Picture it. Alaska. 2020. There was a pandemic on and times really sucked.

Remember then? I do. I was supposed to be looking forward to hosting Easter in our new house in Alaska with all my family here and my kids playing with lots of cousins.

Instead, my husband and I made emergency E. Bunny purchases and stalked grocery pick-ups for a couple dozen eggs to hard boil and dye.

But, I realized, that didn't mean that I couldn't make something delicious and cute… and easy – y'all KNOW I love me some easy.

Quick and Delicious: Doctored Up Cake Mix Chocolate Cupcakes

My anxiety was making it hard for me to focus on doing “real” baking at that time but I still want something that made me feel like I tried, ya know?

I also wanted something chocolatey because everything sucked and chocolate made me feel better and DON'T JUDGE ME I WAS HUNKERING.

Also, since we had only moved a few months before and hadn't had a chance to rebuild our pantry, I was missing some key ingredients for making chocolate-y goodness. Like cocoa powder.

So, what's a lazy ass mom like me supposed to do? Whelp, I *did* have some chocolate cake mix soooooo….

I made it work.

Did you know that with a few extra (easy to get) ingredients, you can doctor up a chocolate cake mix into some incredibly tasty chocolate cupcakes?

Top them of with my favorite (and also incredibly easy to make with ingredients you probably already have) homemade strawberry buttercream frosting and you've got yourself a GOOD TIME.

I mean… SO EASY, right?!?!

I love these because, while I do love to bake cupcakes and do it a lot, sometimes – I'm just not into it, or I don't have the time, or we're low on groceries and I'm using what I've got.

And for those of you just learning how to bake – this is fantastic. No precise measuring or weighing needed.

Just some basic dump and mix ingredients plus a little bit of “fancy” for the frosting.

And honestly, after I left home and actually started cooking and baking for myself?

These would have been my go to potluck dessert or Saturday night comfort food fest.

Jonesin' for more AWESOME cupcake recipes?

Here's a few fantastic ones that my friends are sharing on their blogs right now:

Houseful of Nicholes – Red Velvet Cupcakes
How Was Your Day – Elegant Champagne Cupcakes
In the Kids Kitchen – Narwhal Cupcakes
Someday I'll Learn – Coffee Cupcakes
Sugar Spice and Glitter – White Chocolate Cupcakes

I want to make each and every one of these and shove them in my face because OMGYUUUMMMMMYOMG.