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Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes are super moist and full of chocolate taste! This one bowl recipe is made with eight simple ingredients and can be whipped up in no time and baked in just 15 minutes. No eggs, just mayonnaise and you’d never know it was in there. This is probably the easiest homemade cake recipe you’ll ever make. It takes just one bowl and a handful of pantry ingredients.
My Grandma Grace was always well known for her Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake or cupcakes,. This recipe came from her. My mom makes this anytime the family is together. You just can’t go wrong with these great tasting chocolate cupcakes.
Made with pantry ingredients
One of the reasons this recipe is so great is you use ingredients you already have in your pantry. You use sugar, flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, mayonnaise, water and vanilla. That’s it! There are not any eggs, oil, milk or butter.
Another reason this is a great recipe is everything just goes into one bowl and you stir with a spoon. No special equipment needed.
What type of frosting is best for these cupcakes?
These cupcakes are perfect topped with a chocolate buttercream you could also use a regular vanilla buttercream too. And sometimes I like to eat them just plain.
My mom always makes this using Miracle Whip Dressing instead of mayo. Either works fine. It really comes down to what’s in the fridge and what’s your personal preference. Just don’t use a nonfat or low fat mayonnaise.
Can I make this into a cake instead of cupcakes?
Yes, this recipe can also be baked into a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Increase the cooking time to 25-30 minutes, depending on the size of your cake pan. This makes a soft, moist cake and it isn’t best for stacking into layers. When I make this into a cake I usually bake in a glass 9 x 13″ rectangular baking dish. I leave the cake in the pan after baking and once fully cooled, I add a chocolate frosting. It’s okay to serve right in the pan. It makes a casual and rustic presentation.
Other favorite cupcake recipes:
- Lemon Cupcakes
- Confetti Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
- Peanut Butter Cupcakes- from Sally’s Baking Addiction
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If you loved this recipe you’ll LOVE all the other recipes in this category. Check out all my desserts here!
Super moist and chocolaty cupcakes
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Mix sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl.
Add mayonnaise, water and vanilla.
Mix with a spoon until all ingredients are combined
Fill paper lined cupcake holders 2/3 of the way full.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Cool on a baking rack. Frost with your favorite frosting.
Can I make this into a cake instead of cupcakes?
Yes, this recipe can also be baked into a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Increase the cooking time to 25-30 minutes, depending on the size of your cake pan.
This recipe was originally posted in January of 2105.
26 Comments
Valentina
March 24, 2020 at 2:08 pmI admit I haven’t baked with mayo, but I’m totally ready to try it. Being home these past couple of weeks, all I’ve felt like doing in the kitchen is bake. I might try these with my GF flour so my son can partake. 🙂 Thanks you for the inspiration. Stay well! ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
March 24, 2020 at 4:19 amI bet the mayo adds so much richness! These look delicious, Kathy! And who doesn’t love a chocolate cupcake? One (or three) of these would instantly make any day better 🙂 !
Fran@Gday Souffle
March 23, 2020 at 7:05 amKathy, I hope you are keeping well! I agree with you about using mayonnaise instead of eggs- I made some cupcakes similar to yours and they were the best I have ever made! I also know you are the ‘butter cream’ queen- your cupcakes must be divine!
David @ Spiced
March 23, 2020 at 3:25 amMayonnaise cakes are always one of those things that makes you stop and go hmmm. But if you think about it, they make perfect sense! Mayonnaise is eggs and oil…so you’re just replacing those in the recipe. I’ve never actually made a mayonnaise cake, but these look delicious, Kathy!!
Kathy
March 23, 2020 at 5:42 amIt sounds strange, but it tastes amazing. This is a depression era cake where they had to create recipes that didn’t use some common ingredients that just weren’t available.
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
March 22, 2020 at 6:57 amI’ve heard of adding mayo to cake, but I’ve never tried it Kathy. You’re inspiring me. These look so moist and delicious!
Kathy
March 23, 2020 at 5:42 amThey are really moist and delicious!
Terrie
December 17, 2019 at 9:20 amI decided to make these for a church bake sale last week. The only change I made was to frost them with melted fudge. They were a huge success!! So good I had to buy a giant bucket of mayonnaise to make more. Often! Thank you
Kathy
December 17, 2019 at 7:40 pmThis makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing your success! I need to try the melted fudge on top….mmmmmm 🙂
Carol
August 26, 2018 at 11:31 amHi Kathy.
I can’t get baking soda, can i use all baking powder and if so how much.
Thank you.
Kathy
August 26, 2018 at 7:13 pmHi Carol,
I have not substituted baking powder in this recipe before. Doing a quick search, I found you can, but should double the amount of baking powder. I hope this helps!
Kathy
Fred G
August 13, 2018 at 10:18 amAlmost as good as my mother’s
Kathy
August 13, 2018 at 8:20 pmThat’s a huge compliment! 🙂