A batch of these Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cupcakes will get smiles from everyone when they find the hidden pocket of pie filling. Spread love this Valentine's Day by making this easy cupcake recipe for your favorite people.
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - doctored up cake mix cupcakes get a fun flair with raspberry pie filling and vanilla buttercream. Great recipe to make for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Two chocolate cupcakes topped with vanilla frosting and sprinkles with a bite out of one showing a raspberry filling center](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-7-1.jpg)
Why This Recipe Works
The combination of chocolate and raspberry is such a classic and delicious combination. The hidden pie filling inside soft chocolate cupcake reminded me of a decadent and dreamy truffle.
Of course, baking and frosting cupcakes is much easier and less time consuming than melting chocolate and dipping truffles one at a time. Give me cupcakes every time!
We had a small life group meeting this past weekend, and I realized that it has been nine months since I last baked cupcakes. So, guess what I made for dessert? You got it. Chocolate cupcakes!
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - raspberry pie filling and vanilla buttercream add a fun flavor to these dark chocolate cupcakes. Make this easy recipe for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes with vanilla buttercream and sprinkles on a pink towel and cake plate](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-14-1.jpg)
For the record, I do know how to make a cake from scratch. Every once in a while I get the urge to make something fancy and homemade like this dark chocolate layer cake.
But 9 times out of 10, I usually reach for a cake mix when I want to make a cake, cupcakes, or even cookies. Doctored up cake mixes are my specialty.
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - a few simple ingredients transform a box cake mix into a bakery style cupcake. Make this easy recipe for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Ingredients needed to make dark chocolate raspberry filled cupcakes](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-ingredients-1.jpg)
What You Need
Want to know how to make a box cake mix taste homemade? All you need are a few extra ingredients to give a dry cake mix a little bit of homemade flair.
A bowl, mixer, muffin tin, cupcake liners, and a few basic ingredients transform a cake mix into decadent bakery style cupcakes.
For the Cupcakes
- Cake Mix - Feel free to use your favorite brand or flavor.
- Instant Pudding - This adds a good texture and moisture to the cake crumb. Make sure the box says instant! Cook & serve pudding will not work.
- Milk - Using milk, buttermilk, or even coconut milk gives cakes a more rich and homemade taste. Feel free to use water instead.
- Eggs - Add an extra egg to the cake mix because of the additional ingredients and to add a richer flavor.
- Oil - Cakes baked with oil tend to have a better even crumb texture and stay moist longer.
For the Filling and Frosting
A can of raspberry pie filling and vanilla buttercream frosting give these dark chocolate cupcakes a beautiful and tasty transformation.
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - a few simple ingredients transform a box cake mix into a bakery style cupcake. Make this easy recipe for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Four pictures collaged together showing the process for making chocolate raspberry cupcakes](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-collage-1.jpg)
Chocolate Cupcake Filling Ideas
One of my absolute favorite things about cupcakes is biting into one and finding a surprise hidden filling. There are so many different things that you can add to the center of a cupcake.
- Strawberry Pie Filling
- Hot Fudge
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- No Bake Cheesecake
- Honey Peanut Butter Frosting
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - adding a hidden pie filling center to a doctored up cake mix transforms them into a bakery style cupcake. Easy recipe for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! A dark chocolate cupcake with a spoonful of raspberry pie filling being dropped into the center](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-1-1.jpg)
Filling Cupcakes
Make sure the cupcakes are completely cool before removing the center.
To remove the center of the cupcake, there are a few different tools you can use. Just make sure you do not go all the way to the bottom of the cupcake. Leave some cupcake on the bottom, so the filling does not leak out when the liner is removed.
- Cupcake Corer - Press it into the center of the cupcake, twist, and remove.
- Melon Baller - Insert in the center and twist it around to remove the center.
- Small Paring Knife - insert it at a 45 degree angle and cut out a cone shape.
- Large Pastry or Icing Tip - Press the large end into the center, twist, and remove.
