Fermented sourdough chocolate cupcakes are a decadent and deliciously rich chocolate cake topped with cream cheese buttercream frosting. Great for a birthday celebration or a fun weekend dessert, the slight sourdough tang makes this recipe especially delicious.
The first time I made these sourdough cupcakes was for a special date night in with Luke. I lit candles, prepared a fancy dinner, and to top it off, we enjoyed this dessert at the end.
It’s truly the best way to finish up a date night. A light, fluffy, slightly tangy, but incredible rich chocolate cake covered in the best cream cheese buttercream frosting. Twist my arm. How could anyone resist?
I love long fermentation. I’ve gone in depth on the blog, YouTube, and my podcast about how we utilize fermented grains and sourdough in our home.
Creating sourdough recipes has become a passion of mine. Not just your run of the mill sourdough bread, but expanding it to include cookies, brownies, pumpkin rolls, cobbler, muffins, and much, much more.
The fermentation process breaks down the phytic acid and gluten in the flour, making more of the nutrients available for your body to absorb, and easier for digestion.
Often, I’m asked what the key to sourdough is. And honestly, it is to just start and don’t give up. So many people are on day five of creating their sourdough starter and it’s still flat. They toss it and give up.
Don’t do that. Continue to feed it, and I promise you that you will have an active, wild yeast full product that you will be able to use to make so many yummy creations. The possibilities are endless.
Sourdough Chocolate Cupcake Tips:
- If you are new to sourdough, check out how to create your own sourdough starter here.
- Pinched for time? You can skip the overnight fermentation and just use sourdough discard.
- Active sourdough starter or sourdough discard will work in this recipe.
- Coffee and chocolate go perfectly together in this recipe, giving it a richer, deeper chocolate flavor.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.
Tools:
Measuring cups and spoons
Ice cream scoop (optional, a dry measuring cup also works well)
How To Make Sourdough Chocolate Cupcakes
The Day Before:
In a bowl, mix together the following ingredients just until combined: flour, sourdough starter, coconut oil, and water. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and allow to sit overnight or up to 24 hours.
The Next Day:
Preheat the oven to 350º F and line or grease muffin tins.
In a large bowl, mix together sucanat or rapadura (regular sugar would work, as well), salt, and finely ground coffee (optional).
To the dry ingredients, add eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder, and whole milk.
Next, add the sourdough mixture into the egg, sugar, and milk mixture. Whisk to incorporate until smooth. I like to make this in the stand mixer, because it is so much easier to incorporate.
Lastly, sprinkle in baking soda and mix well.
Add equal amounts of sourdough cupcake batter to each well. I love using an ice cream scoop for this, a measuring cup also works well.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Remove from the oven. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Make The Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large bowl or stand mixer, add room temperature butter and cream cheese.
Cream together with a whisk attachment until well combined.
Add vanilla and salt.
On slow speed, slowly add powdered sugar.
Once the sugar is added, turn speed to medium and allow the frosting to become nice and fluffy.
Place into a piping bag (or just place in a large ziplock back and snip the corner off) and pipe onto the cupcakes.
Decorate with chocolate chips, sprinkles, strawberries, etc.
Find More Delicious Sourdough Desserts:
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone
Sourdough Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter
- 1 cup water
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups sucanat or rapadura, regular sugar would also work
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon finely ground coffee, optional
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 1 cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, room temp
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temp
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together the following ingredients just until combined: flour, sourdough starter, coconut oil, and water.
- Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and allow to sit overnight or up to 24 hours.
The next day:
- Preheat the oven to 350º F. In a large bowl, mix together sucanat or rapadura, salt, and finely ground coffee (optional).
- To the dry ingredients, add eggs, vanilla, cocoa powder, and whole milk. Next, add the sourdough mixture into the egg, sugar, and milk mixture. Whisk to incorporate until smooth.
- Lastly, sprinkle in baking soda and mix well.
- Grease or line muffin tin, then add equal amounts of sourdough cupcake batter to each well. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven. Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the cupcakes and allow them to cool completely before frosting.
Make Frosting:
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, add room temperature butter and cream cheese.
- Cream together with a whisk attachment until well combined.Add vanilla and salt. On slow speed, slowly add powdered sugar. Once the sugar is added, turn speed to medium and allow the frosting to become nice and fluffy.
- Place into a bag for piping and pipe onto the cupcakes. Decorate with chocolate chips, sprinkles, strawberries, etc.
Notes
- You can use active sourdough starter or sourdough discard.
- Ferment this recipe for more health benefits or just mix it up and bake without fermenting.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Mine did as well, Melissa – I followed the recipe as written.
Ever added cocoa powder to this to make chocolate frosting? Wondering how much to add and if it’ll need more confectionery sugar…
Cuz chocolate cupcakes without chocolate frosting?? Say it ain’t so!
I tried this recipe twice – both times, the cupcakes sunk down in the middle instead of puffing up! I followed the recipe exactly, using sourdough discard. Any idea what went wrong?! Help!
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. My only thoughts are that the batter could’ve been over mixed or the leavening agents may not have been fresh.
Mine sank too, but my five year old doesn’t care one bit. Her immediate reaction was, “looks like a great place for some toppings” haha! Today was the test run for her birthday next weekend. This was exactly the recipe I wanted and needed. THANK YOU!! <3
Love it! Thanks for sharing!
Hahah so smart! Great thinking. Glad they were still enjoyed.
Can cacao be used in place of cocoa?
yes!
Can coconut sugar be used in place of the Sucanat?
Lisa, these are great – thank you so much! The recipe was easy and they turned out great!
I’ve needed this! Just in time for my daughters bday. Thank you!
I love the idea of these but mine puffed up and then spread over the top of the pan with huge indents in the middle. I can’t figure out what went wrong! I substituted canola oil for the coconut, but I’ve done that before with recipes without any problems. Too much baking soda perhaps?
I had that happen with some of mine as well today. I’m wondering if it has to do with how high it’s filled?
This is the best cake I have ever made! I made frosting with butter, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
Its our new favorite!
Oh can you share the amounts for your icing! Rather not use powdered sugar
Maple and chocolate? Hmmmm I’m too much a purist I guess lol I don’t want avocado in my chocolate either.
I have to make fake chocolate now and it’s sad. But it’s doable for my health, sanity, move-ability & wardrobe I can WEAR again!
How much cocoa powder did u use for this recipe?
Just made these for my husband who usually doesn’t like cupcakes on account of being too sweet. He LOVED them. Definitely making these again. Thanks for the recipe!
These cupcakes are fabulous! I substituted olive oil for the coconut oil and it still worked great.