Description
Moist and light chocolate cupcakes stuffed with a creamy marshmallow filling, topped with milk chocolate frosting, crushed graham crackers and a toasted marshmallow. S’mores have never tasted so good!
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup (41g) unsweetened cocoa powder*
- 3/4 cup (94g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature*
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (100g) packed light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup (80ml) vegetable oil (melted coconut oil works too)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (120ml) buttermilk*
Marshmallow Filling
- 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2/3 cup JET-PUFFED marshmallow creme (Fluff)
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream*
- 3/4 – 1 cup (90-120g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Milk Chocolate Frosting
- 1 and 3/4 cups (210g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) heavy cream*
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- salt, to taste
Topping
- 12 JET-PUFFED marshmallows
- 4 full-sheet graham crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. Line a second pan with 2 liners – this recipe makes about 14 cupcakes. Set aside.
- Make the cupcakes: In a large bowl, whisk the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together until thoroughly combined. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla together until completely smooth. Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Then half of the buttermilk. Gently stir – about 5 stirs. Repeat with the remaining wet ingredients and buttermilk. Stir until *just* combined; do not overmix. The batter won’t be very thick.
- Pour/spoon the batter into the liners – fill only halfway to avoid spilling over the sides. Bake in batches for 18-19 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before continuing.
- Make the filling as the cupcakes cool: In a medium bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, marshmallow creme, vanilla, and cream on medium speed until completely smooth. Add 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar and the salt slowly with the mixer running on low, then increase the speed to high and beat for 1 minute. If it looks too thin, add 1/4 cup more confectioners’ sugar. Refrigerate the filling until ready to use.
- Make the chocolate frosting as the cupcakes cool: Sift together the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder to assure there are no lumps. Set aside. With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy – about 2 minutes. Gradually add the sifted sugar/cocoa powder alternately with the heavy cream and vanilla. Beat on low speed after each addition. Once all added, beat on high speed until creamy and combined for at least 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. Set aside until ready to use.
- Assemble the cupcakes: Using a sharp knife, cut a circle/hole into the center of the cupcake to create a little pocket about 3/4 inch deep. Place 1 spoonful (a little more than 1 teaspoon) of marshmallow filling inside and top with the piece of cupcake you removed to seal. See photos above for visual. Repeat with all cupcakes. You will likely have leftover filling. It’s great sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies.
- Frost the cupcakes however you like. I used my Wilton 1M swirl piping tip. Sprinkle with crushed graham crackers.
- Toast the marshmallows on a large baking sheet on one of the top oven racks with your oven on broil. They brown almost immediately, so don’t leave the room! Once browned, quickly remove and let cool for 5 minutes. Scoop from the baking sheet using a spatula and place on top of the frosted cupcakes. Enjoy immediately while the marshmallows are nice and gooey.
Notes
- Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: Prepare cupcakes, without decorating/frosting, 1 day in advance. Keep plain cupcakes covered tightly at room temperature and frost the day of serving. Frosting and filling can also be prepared 1 day in advance. Cover tightly and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use. Unfrosted cupcakes can be frozen up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before frosting and serving.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 12-cup Muffin Pan | Cupcake Liners | Glass Mixing Bowls | Whisk | Electric Mixer (Handheld or Stand) | Piping Bag (Reusable or Disposable) | Wilton 1M Piping Tip
- Cocoa Powder: Do not use dutch processed cocoa. Dutch process is treated with an alkali to neutralize its acids and therefore will not react with the alkaline baking soda in the batter. Natural unsweetened, which is an acidic ingredient, is paired with the brown sugar (also acidic) in this specific cupcake recipe to react with baking soda and maintain the proper balance of acid and alkaline as the cupcakes bake.
- Eggs: Room temperature eggs are best for this batter. To bring eggs to room temperature quickly, place them in a glass of warm water for 5-10 minutes.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk is required for this recipe. You can make your own DIY version of buttermilk if needed. Add 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup. Then add enough whole milk to the same measuring cup until it reaches 1/2 cup. (In a pinch, lower fat or nondairy milks work for this soured milk, but the cupcakes won’t taste as moist or rich.) Stir it around and let sit for 5 minutes. The homemade “buttermilk” will be somewhat curdled and ready to use in the recipe.
- Cream: I recommend heavy cream for the filling and frosting because it helps provide the creamiest texture. Half-and-half may be substituted. Milk is OK, but it doesn’t provide the same creamy, fluffy texture.
- Be sure to check out my 10 tips for baking the BEST cupcakes before you begin!