Once you have filled the center with the filling of your choice using a spoon or piping bag, place a piece of the center you removed back on top before adding frosting.
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - a hidden pie filling center and vanilla buttercream transforms a chocolate cake mix into a bakery style cupcake. Easy recipe for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Close up of a chocolate cupcake frosted with vanilla buttercream with a bite taken out showing the raspberry center](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-13-1.jpg)
How to make Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat your oven and line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
- Mix together the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, and oil.
- Spoon evenly into the cupcake liners and bake.
- Once the cupcakes are cool, use a cupcake corer to remove the center of each one. Do not eat or throw away the center.
- Fill with a spoonful of raspberry pie filling and place the center core back on top.
- Spoon vanilla buttercream frosting into a piping bag with icing tip 1M on it. Swirl on top of filled cupcakes and add sprinkles.
- Add candy bars and hearts right before serving.
Fun Variations
Use a different flavor pie filling for the hidden centers. Cherry or triple berry are also great in a chocolate cupcake.
Add a berry flavor to the homemade vanilla frosting with jams, preserves, or fruit purees. You may need to add additional powdered sugar in order to keep it pipeable.
Change up the sprinkles and decorations according to the season or holiday. Chocolate candy bars and fresh fruit are always a good option.
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - vanilla buttercream, sprinkles, and candies make these chocolate cupcakes so pretty. Easy recipe for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes with frosting, sprinkles, and candies on a pink cake plate](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-11-1.jpg)
More Filled Cupcake Recipes
- Strawberry Cheesecake Cupcakes
- Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
- Reese's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
- Lemon Coconut Cupcakes
- Vanilla Cherry Pie Cupcakes
- Mocha Fudge Cupcakes
- 45 Valentine's Day Desserts
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - vanilla buttercream, sprinkles, and raspberry pie filling make these chocolate cupcakes taste delicious. Easy recipe to make for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! A chocolate cupcake frosted with vanilla frosting with a bite taken out to show the raspberry pie filling center](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-8-1.jpg)
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Recipe
![A chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting with a bite take out of it showing the raspberry filling](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-12-1-e1613089543141-480x480.jpg)
Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe
A batch of these Raspberry Filled Chocolate Cupcakes will get smiles from everyone when they find the hidden pocket of pie filling. Spread some homemade love by making this easy cupcake recipe for your favorite people.
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 1 dark chocolate cake mix
- 1 - 3.4 ounce box instant chocolate fudge pudding
- 1 cup milk
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup canola oil
For the Frosting
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 6 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 6 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 - 21 ounce can raspberry pie filling
- 24 miniature raspberry Kit Kat bars
- 24 candy hearts
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place 24 cupcake liners in muffin tins.
- Beat the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, and oil on low speed for one minute. Increase speed to medium and beat an additional 1-2 minutes.
- Evenly spoon the cake batter into the cupcake liners. Bake 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out with just few crumbs on it. Remove and cool completely.
- Use a cupcake corer to remove the center of each cupcake. Fill the holes with a spoonful of pie filling.
- Beat the butter, vanilla, and salt until creamy.
- Slowly add the powdered sugar and heavy cream until mixed in. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Spoon into a piping bag fitted with icing tip 1M. Swirl frosting on top of cooled cupcakes. Add sprinkles before frosting sets.
- Top each cupcake with a candy bar and candy heart right before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 416Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 177mgCarbohydrates: 52gFiber: 1gSugar: 45gProtein: 3g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
![Dark Chocolate Raspberry Filled Cupcakes - vanilla buttercream, sprinkles, and raspberry pie filling make these chocolate cupcakes pretty and delicious. Easy recipe to make for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day! Two pictures of dark chocolate raspberry filled cupcakes collaged together with a pink text box](https://insidebrucrewlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Chocolate-Raspberry-Filled-Cupcakes-collage-2.jpg)
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Luanne Stevens
Could you use raspberry jam instead?
Jocelyn
Sure. I think that would be great too!