Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes for a Boozy Treat

Wine cupcakes are the perfect treat for a wine-lover. Moist and chocolatey, these boozy cupcakes are perfect for girl’s nights in and festive holiday parties. If you haven’t made Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes, the time is now. 

Alcohol infused cupcakes are a fun and easy dessert idea that uses a boxed cake mix. Rich chocolate cupcakes spiked with red wine are the perfect way to end any meal.

Red Wine Cupcakes Are Awesome! 

Wine and cupcakes should always go together. There’s nothing like sitting back in a comfy chair with a good glass of wine and a decadent cupcake.

What’s better? Wine infused cupcakes! 

With the word “cupcakes” in my blog name, people have asked me for years if I’m a cupcake caterer. I’m not.

But I do love eating cupcakes. They are the perfect cake to frosting ratio.

If you’re a regular reader, you know I love easy cocktails and wine. So it just made sense that I would start sharing boozy cupcake recipes.

A wine cupcake makes everything feel even more celebratory. And yet they are so simple to make!

What Type of Red Wine do I Use?

My rule of thumb (but bear in mind I don’t have a cooking background) is to use something you like to drink.

Merlot, Pinot Noir or a Cabernet Sauvignon will all work really well. 

If the wine is bad, or lower quality, condensing it into the syrup, as noted below, will only bring out the bad qualities even more.

How to Make a Red Wine Cupcakes

The cake part of the cupcake is made with real melted chocolate and cocoa powder so you get a moist, extra chocolatey taste with lots of character.

The red wine gives the cupcake a lightly fruity flavor that pairs incredibly well with the chocolate. 

These chocolate and wine flavored cupcakes are topped with a rich chocolate buttercream infused with the perfect amount of red wine.

Ingredients:

• 1 Box chocolate cake mix
• ¾ cup red wine
• ¼ cup milk
• ¼ cup chocolate, melted
• 3 TBSP cocoa powder
• ⅓ cup butter, melted
• 3 Eggs

For the buttercream:

• 2 cups of the very best vanilla buttercream
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• ⅓ cup melted chocolate
• ½ cup red wine

Making wine cupcakes from a box mix makes everything super simple. I’m not a scratch baker and think it’s easy to get a consistent flavor every single time.

Directions for Cupcakes: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.
3. In a bowl, carefully mix the chocolate cake mix with cocoa powder.
4. Add the melted butter and melted chocolate.
5. Add in the eggs, one at a time, beating with a hand mixer (this one’s my favorite!) until incorporated.
6. Slowly add the red wine and milk and mix until everything is incorporated and there are no lumps left.
7. Divide the batter between the cupcake liners and put them in the oven.
8. Bake for 18 minutes or until done. 
9. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool completely before decorating.

To Make the Wine Infused Buttercream:

This red wine infused buttercream is rich and delicious! By simmering the red wine, it creates a more bold flavor that stands up to the chocolate really well.

1. In a saucepan over medium heat bring the red wine to a simmer.
2. Let it simmer until it has reduced in half.
3. Remove from fire and let it cool completely.
4. In a bowl combine the very best vanilla buttercream with cocoa powder.
5. Add the reduced red wine and mix.
6. Add the melted chocolate and mix with a hand mixer for 3 minutes. 

The wine amps up the chocolate flavor and the chocolate amps up the wine flavor. They are a match made in heaven.

These wine chocolate cupcakes make a perfect gift. Just place them in a box, wrap them nicely and voila! Trust me when I say that everyone will love to get them.

You know I enjoy easy cocktails but I also love wine! Winc is the wine club I belong to and love! They always have a great selection of affordable wines. 

And they also have cute labels. Because that matters.:) 

Printable Wine Infused Cupcakes Recipe

More Easy Desserts to Make

• Citrus Sangria Cupcakes with White Wine
• Sherry Wine Cake
• Fun Margarita Cupcakes Recipe
• Kitchen Sink Oreo Cookie Balls
• Rum Cake! 

Pin These Red Wine Cupcakes for Later

Chocolate Red Wine Cupcakes are a must! Make some this weekend! 

You’re going to LOVE these! 

Click to share!