How to Make Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes - Restless Chipotle (2024)

Cinnamon, Mexican chocolate, and a little spicy kick make these cupcakes perfect for fall!

❤️ Why you'll love it

• Deliciously soft, tender cupcake
• Chocolate buttercream with hints of cinnamon and spice
• So much fun for a Mexican-inspired theme party, holiday-break activities with the kids, or a regular chilly winter evening

These Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes taste just like a cozy cup of hot cocoa, complete with Mexican chocolate frosting and a dollop of toasted marshmallow buttercream, too. After all, what's hot chocolate without some marshmallows?!

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

1. In an electric mixer bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, Mexican chocolate, and eggs.
2. Add the oil, room temperature buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
3. Stir in the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, salt, leaveners.)
4. Mix in espresso and bake.

5. In a small bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream and chocolate.
6. Add the hot chocolate mix.
7. Stir the chocolate/heavy cream sauce into the confectioner's sugar/butter mixture.
8. Frost with a spatula or piping bag.

🥫 Storage

Spicy Mexican chocolate cupcakes always hit the spot—so be sure to make a double batch if you have a big family! They keep pretty well.

Just cover the frosted cupcakes with plastic wrap or put them in an airtight container. Or, use a cupcake carrier! Store at room temperature for up to three days.

Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months. Wrap them well with a double layer of plastic wrap. You can frost them from frozen; they'll thaw within a couple of hours at room temperature.

📖Variations

• Mexican Chocolate: If you can't find Mexican chocolate in local grocery stores, use 3.2 oz of milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate. Then, add ½ teaspoon each of ground chipotle chiles and cinnamon.
• More Spice: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper if you want a little kick.
• No Espresso: If you don't have any espresso, you can use instant espresso powder in hot water or strong black coffee.
• More Cinnamon Flavor: Grate a fresh cinnamon stick over top for yummy garnish.
• Marshmallows: Short on time? Add mini marshmallows to the top of each cupcake instead of making the marshmallow buttercream.
• Buttermilk Swap: Run out of buttermilk? You can make your own with lemon juice and milk, or use sour cream in its place.
• Make Minis: Instead of a traditional cupcake tin, use a mini muffin tin to make cute mini Mexican hot chocolate cupcakes. Bake time will be lower.

💭 Things to know

Expert Tip: Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before getting started baking. Pull them out of the fridge in advance for best results.

• Butter is at room temperature when you can easily press into it with very gentle pressure from your finger.
• Prep the pan with paper liners, or use reusable silicone cupcake liners.
• After adding the flour mixture to the cupcake batter, don't mix it too much—just use low speed until everything comes together smoothly.
• For the buttercreams, you can use the whisk attachment of your mixer. However, when mixing the cake batter, use the paddle attachment.
• Fill the cupcake tins ¾ of the way full so that they are the proper size after rising in the oven.
• If you overbake the cupcakes they'll be dry. Start testing for doneness a few minutes before the bake time is over. Use a toothpick or cake tester and as soon as there is no wet batter on the tester, they're done!
• To make the chocolate swirl garnish, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Pipe melted chooclate in swirls and let set.
• Always let cupcakes cool fully on a wire rack before frosting, otherwise your buttercream will melt!
• Frost cupcakes in swirls with a spatula. For a more finished look, use a piping bag and a neat piping tip.

👩‍🍳 FAQs

• Add these Marble Cupcakes to your must-try cupcake recipes list. The moist cupcakes are marbled with dark chocolate and almond and covered with chocolate frosting, marshmallow topping, AND a cherry!
• For a spooky Halloween give these black velvet cupcakes a try.
• Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes are moist, tender, and delicious, but the easy Maraschino frosting is really the cherry on top—it's so addictive!
• For an easier version of your favorite classic cake, try these Black Forest Cake Cupcakes. The boozy cherry pie filling and whipped cream topping perfectly compliment the decadent, rich chocolate cupcake.

🍽️ Serve with...

• Mexican Ground Beef Casserole
• Frito Corn Salad
• Mexican Hot Chocolate co*cktail

📞 The last word

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

First published October 16, 2017. Last updated September 21, 2022 with better images and tips.

🥄 Equipment

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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.

• cupcake pan
• cupcake liners
• electric mixer
• large mixing bowl

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