I have a co worker that wants me to make spicy chocolate cupcakes. I plan on using a box mix. I want to do half regular and half spicy. What would you use such as Cayanne and how much do you think I should add? I'm hoping someone has done this before I have no clue where to start.

I've never made a spicy chocolate cake but I do remember seeing a recipe for one. It isn't a box mix, but maybe use it as a guide line?

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chipotle_flourless_chocolate_cake/

I have made that recipe! Wonderful. But, I don't think it would make good cupcakes. Really dense and doesn't rise much.

I would start with your best chocolate cake recipe and add chipotle and cayenne. You're looking for what I call a back door heat (hits after you taste the chocolate.) You don't want anything extremely hot, just enough to know it is there.

Google it and start looking at recipes. People don't usually use cayenne in cakes. Most recipes I've seen use ancho.

i just inquired about same thing. On here (CC), under recipes, under Mexican, search "chocolate chili cake". I made a small cake & cupcakes (from the recipe, which uses a box mix). I would next time substitute some or all of the water for brewed coffee and add 1 tsp of vanilla. overall, they were delicious and everybody liked them. the cayenne "bite" hits you after.

you can also use ginger to get that spicy bite.

I add a tablespoon of chiloplte pepper to my regular chocolate recipe. I've never tried with a box mix but I'm sure it would work. Yummy