These easy vegan Chocolate Cupcakes are fluffy and light yet rich and chocolatey at the same time! Perfect for birthday parties or bridal showers! Gluten-free, grain-free, and made in one bowl!
Doesn’t the look of these vegan chocolate cupcakes make you want to hop in the kitchen and bake a batch? This recipe is one of my favorite things to bake whenever there is a birthday party or a potluck! They are such a crowd pleaser! I mean, who doesn’t like chocolate?
What I love about these cupcakes is that they provide a deep, rich chocolate flavor while being perfectly light and fluffy in texture. The secret ingredients? Club soda – yes fizzy drinks are my secret baking weapon when it comes to getting that perfect rise for your vegan muffins and cupcakes.
These vegan chocolate cupcakes can be made with just a couple of basic ingredients that you most likely already have at home.
You can just top these with coconut whipped cream or go for any of the vegan frostings I added in the end!
MORE GLUTENFREE CAKES AND BAKES FROM THE BLOG
- GF Cashew Butter Chocolate Marble Cake.
- Gluten-free Cinnamon Roll Bread yeast-free.
- GF Carrot Banana Bread – Also grain-free.
- Sweet Potato Crumb Cake. GF
- GF Christmas Cake
- Lemon Donuts grainfree
- Pumpkin Bars grainfree
Vegan Chocolate Cupcake Ingredients:
- almond flour makes these super moist.
- potato starch provides tenderness, structure, and binding power.
- cocoa powder adds that rich chocolate flavor and the deep dark color. I use the unsweetened stuff.
- sugar for sweetness. You can use coconut sugar instead if you prefer.
- a blend of baking powder and baking soda makes these rise perfectly.
- I use only a small amount of oil here as the almond flour already adds a lot of moisture to the chocolate cupcake batter.
- club soda is my secret ingredient here – it gives baked goods a little lift. The tiny air bubbles expand in the batter while baking and make for an extra-light texture while keeping the batter from drying out!
Tips & Substitutions:
- You can use any other fizzy drink in lieu of club soda – just steer clear of anything too strongly flavored
- Fill the cupcake liner 2/3 to 3/4 full. Avoid adding too much batter to your liners or the muffins will overflow and cause a mess.
- You can also use an ice cream scoop for measuring out the batter.
- Feel free to take these to the next level of chocolatey deliciousness by adding some chocolate chips.
- Turn these into Mexican chocolate cupcakes by adding 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1/4 tsp chili powder to the batter.
How to make Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients until well mixed.
Press and mix to break any almond flour lumps, and starch lumps so that the mixture is homogenous.
Add the oil, vanilla extract, milk and 1/2 cup Club Soda, or any other carbonated drink you’re using, and mix in. The batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter.
Mix it lightly and let it sit for half a minute and then mix it again to check. Add another 1/2-1 tbsp of Club Soda as needed.
Prep your mini muffin pan by lining it with parchment paper cups, or parchment paper liners. and preheat the oven to 375 F. Drop the batter into the mini muffin pan (see tips), filling up 3/4 of each of the muffin liners.
Bake for 16- 17 minutes. Check with a toothpick at the center and then remove the cupcakes from the oven. Let the vegan chocolate cupcakes cool in the pan for ten minutes, then remove them from the pan. Let them cool completely before frosting. See below for frosting ideas.
Can I turn these into muffins instead of cupcakes?
You can also turn these vegan chocolate cupcakes into muffins by adding some chopped nuts or chocolate chips in the batter as well as on top of the batter before baking. This is a delicate batter, so if you add too much topping, it will tend not to rise as much. Store in a covered container. Cupcakes without frosting can be refrigerated for up to five days.
Frosting ideas;
Recipe Card
Chocolate Cupcakes Grain-Free and Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup super fine almond flour
- 1/3 cup potato starch
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract optional
- 1.5 tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp non dairy milk or non dairy yogurt
- 1/2 cup club soda or similar fizzy drink.
- Frosting or chocolate chips to add to the batter.
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients until well mixed. Press and mix to break any almond flour lumps, and starch lumps so that the mixture is homogenous.
- Add the oil, vanilla extract, milk, and 1/2 cup Club Soda, or any other carbonated drink you're using, and mix in. The batter should be a little thicker than pancake batter.
- Mix it lightly and let it sit for half a minute and then mix it again to check.
- Prep your mini muffin pan by lining it with parchment paper cubs, or parchment paper liners. and preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Drop the batter into the mini muffin pan, filling up 3/4 of each of the muffin liners.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes for mini cupcake pan (22 to 25 mins for regular) Check with a toothpick at the center and then remove from the oven. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for ten minutes, then remove from the pan. Let them cool completely before frosting.
Notes
Store in a covered container. Cupcakes without frosting can be refrigerated for up to five days.
Louisa D'Souza
What can I use instead of the fizzy drink?
Richa
Add 1/2 tsp citric acid to the dry. Use non dairy milk instead of fizzy drink
Megan
Forgot to rate the recipe. It’s a winner.
Richa
Thank you!
Katie
Any idea if this would work in a 9″ cake pan? How long do you think this would take to bake?
Richa
Check at 30 mins
Katie
Sounds great! I am making this for my birthday this weekend and will report back 🙂
Vinitha
This looks just perfect! Can’t wait to try. Can I replace the potato starch with any other like corn starch or arrowroot? And will the quantity be the same. Thanks
Richa
Yes use tapioca starch. Cornstarch might work but not as well as potato starch
vinitha
Thanks for the quick response, Richa. Sorry for all these questions. So can I finely grind Sago pearls and use?
Richa
Nope it’s not the same thing. Try cornstarch
Megan
Excellent recipe!! My daughter and husband (who is quite picky) and I all loved it. Thank you for such a delicious GF treat!!
Richa
So awesome! Please do add a rating when you make again!
Chloe
These look delicious! I’d love to make them but I am not gluten free and do not have the flours/starch listed in the recipe. Can these be made with regular AP flour?
Joanne
I was looking for something for our first family get together since the pandemic, and these are perfect. I made a double batch, they are cooling off right now. I did sneak a taste test, and they are wonderful. They remind me of chocolate cake I used to make pre vegan days. Your recipes never disappoint Richa.
Richa
Yay!
Pat
I have not made these yet but for sure i will. My cousin cannot eat eggs or gluten and i am always on the hunt for vegan and gluten free treats. Thanks so much!
Pat
Looking at the frosting recipe, i was wondering if your vegan cream cheese frosting could also have added to it some cocoa powder to make it chocolate. Have you tried that before? Any ideas about measurements?
Thanks
Zinobia
I will try this recipe it looks very delicious.thanks.
Vegan Richa Support
let me know how it turns out for you
Geeta
Can carbonated water from a SodaStream be used instead of club soda? Any other alternatives you’d recommend? I don’t drink soda.
Richa
Yes just make sure it is well carbonated and fresh