CINfully Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes

My favorite flatmate gave me a recipe for snickerdoodle cupcakes which I transformed into these chocolate cinnamon delights since I'm not a big fan of snickerdoodles. Garnish with cinnamon sugar or cocoa and enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 320 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• ¼ cup milk
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon sugar, or as needed
• ½ cup butter-flavored shortening
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar, or more as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

Step 3

Beat together the chocolate cake mix, 1 cup milk, eggs, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until moist. Beat for 2 more minutes on medium speed.

Step 4

Fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full of batter.

Step 5

Sprinkle the cupcakes with cinnamon sugar.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 15 minutes.

Step 7

Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 8

Cream together 1/2 cup butter and shortening in a bowl until smooth.

Step 9

Stir in sea salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, cocoa powder, and 3 cups confectioners' sugar.

Step 10

Stir in milk.

Step 11

Mix in 2 more cups confectioners' sugar or as needed until desired consistency is achieved.

Step 12

Spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes.