Caramel Stuffed Smores Cupcakes Food

SUPER S'MORES CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the graham cracker crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two standard 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners.
• In a small bowl, stir together the graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar until well combined. Press a heaping tablespoon of the crust mixture into the bottom of each muffin cup and bake until golden and just set, 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• For the cupcakes: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the buttermilk, water and oil and whisk to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Divide the batter among the muffin cups, filling them about two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Let cool in the tins on a wire rack for about 5 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the tins and allow to cool completely.
• For the marshmallow frosting: Combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in a heatproof mixing bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the egg whites are warm and smooth to the touch, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on low speed, gradually increasing to medium and then finally up to high. Beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, 7 to 10 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and whisk in the vanilla.
• Spread the frosting on the cupcakes. With a handheld pastry torch, lightly brown the frosting. Decorate each cupcake with a graham cracker piece and a shard of chocolate.

CARAMEL STUFFED S'MORES CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 F and line 18 cupcake wells with paper liners. Melt the 3 tbsp butter and combine with the graham cracker crumbs. Evenly distribute the mixture between the paper liners and gently press to the bottom.
• Melt the 8 tbsp butter and 2 ounces chopped chocolate together and stir until smooth. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the cupcakes. In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients except for the chocolate and butter mixture.
• Stir the wet into the dry, then stir in the chocolate and butter mixture. Divide the batter between the cupcake liners and bake for 20-25 minutes until the center of the cupcake springs back lightly when touched. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• While the cupcakes are still slightly warm, place the caramel sauce into a piping bag fitted with a cupcake filling tip. Place the tip into the center of a cupcake, apply medium pressure, count to three, stop the pressure, and remove the tip. Repeat for the remaining cupcakes. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely while you make the frosting.
• Make the frosting by placing the egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar or lemon juice into a clean mixer bowl. Set the bowl on top of a saucepan of slightly simmering water to create a double boiler. Do not allow the water to touch the bottom of the pan.
• Stir the egg whites and sugar constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved, usually about 4-5 minutes, then transfer immediately to your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Gradually increase the speed on the mixer to high and let the mixer run 5-6 minutes until the frosting turns white and very fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Immediately pipe or spread the frosting onto the cupcakes and use a kitchen torch to "toast" the tops of frosting. Cupcakes are best served the day they are made as the frosting doesn't hold up well long-term. Enjoy!

MARSHMALLOW-FILLED S'MORES CUPCAKES

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

CARAMEL S'MORE CUPS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 36 mini muffin cups with cooking spray.
• Make cookie dough as directed on package, using butter and egg. Shape dough into 36 (1-inch) balls. Place 1 ball into each muffin cup.
• Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven; firmly press 1 candy into centre of each cookie until flush with cookie top. Top each with 3 marshmallows. Bake 2 to 4 minutes longer or until marshmallows are puffed. Cool 30 minutes. Loosen edges of cookie with small metal spatula and remove to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• Place chocolate chips in small resealable freezer plastic bag. Microwave on High about 1 minute or until softened. Gently squeeze bag until chocolate is smooth; cut off tiny corner of bag. Squeeze bag to drizzle chocolate over marshmallows. Let stand until hardened, about 10 minutes.

SALTED CARAMEL CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a 12-hole cake tin with paper cases.
• Beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla extract. Briefly mix in the flour until just combined, and stir in the milk until the batter just falls off the beaters.
• Divide the mixture between the cases, leaving about 2 tbsp batter in the bowl. Add a pinch of salt to the caramel sauce if it's not salted caramel, then add ½ tsp to the tops of each cupcake. Use a teaspoon to cover the caramel sauce with the remaining batter. Bake for 15-20 mins until springy and golden. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter and half of the icing sugar together, then tip in the remaining icing sugar and whisk vigorously until pale and fluffy. Stir in half of the caramel sauce, then spoon the mixture into a piping bag with a round or star nozzle.
• Pipe swirls of icing on top of the cooled cupcakes. Stir the remaining caramel sauce with a pinch of salt, if unsalted, then use to drizzle over the icing. Sprinkle over a small pinch of sea salt over each, if you like.