Everyone in my family is a huge fan of cupcakes, and really love this version that I’ve been making for as long as I can remember.

Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cups cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Fill muffin pans with 24 cupcake liners. Add all ingredients, except the boiling water, into a mixing bowl. (I recommend a batter bowl to easily pour the batter into the cupcake liners). Beat with a hand blender, stand mixer, or by hand with a wire whisk, until batter is completely combined and smooth. Add the boiling water, and whisk, just until blended. (Don’t be alarmed – the batter appears watery). Evenly ladle (or pour) the batter into the liners. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the center of the cupcakes spring back when lightly touched. Cool and frost. Vanilla Buttercream Frosting Perfectly sweet, but not overly so, and light and creamy just like you’d want on a cupcake. 1/3 cup butter, just slightly cooler than room temperature Beat butter in a medium-sized mixing bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in 3 cups of the powdered sugar. Beat in milk and vanilla. Blend in remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar. If desired, tint with food coloring. (For the perfect pastel colored frosting, only 1 drop of food coloring is necessary). |
Note
This recipe also makes a delicious Chocolate Layer Cake. To make as a cake, divide batter evenly between three oiled and floured 8″ round cake pans.
Bake in preheated 350 degrees fahrenheit oven for approximately 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto cooling racks until cooled. Frost layers as desired.
My go-to small kitchen appliances are:

MEET SERENA!
Stay-at-home mom, Serena Thompson, dreamed of creating a fun and happy little event to sell her vintage and handmade goods. In 2002, she and some friends held the first event in her neighbor’s barn. The sale became wildly popular and began attracting visitors from across the country and recognition in national magazines. Today the event fills the Spokane County Fairgrounds and features hundreds of creatively and carefully curated spaces filled with vintage and handmade goods. Many describe it as a bucket list event, magical, inspirational, and the best vintage & handmade fair in the country. Serena describes it as the happiest on earth.