Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Hot Chocolate Frosting Recipe

Creamy hot chocolate frosting made with butter, hot cocoa, and powdered sugar. Perfect for frosting cakes, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, and all your favorite desserts.

If you’re a chocolate lover, this hot chocolate frosting is about to become your new go-to dessert upgrade. Made with real hot cocoa, butter, and powdered sugar, it delivers a rich, creamy texture with that nostalgic cocoa flavor everyone loves. It’s smooth, fluffy, and perfectly sweet… just like a warm mug of hot chocolate, but in frosting form.

What makes this frosting extra special is its versatility. While it pairs beautifully with cupcakes and cakes, it’s just as delicious spread over brownies, sandwiched between cookies, or swirled onto donuts and bars. Using Dunkin’ Donuts Original Hot Chocolate gives it a deep, classic chocolate flavor without the need for extra cocoa or complicated ingredients.

Whether you’re baking for the holidays, hosting a party, or simply looking for an easy way to elevate everyday desserts, this hot chocolate frosting fits the bill. Finish it off with mini marshmallows for a cozy, whimsical touch, or keep it simple and smooth for a more polished look. It’s a crowd-pleasing frosting that works for just about any dessert.

Ingredients Needed

For the cupcakes:

• All-purpose flour
• Sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Hot chocolate mix (your favorite brand)
• Baking powder & baking soda
• Eggs
• Milk or buttermilk
• Vegetable oil or butter
• Vanilla extract
• Salt

For the frosting:

• 1/3 cup of softened butter
• 1/3 cup of Dunkin’ Donuts Original Hot Chocolate
• 1lb. of powdered sugar
• marshmallows for garnishing (optional)

How to Make Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

1. Prepare the Oven + Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with liners. This ensures even baking and easy cleanup. The Sisters Cooking

2. Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, hot chocolate mix, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until fully combined.

3. Combine Wet Ingredients

In a separate bowl, beat together sugar, eggs, milk, oil (or butter), and vanilla until smooth.

4. Bring It Together

Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until you get a smooth batter without lumps.

5. Bake the Cupcakes

Fill liners about ⅔ full and bake 17-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting. Cupcakes and Cutlery

Hot Chocolate Frosting Instructions

With a mixer, beat together the butter and powdered sugar until creamy. Pour in the 1/3 cup of Dunkin’ Donuts Hot Chocolate and mix until fluffly!

If the mixture is too thick, you can add a dash more hot chocolate, or if it’s too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar and stir.

I’ve also found that my new favorite trick for icing cupcakes is just by using an ice cream scoop! Once your cupcakes have completely cooled, scoop some frosting on and top with marshmallows.

Pro Tips for Best Results

• Room temperature ingredients help the batter blend more evenly.
• For deeper chocolate flavor, try a dark chocolate base cupcake.
• Swap in flavored hot cocoa (mint, caramel, or even chili-spiced) for festive variations.

More Chocolate Flavored Recipes to Try

Thanks to Dunkin’ Donuts for partnering with us on this post!

Tried this recipe? Share your Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Hot Chocolate Frosting with us on Instagram, using the hashtag #sugarandclothloves. We always love seeing all of your creations! Looking for more quick and delicious recipes? Find them all right here!

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