Indulge in a heavenly combination of rich chocolate and creamy hazelnut with these irresistible Gluten Free Nutella cupcakes! These delectable treats are a true delight for both children and adults, bringing a burst of decadence to any occasion. Each moist and fluffy cupcake is packed with rich chocolatey flavors and topped with a velvety swirl of Nutella buttercream that will leave you craving for more. Get ready to embark on a delightful baking adventure that will satisfy your sweet tooth and elevate your dessert game to a whole new level!

Happy Baking friends!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Nutella Cupcakes:

For the cupcakes:

Light Brown Sugar: adds moisture and a subtle caramel flavor to the cupcakes.
Granulated Sugar: provides sweetness and helps create a tender texture.
Gluten Free Flour: Acts as a substitute for wheat-based flour, providing structure and texture to the cake while being suitable for those with gluten sensitivities. I love using the King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour for Cakes because it creates a tighter and softer crumb compared to other GF flour blends.
Cocoa Powder, Dutch processed: adds rich chocolate flavor and deepens the color of the cupcakes.
Baking Powder: acts as a leavening agent to help the cupcakes rise and become fluffy.
Salt: enhances flavors and balances the sweetness in the cupcakes.
Vegetable Oil: Provides moisture and helps to keep the cupcakes tender.
whole Eggs: adds structure and stability to the cupcakes.
Egg Yolks: add richness and contribute to a moist texture in the cupcakes.
Vanilla Extract: enhances the overall flavor profile of the cupcakes.
Whole Milk: adds moisture and richness to the cupcake batter.
Coffee: enhances the chocolate flavor and adds depth to the overall taste of the cupcakes. It also helps to keep the cupcakes moist.

For the Nutella Buttercream:

Unsalted Butter: The butter provides a rich and creamy base for the buttercream. It adds flavor, texture, and richness to the frosting.
Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar, also known as confectioners’ sugar, sweetens the buttercream and helps to achieve a smooth consistency. It also helps to stabilize the frosting.
Nutella: Nutella adds a luscious hazelnut and chocolate flavor to the buttercream. It enhances the taste and provides a distinct Nutella profile to the frosting.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor of the buttercream, adding a subtle sweetness and depth. It complements the chocolate and Nutella flavors and gives the frosting a delicious aroma.
Heavy cream: Heavy cream, also called whipping cream, is used to thin the buttercream to a spreadable consistency. It adds moisture and richness to the frosting, giving it a smooth and velvety texture.
Salt: Salt is often added in small amounts to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavors in buttercream. It helps to bring out the richness of the other ingredients and adds depth to the overall taste.

Tips For Making Nutella Cupcakes:

Don’t over mix: mix the cupcake batter until just combined. Overmixing can lead to dense cupcakes. Stop mixing as soon as all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
Use cupcake liners: line your cupcake pans with liners to prevent sticking and make it easier to remove the cupcakes after baking.
Fill the cupcake liners correctly: fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full to allow room for the cupcakes to rise and form a nice dome shape. Overfilling cupcake liners can cause the cupcakes to bake flat or sink in the middle because there wasn’t enough room for the cupcake to expand during baking.
Use good quality pans: good quality baking pans contribute to better baking outcomes, ensuring that your cupcakes are cooked evenly, have an appealing appearance, and are easy to release from the pan. I LOVE this cupcake pan from USA Pans!
Don’t overbake: keep a close eye on the cupcakes while they’re in the oven and remove them as soon as a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Overbaking can result in dry cupcakes.
Do NOT open your oven door: opening the oven door results in major heat loss inside your oven. When there is a major change in temperature in your oven it causes the cupcakes to fall after baking resulting in sad cupcakes. Don’t open your oven door until your cupcakes have baked for the proper amount of time listed in the recipe!
Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting: allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting off your cupcakes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the secret to fluffy cupcakes?

Proper mixing technique- it’s important to not overmix the batter. Overmixing can develop gluten in the flour, resulting in dense and tough cupcakes. Mix the batter just until the ingredients are combined.
Leavening agents- adding the right amount of leavening, such as baking powder, is crucial for achieving fluffy cupcakes. Leavening creates air pockets in the batter, causing it to rise and create a light texture.
Proper measuring- accurate measurement of ingredients is essential. Use measuring cups and spoons specifically for wet and dry ingredients to ensure precise amounts or use a scale and weigh your ingredients for even better accuracy! Too much or too little of an ingredient can affect the texture of the cupcake.
Don’t overfill cupcake liners- overfilling can cause the cupcakes to spill over the sides and lose their fluffy texture.
Proper baking time- bake the cupcakes for the recommended time mentioned in the recipe. Overbaking can result in dry cupcakes, while underbaking leads to a dense cupcake with a sunken center.

How do you make cupcakes moist?

Use oil: using fats like oil help to keep the cupcakes moist and tender.
Don’t overbake: overbaking can obviously lead to SO MANY PROBLEMS!Overbaking cupcakes will cause them to become dry.
Avoid overmixing: overmixing can also cause a lot of problems when it comes to baking. Overmixing can lead to dense and dry cupcakes.
Add simple syrup: brushing the cupcakes with simple syrup while they’re still slightly warm can add extra moisture.
Using moistening agents: ingredients like buttermilk, whole milk, yogurt, or sour cream can help add moisture to the cupcakes.

Remember that moisture is a delicate balance, so it’s important to follow the recipe precisely, pay attention to ingredient ratios, and avoid overbaking. For a more detailed dive into this topic check out my post about How to Make Cupcakes Moist!

What pastry tip is best for decorating cupcakes?

The best pastry tip for decorating cupcakes depends on the desired design and effect you want to achieve. However, one of the best tips I can give for decorating cupcakes with a pastry tip is to have a pastry tip with a large/wide opening. I Love the sets that Ateco offers, their star tip set, and round tip sets are great. The two largest tips in each of these sets are PERFECT for piping buttercream onto cupcakes.

The Wilton 1M tip is also very popular for cupcake decorating as well. The Wilton 1M tip is what I used to decorate these Nutella cupcakes!

Extra Resources:

Below are two videos related to cupcakes that you may find helpful if you’re more of a visual learner like me 🙂

–How to frost cupcakes like a Pro!

–Baking Hack for how to make coffee for recipes (if you don’t own a coffee maker)