Easy Chocolate Dairy Free Cupcakes Everyone Loves

Chocolate is delicious and healthier than most people think. Of course, not all chocolate is created equal. We can take back control and make chocolate treats at home. We can even remove the dairy, like in these easy chocolate dairy free cupcakes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to Make – These chocolate cupcakes use simple ingredients, even while removing the dairy.
• Dairy Free Recipe – Lactose intolerant chocolate lovers rejoice! This recipe doesn’t have dairy, so you can enjoy it, too.
• Cupcakes – Who doesn’t love cupcakes? Especially ones you made at home and can enjoy guilt-free?

Can I Make Cupcakes Without Milk?

Our easy chocolate dairy free cupcakes are not just easy, they are delicious and perfect as party recipes and as snacks for kids. Easy chocolate dairy free cupcakes must remove the dairy from the recipe, obviously.

However, the dairy in cupcakes serves a purpose. It is important to remember that baking is a science, not just baking. Milk in cupcakes does multiple things: adds richness and moisture, activates the leaveners, and helps tenderize the dry ingredients.

Ultimately, milk is important in cupcakes, so how do we make cupcakes without dairy? We must find replacements that can do everything milk can do, without lactose. The replacement in this recipe is something called aquafaba.

What is Aquafaba?

Aquafaba is a simple ingredient we can make with a can of garbanzo beans. In fact, you can get it from most canned beans. Aquafaba is the liquid inside a can of beans.

The liquid is whipped until white and fluffy, then added to the cupcake batter. Aquafaba became popular in baking for dairy- and egg-free recipes because it is an affordable, easy ingredient.

Of course, everything in moderation. Aquafaba is safe to eat; our beans sit in it in cans for days or months. However, some people have difficulty digesting it, which can cause mild bloating.

Dairy-Free Chocolate Cupcakes Ingredients

• Flour – Everything serves a purpose in baking. Flour provides structure; think of it like the wood framing of a building.
• Sugar – Sugar sweetens, yes, but it also retains moisture, tenderizes the gluten, traps air for fluffiness, and adds a slight browning that enhances flavor.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – Cocoa powder isn’t a structural ingredient…unless you consider flavor important! 

• Baking Soda – We would have chocolate wafers if we didn’t add baking soda. This is a leavener, which adds air, helping the cupcakes rise. 
• Salt – Believe it or not, salt is here for flavoring. It enhances the flavors of the vanilla extract and the unsweetened cocoa powder.
• Sunflower Oil – The oil is not meant to prevent these easy chocolate dairy free cupcakes from sticking to the pan. Instead, it is to create moisture in the cupcakes.

• Vanilla Extract – Vanilla is a structural ingredient, adding depth to any flavor. That’s why it is present in most cake recipes, even if they aren’t vanilla cakes.
• Water – This simple addition helps the dry ingredients bind together during mixing. Essentially, it gives the cupcakes life!
• Aquafaba – We are using aquafaba here as a replacement for both milk and eggs. We already know why this is here. 
• Dairy-Free Mini Chocolate Chips – We all deserve a bit of a treat. These will also give the cupcakes a depth of texture that we all can enjoy.

Easy Chocolate Dairy Free Cupcakes Everyone Loves

Aquafaba Directions

1. 3 tablespoons of unbeaten liquid from Garbanzo beans is equal to 1 egg. 
2. Drain liquid from a can of Garbanzo beans.
3. I used a hand mixer and blended the bean juice needed for this recipe for about 4 to 5 minutes until the liquid became white and fluffy. The aquafaba cannot be overwhipped, so whip away.

Easy Chocolate Dairy Free Cupcakes Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
3. Add the oil, vanilla, water, and the fluffy white Aquafaba to the dry ingredients, and mix until well combined.
4. Fill 24 cupcake liners two-thirds full with batter.
5. Sprinkle a few mini chocolate chips on top of the batter prior to cooking to add more chocolaty yumminess.
6. Bake 20 minutes. Cupcakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Enjoy!

More Dairy Free Recipes

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas Recipe | Chicken fajitas seem like an obvious dairy-free recipe, just leave out the cheese. But there is a little more to it than just the cheese. 

Pumpkin Pie Recipes | Pumpkin pie is simple to make and can easily be made without dairy, so you can enjoy as much as you’d like. 

Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole | finding dinner recipes that have zero dairy in them can get a little difficult, but this one is an easy choice.

Dairy Free Lunch Ideas (25+ Amazing Recipes) | Lunch is often when people struggle and slip up because they are looking for something quick and easy. Luckily, there are some recipes you can meal prep for such an occasion. 

Instant Pot Keto Chili – Without Beans + Dairy Free | Chili is a classic and easy dish that can be tossed together even quicker with the help of an Instant Pot.