Some days I need something simple for some quick indulgence, like a quick brownie recipe, or even a popsicle on a hot summer day. Some days, I need time in the kitchen to make something tasty and beautiful. These beauties fall under the latter category.
These S’mores Cupcakes are not really not that hard, just a little time consuming and lots of dirty dishes. One Sunday afternoon when I put my littles to bed, I took on this project and had a blast. They are incredibly tasty, beautiful, and I got to bust out my torch. If you don’t have a torch you can throw these under the broiler for a minute, but careful not to burn the cupcake.
S'mores Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Graham Cracker Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate melted and cooled
- 1/2 cup buttermilk or whole milk at room temperature
- 1/2 cup boiling water
- 4 ounces semisweet or milk chocolate finely chopped, or 2/3 cup store-bought mini chocolate chips
For the Frosting:
- 4 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Crust:
-
Preheat the oven to 350° F.
-
Line two cupcake pans with paper liners.
-
In a small mixing bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter; mix well with a fork.
-
Drop about 1 tablespoon of the graham cracker mixture in the bottom of each cupcake liner and press down to line the bottom. (Note: The bottom of a small cup or bottle works well here.)
-
Bake for 5 minutes.
-
Remove from the oven, and maintain the oven temperature.
For the Cupcakes:
-
Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until soft and creamy.
-
Add the sugars and continue to beat for another 3 minutes.
-
Add the eggs one by one, beating for 1 minute after each addition.
-
Beat in the vanilla; don't be concerned if the mixture looks curdled.
-
Reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the melted chocolate.
-
When chocolate is fully incorporated, add the dry ingredients alternately with the buttermilk, adding the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the milk in 2 (begin and end with the dry ingredients); scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed and mix only until the ingredients disappear into the batter. At this point, the batter will be thick, like frosting.
-
Still working on low speed, mix in the boiling water, which will thin the batter considerably.
-
Switch to a rubber spatula, scrape down the bowl and stir in the chopped chocolate.
-
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared liners, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 14-16 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking.
-
Let cool in the pan about 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting:
-
Combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in a bowl set over a pan of a few inches of simmering water. (Note: I use my clean, dry mixer bowl right off the bat to avoid dirtying two bowls.)
-
Heat the mixture, whisking frequently, until it reaches 160° F with an instant-read thermometer.
-
Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
-
Whisk, starting at low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form.
-
Mix in the vanilla until combined.
-
Transfer the frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a decorative tip and apply frosting starting at the edges and working in and up.
-
Toast frosting with a kitchen torch and garnish with chocolate and graham cracker segments (optional).
Latest posts by -Tam | Food Apparel (see all)
- Make-Ahead Sausage and Pumpkin Penne Recipe - November 17, 2017
- Sweet Potato Hash with Sausage and Avocado Recipe - July 18, 2017
- Giant Cookie Recipe - October 20, 2015
[…] Smores Cupcakes […]