Campfire Cupcakes (S'MORES!)

After spending countless hours searching through recipe books and online blogs, it was clear what my next cupcake recipe would be. I wasn't baking for a special occasion so it was solely up to me. As I examined all my choices it took me approximately 30 seconds to decide which one to go with. Low and behold the S'MORES CUPCAKE.

...now just imagine what this tastes like

Having gone to sleep away camp for 8 years I have perfected the art of s'more-making. I knew I had to challenge myself and see if could turn this talent of mine into an all-star cupcake. This recipe may be a bit tedious but the finished product is definitely worth it...

My inspiration came from http://www.6bittersweets.com/2010/10/even-more-fun-with-fire-smores-cupcakes.html where I used their recipe but slightly adapted it. 

S'mores Cupcakes

Ingredients: 

1 cup MINUS 2 Tbsp graham cracker crumbs (from 15 to 17 squares)
1 Tbsp sugar
3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
5 to 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, roughly chopped
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup flour
7 Tbsp cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg, room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 standard muffin pans with 18 cupcake liners; set aside. Place the graham cracker crumbs, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl; stir until well combined. Place scant (just under 1 tablespoon each) tablespoons of the graham cracker mixture prepared earlier into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use the bottom of a small glass to pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining graham cracker mixture for topping. Place 2 teaspoons of chocolate in each muffin cup. Set pan aside.

Sift the sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into a large bowl. Mix these together until evenly combined. In a separate large bowl, mix together the egg, milk, oil, vanilla and room temperature butter. Add the liquid mixture into the flour mixture and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue mixing on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes. Add boiling water and stir to combine; set cake batter aside.

Transfer the muffin pans prepared earlier to oven and bake until the edges of the graham cracker mixture is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full with cake batter. Sprinkle each with the remaining chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Return to oven and bake until tops are firm and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a plate and let cool for 20 minutes before icing. 

PRE-ICING 

Marshmallow Frosting

Ingredients:4 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/3 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:
Place egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set over a saucepan with simmering water, making sure the water is not high enough to touch the bowl. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes.

Transfer bowl to electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat, starting on low speed, gradually increasing to high, until stiff, glossy peaks form, 5 to 7 minutes. Add vanilla, and mix until combined. Use immediately.

Sooo I ran into a SLIGHT problem with the marshmallow frosting. I didn't exactly have the whisk attachment to go with the electric mixture  so I kinda had to wing it. My frosting was a bit messy but that actually seemed fitting for this cupcake. Have you EVER eaten a perfectly neat s'more? Its quite likely that the answer will be no. 

I decided to add only a small "blob" of frosting because the sweet taste of the cupcake was already so overwhelming. To finish it off I sprinkled some graham cracker crumbs & squares on top along with a small piece hershey of chocolate to each, I really needed to achieve maximum s'more effect! 

I brought a cupcake over to a friends house for her to try. I guess you could say she enjoyed it...

              STEP 1                                                         STEP 2                                                      STEP 3

This campfire cupcake was definitely worth the work.