Easy to make one bowl chocolate cake and cupcakes. These chocolate mayonnaise cupcakes are made with simple ingredients and no egg or oil. Instead, mayonnaise is used.
Chocolate mayonnaise cupcakes or cake are moist and delicious and can be whipped together with just a spoon or a spatula. No special equipment is needed!
Chocolate mayonnaise cake
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes (or cake) are super moist and full of chocolate taste! This one-bowl recipe is made with simple pantry ingredients.
No eggs are added, 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.
Chocolate mayonnaise cake originated during the Depression era when there were plenty of shortages of fresh food staples, including eggs and oil. This recipe was created without eggs, oil or milk, which are typical cake ingredients.
Instead, mayonnaise is used which has eggs and oil giving a nice richness to the cake and it helps keep the cake extra moist with a velvety texture. Many mayonnaise jars used to print this recipe right on the label and it has stuck around all this time!
My Grandma Grace was well known for her Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake and cupcakes. This recipe came from her. My mom still makes this anytime the family is together. You just can't go wrong with these great-tasting chocolate cupcakes.
This classic cake recipe is so delicious and tasty and is a recipe we make on a regular basis!
Key ingredients
- Flour - all-purpose flour
- Sugar - granulated sugar
- Mayonnaise - or Miracle Whip. Any type of mayonnaise will work but avoid a low fat or nonfat mayonnaise.
- Cocoa powder - unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- Vanilla- use pure vanilla extract
Step by step directions
- In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Stir in mayonnaise, warm water and vanilla.
- Stir until well combined, but a few small lumps may exist.
- Pour into paper-lined muffin tins and bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 12-15 minutes.
- Allow cupcakes to cool slightly, then remove them from the muffin tin and continue cooling on a baking rack.
- Once fully cooled frost with chocolate buttercream or your favorite frosting.
Recipe tips
- Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder, not dutch process cocoa powder.
- If your cocoa powder is lumpy, sift through a fine-meshed sieve to remove the lumps.
- Don't overmix the cake batter. Just stir until the dry ingredients are combined. It's okay to have a few small lumps.
- Don't overbake your cupcakes or they will become dry. Check them beginning at 12 minutes with a toothpick. If there are just a few moist crumbs, they are done. Otherwise, keep cooking for a few more minutes.
- Allow cupcakes to fully cool before frosting.
Frequently asked questions
Once fully cooled, store the cupcakes in an airtight container for 3-4 days. The cupcakes can be stored at room temperature.
Yes, you can freeze the cake or the cupcakes. For best results use within one month.
Chocolate mayonnaise cake
This recipe can also be baked into a Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake. Follow the recipe but place cake batter in a greased 11 x 7-inch cake pan. Increase the cooking time to 30-35 minutes.
You might also want to check out this recipe for buttermilk chocolate cake! It's just as easy and rich and delicious!
More favorite cupcakes
- Lemon Cupcakes
- Oreo Cupcakes
- Confetti Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes
- Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
- Monster Cupcakes
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
If you loved this recipe you’ll LOVE all the other recipes in this category. Check out all my desserts here!
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl.1 cup sugar, 2 cups flour, 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Add mayonnaise, water and vanilla.1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup warm water, 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Mix with a spoon until all ingredients are combined
- Fill paper lined cupcake holders ⅔ of the way full.
- Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.
- Cool on a baking rack. Frost with your favorite frosting.
Notes
- Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder, not dutch process cocoa powder.
- If your cocoa powder is lumpy, sift through a fine meshed sieve to remove the lumps.
- Don't overmix the cake batter. Just stir until the dry ingredients are combined. It's okay to have a few small lumps.
- Don't over bake your cupcakes or they will become dry. Check them beginning at 12 minutes with a toothpick. If there are just a few moist crumbs, they are done. Otherwise keep cooking for a few more minutes.
- Allow cupcakes to fully cool before frosting.
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in January of 2105.
Dawn says
Can I substitute cake flour for all purpose flour? Would it make them better?
Kathy says
Hi Dawn,
I have only used all purpose flour in these cupcakes so I'm afraid I don't know how cake flour would turn out.
Kathy
Diane says
These are our favorite cupcakes now! I get requests all the time to make them. We like cream cheese frosting on them. It’s a little heavier of a frosting, but it goes so well with the chocolate. I’ve also added mini semi sweet chocolate chips to the batter and OHHH LORD it’s so good!!
Kathy says
Thanks, Diane! Adding a few chocolate chips is a great idea. The cream cheese frosting sounds delicious too! Thanks for leaving such a great comment. 🙂
Happy Baking,
Kathy
Valentina says
I 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
Sherrell says
Hi Valentina! I've used mayo before in baking (such as carrot cakes). It really makes them moist. I just made this tonight, it turned out terrific! I used 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar.
Kathy says
Sounds great!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I 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 says
Kathy, 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 says
Mayonnaise 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 says
It 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.
Sherrell says
Depression-era cupcakes: Interesting side note, thanks Kathy 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
I'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 says
They are really moist and delicious!
Terrie says
I 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 says
This makes me so happy! Thanks for sharing your success! I need to try the melted fudge on top....mmmmmm 🙂
Carol says
Hi Kathy.
I can't get baking soda, can i use all baking powder and if so how much.
Thank you.
Kathy says
Hi 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 says
Almost as good as my mother's
Kathy says
That's a huge compliment! 🙂
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
These sound and look delicious. I remember a long time ago I made a mayonnaise cake and it was so nice and moist....just like these cupcakes do.
Platter Talk says
Oh yes! I remember the mayo cakes, back when I was a kid. I can't wait to make these cupcakes for our next special occation
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Great hack to keep it super duper moist!
Prasanna Hede says
Mayonnaise is something striking here! wow this is so good!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme says
Mayonnaise? Wow! I would have never thought!! These look delicious!
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
I used to be squeamish about putting sour cream in baked goods, since it's not my favorite in its own right, but have very much seen the light there.. maybe this recipe could help me come around on mayo, as well! 🙂
Abra says
My Mom makes a chocolate mayonnaise cake and it is my absolute favorite!
Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says
Mayonnaise! Wow! These look great 🙂
Kathy says
They are one of our favorites!
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
This sounds so interesting - grandmas have a way of using unique ingredients like this!
Kathy says
They were very resourceful! I love looking at old recipes and cooking them too!
Kristen R. says
Really interest use of mayo - I haven't seen this before! Thanks for sharing!
Kathy says
It's an old recipe that originates from the depression era. You'd be surprised how delicious these are!