Easy Dark Chocolate Galaxy Cupcakes
Easy Dark Chocolate Galaxy Cupcakes provide a wonderful taste adventure. An incredibly rich, moist dark chocolate cake melts in your mouth with each bite, quickly revealing a delightful surprise – a vibrant burst of colorful sprinkles hidden like tiny stars within.
These are truly out-of-this-world treats, not just ordinary cupcakes, often adorned with cosmic swirls of color that make them look as stellar as they taste. Creating these impressive and delicious mini masterpieces is surprisingly simple, making them perfect for any occasion that needs a touch of magic.
These Dark Chocolate Galaxy Cupcakes are super simple, colorful, beautiful and taste OH so good! You don’t have to load your cupcake batter or frosting recipe with food coloring just to make Galaxy Cupcakes.
recipe highlights
Ingredients
Get the full ingredient list and full instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Please note: Making changes to any recipe as written can result in a recipe failure.
Any substitutions or variations listed are simple or tried and true changes that we think will work in this recipe.
Results are not guaranteed.
If you need to make these ahead or you wind up with leftovers, let me explain how to best store them.
storage tips & leftovers
To keep your Easy Dark Chocolate Galaxy Cupcakes fresh and looking their best, here’s how to store them:
- Cool Completely First: Before you even think about storing them, make sure the cupcakes are completely cool to the touch after baking. Storing warm cupcakes will create condensation, which can make the liners peel away and the cupcakes themselves a bit soggy.
- Use an Airtight Container: This is key to preventing them from drying out and keeping them fresh.
- A dedicated cupcake carrier with individual slots is ideal because it will also protect the “galaxy” frosting and any decorations.
- If you don’t have a cupcake carrier, a regular large, airtight container that is tall enough not to squash the frosting will work. Arrange the cupcakes in a single layer.
- Room Temperature or Refrigerator? This often depends on your frosting and the temperature of your kitchen.
- Room Temperature: If the “galaxy frosting” is a basic buttercream (made with butter, powdered sugar, and a little milk or cream) and your kitchen isn’t too hot, the cupcakes can usually be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days. Keep the container out of direct sunlight.
- Refrigerator: If your frosting contains cream cheese, whipped cream, or other more perishable ingredients, or if your kitchen is quite warm (which can be the case in late May in Missouri), it’s safer to refrigerate them. Refrigerated cupcakes will last a bit longer, generally 3-4 days.
- Note on Refrigeration: The cold air in the fridge can sometimes dry out cupcakes. To help prevent this, make sure your container is truly airtight. When you’re ready to serve refrigerated cupcakes, it’s often best to let them sit at room temperature for about 20-30 minutes to allow the cake and frosting to soften a bit for the best taste and texture.
- Protect the Decorations: The “cosmic swirls of color” on your galaxy cupcakes are a big part of their appeal. Handle the container gently to avoid smudging the frosting.
- The Sprinkle Surprise: The sprinkles inside should be fine with these storage methods and won’t require any special attention beyond keeping the cupcakes intact.
Shelf Life Summary:
- Room Temperature (ideal conditions, non-perishable frosting): Best within 1-2 days.
- Refrigerator (perishable frosting or warm room): Good for 3-4 days.
Freezing Galaxy Cupcakes:
- Unfrosted: For longer storage (up to 2-3 months), you can freeze unfrosted cupcakes. Cool them completely, wrap them individually in plastic wrap, and then place them in a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag. Thaw them at room temperature before frosting and decorating.
- Frosted: Freezing frosted cupcakes can be a bit trickier due to the frosting. If you choose to do this, you might “flash freeze” them first: place the frosted cupcakes uncovered on a baking sheet in the freezer until the frosting is firm (about an hour). Then, carefully wrap each one individually in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight freezer container. To thaw, unwrap them before they thaw completely (to prevent the plastic wrap from sticking to the softening frosting) and let them come to room temperature. Some very intricate frosting designs or certain types of sprinkles might not hold up perfectly to freezing and thawing.
For the best taste and texture, enjoying your galaxy chocolate cupcakes within a couple of days is always ideal
These themed cupcakes are SO fun for birthday parties, halloween parties, pool parties, sleepovers and more!
How do you get sprinkles inside a pinata cupcake?
To get the sprinkles inside the cupcakes, it’s so simple. Choose your favorite cupcake recipe and bake.
Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Using a knife or small cookie cutter, cut out a hole on top.
We actually used the decorator tip for our frosting bag. The bottom was the perfect sized circle.
Scoop out a bit of the cake, pour in the sprinkles and replace the top. Finish by frosting the cupcakes and add more beautiful sprinkles to the top.
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printable recipe
PLEASE NOTE:
While we have provided a jump to recipe button, please note that by skipping the copy, you are missing useful information on ingredients and techniques, substitutions, frequently asked questions with responses, tips and a lot more information that might be useful for troubleshooting or making the recipe.
Easy Dark Chocolate Galaxy Cupcakes
Ingredients
For Dark Chocolate Cupcakes
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- â…” cup granulated sugar
- â…“ cup cocoa powder we used special dark cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoons baking soda
- ¼ teaspoons salt
- â…“ cup butter softened
For Dark Chocolate Frosting
- 18 ounces dark chocolate chips use a good quality or brand
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- [Sprinkle Pop Milky Way Sprinkles]
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Insert cupcake liners into a cupcake tin.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, large eggs, and tsp vanilla.
- In another large bowl, sift the flour, sugar, dark cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the butter and half of the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until the dry ingredients are moistened.
- With a handheld or stand mixer, mix on medium low for about 45 seconds. Add the rest of the milk mixture, and mix on medium low for another 20 seconds.
- Divide the cupcake batter between the cupcake liners. Fill about 2/3 full.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a just a few crumbs. Move to a cooling rack.
- Allow cupcakes to cool completely before adding sprinkles or frosting.
- When cupcakes are cool, or while they are cooling, make up the frosting.
For the Frosting:
- Microwave the dark chocolate chips in a glass dish for 2 to 3 minutes on 50% power, until they are shiny.
- Remove from microwave and stir contentiously and rapidly until smooth. Stir in the sour cream. Once combined, stir in the vanilla and salt. Allow to cool slightly until spreadable.
To Create Galaxy Cupcakes:
- Cut out a hole in the top of each of the cupcakes. Save the piece. I used a decorators tip to get the cake out and the hole deep enough without going through.
- Fill the cupcake with about a tablespoon of sprinkles. Place the circle of cake back on top.
- Frost as usual. Top with even more sprinkles.
omg love those sprinkles-so pretty! and LUHOOOOVE how chocolatey and decadent the cupcakes look!