the chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave until melted and allow to cool slightly.
- Beat butter until it is fluffy (about 3-5 minutes) high speed, lower the speed to low and add in icing sugar and the egg yolk alternately, beating after each addition.
- The mixture should be very fluffy.
- With the mixer on medium low, gradually drizzle in melted chocolate.
- Transfer the frosting to the pastry bag and frost the cooled cupcakes.
- After the cupcakes are frosted, slowly drizzle with the glaze from the top, letting it pour down, and have some of it run off into the liner, that way it gets to the cupcake under the cupcake liner.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles on June 8, 2014. Updated June 10, 2019.
Dawn (Nana) says
I LOVE the idea of chocolate and bourbon + brown sugar glaze! I make a rum glaze that I use often, and now I will have to try your bourbon glaze. Thanks for this recipe; I’ll be sure to link to your site if I publish my results on my blog.
lyuba says
I hope you enjoy it, Dawn! Thank you!
Charlotte says
Hi! Making these for my husband’s birthday tomorrow. When do you add the bourbon glaze? Thanks!
lyuba says
Hi Charlotte! Thank you for your comment, looks like I didn’t mention it. All the way at the end, after the cupcakes are frosted, slowly drizzle with the glaze and have some of it run off into the liner, that way it gets to the cupcake under the cupcake liner.
Sorry about that!
I hope you both enjoy it 🙂
Trudy Tubbs says
Regarding the chocolate buttercream frosting, do you really mean to add 3 raw egg yolks?
lyuba says
Hi Trudy,
Yes, the egg yolks are raw. I’ve made this recipe for many people and on multiple occasions but if you are worried about the raw egg, you can try heating it to 145 degree temperature in a double boiler first. You can find steps to do that in the tiramisu recipe: https://www.willcookforsmiles.com/2015/02/the-best-classic-tiramisu.html
I hope this helps!
Maj says
Going to a Derby party this weekend. Wondering how far in advance I can make these and when to add the drizzle?
They look AWESOME! Thank you
Laura says
I made these and they turned out delicious but I question the egg yolks in the icing? I was leary bc that’s unsafe to do. I ended up throwing the icing out and using my personal choc buttercream recipe in place of it. Just wondering why the uncooked egg?
Melinda Feeney says
I wos wondering the same thing! I’m wondering if she meant egg whites? Egg whites give frosting some stiffness for piping. Hm. I may try the egg whites and see how it turns out. 🙂
Taylor says
Actually I believe you can eat a raw egg yolk but advised not to eat raw egg whites! That’s just what my dr told me! Very late reply but Incase anyone else reads this threat and questions it!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Oh my goodness these cupcakes look perfect! How do you get your frosting to look so beautiful!?!?! Majorly impressed!
lyuba says
Awww, thank you Chris! You should have seen my cupcakes years ago..not as good looking 🙂 I’m getting better!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
Wowzers I can see why you fell in love with that frosting! I’m in love with this whole cupcake!
lyuba says
Thank you, Julie 🙂 !
marcie says
These cupcakes are gorgeous and the bourbon flavor must be so delicious here! I really need to get myself some bourbon. 🙂
lyuba says
So good! Thank you so much, Marcie!
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes says
Delish!! They look totally amazing, Lyuba!
lyuba says
Thank you so much, Jamie!
Matt Robinson says
I love chocolate and bourbon together, these look amazing!!!
lyuba says
It’s awesome, Matt! Thank you!
Ellie says
Hi there, will this work with regular coco powder or dutch process?
Thanks!
lyuba says
I used unsweetened baking cocoa but dutch processed baking cocoa will work too. If you will be trying regular sweetened, I would recommend you trying the batter for sweetness before adding sugar.
Hope you enjoy it, Ellie!
How to Philosophize with Cake says
Woah those look awesome! You can’t go wrong with booze in cupcakes. 🙂 Love the addition of bourbon glaze, such a great idea! 😀
lyuba says
Not at all! Thank you so much!