Basic chocolate cupcakes
1 c butter, softened
1 ½ sugar
½ c unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 c milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 ½ c all-purpose flour
Directions
Heat oven to 350ºF. Line 12 regular-size muffin cups with paper liners.
Beat butter, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl with mixer on low speed 1 minute or until well blended. Add eggs; beat 2 minutes or until fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla (batter may look curdled), then flour just until blended.
Spoon scant 1⁄4 cup batter into each muffin cup, filling each about 2⁄3 full.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in centers of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 5 minutes before removing from pan to rack.