I just realized that I sort of have a thing for s’mores. What’s not to love? Chocolate + marshamallow heated up till it’s gooey and melty, on top of a crunchy cracker…yum. In the past, I’ve made a s’mores pie (with a Guiness-chocolate filling, which makes it very appropriate for today – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!), gourmet s’mores and homemade graham crackers for s’mores kits.
Today, I bring you a combination of 2 awesome desserts: s’mores + cupcakes. They have a mini graham cracker crust, toped with small chunks of bittersweet chocolate, chocolate cupcake sprinkled with more graham cracker crumbs and chocolate chunks, and are finally finished with a marshmallow frosting. Toast the frosting with a mini torch or under the broiler and it gets a perfect toasted marshmallow taste and texture.
I brought these in for a staff lunch and let everyone take a turn with the mini torch. It was lots of fun – I recommend buying a torch if you don’t already have one!
What’s your favorite kitchen tool?
Recipe:
S’mores Cupcakes
Adapted from Martha Stewart
Makes 14 cupcakes
For the graham cracker crust:
- 1 C graham cracker crumbs
- 1/8 C sugar
- 4 T unsalted butter, melted
- Pinch of salt
- 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
For the chocolate cupcakes:
- 1 C + 1 T sugar
- 14 T unbleached all-purpose flour*
- 7 T unsweetened cocoa powder*
- 3/4 t baking powder
- 3/4 t baking soda
- 1/2 t salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 C milk (the original recipe called for whole but I used 2%)
- 1/4 C vegetable oil
- 1 t vanilla extract
- 1/2 C boiling water
For the frosting:
Adapted from Food & Wine
- 3/4 C sugar
- 1/3 C water
- 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/4 t cream of tartar
- 1 t vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line cupcake pan(s) with foil liners and move rack to center of oven.
To make the crust: In a small bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, sugar, melted butter and salt with a fork. Drop about 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of the mixture into each cupcake liner and press down firmly. Reserve remaining mixture for topping cupcakes. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of chopped chocolate on top of each crust and bake for about 5 minutes (until edges of crust are golden). Remove from oven but leave on at 350° F.
To make the cupcakes: Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir lightly with a fork to combine. In a mixing bowl, combine egg, milk, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Combine dry and wet ingredients and mix on low speed for a minute, then medium speed for 1-2 more minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl in between if needed. Add boiling water and mix just until combined. (Note: The batter will be very thin at this point.)
Pour 1/4 cup of batter on top of each crust (mine were a little over 3/4 full). Sprinkle each with remaining graham cracker mixture and chopped chocolate. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until tops are firm and toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean. Let cool completely.
To make the frosting:
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water over high heat. Once it starts boiling, place the egg whites in a mixer bowl with a whisk attachment and begin mixing at medium-high speed. Once they become foamy, add the cream of tartar. Continue to beat at medium speed until stiff peaks form.
Once the sugar mixture reaches 242°F, remove from heat and slowly pour into the egg whites with the mixer on low speed. Increase speed to high and beat for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Add vanilla extract and mix to combine.
*These are measured in tablespoons because I halved the original recipe and it was the easiest way to reduce the measurements (half of 1 3/4 and 3/4 cup)
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52 Comments on S’mores Cupcakes
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Wheels
March 17, 2011 at 10:54 am (14 years ago)Pretty sure I’m going to need to play with the torch next time i’m in town!
Caroline Taylor
March 17, 2011 at 11:14 am (14 years ago)I have never had a s’more and now I’ve seen them I really want to give them a try! They look so pretty.
Stephanie
March 17, 2011 at 11:56 am (14 years ago)Wheels – it’s a date!
Caroline – you definitely need to try them! They’re amazing.
Liz
March 17, 2011 at 1:47 pm (14 years ago)Beautiful! I bet these were darned tasty, too~
Liz recently posted Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes
Firefly
March 17, 2011 at 1:56 pm (14 years ago)I need one like ASAP 🙂 they look so good!
Becky
March 17, 2011 at 4:50 pm (14 years ago)Your cupcakes are gorgeous. I’ve never made s’mores cupcakes, but I’ll have to try.
My favorite kitchen tool is my microplane zester. Veru easy to zest fruits,a nd grate garlic.
Becky recently posted Baileys and Coffee Brownie Cupcakes
egb
March 17, 2011 at 4:55 pm (14 years ago)These are drool worthy! Great post.
egb recently posted Na- Na- Na- Naan
Sandra
March 17, 2011 at 5:16 pm (14 years ago)Hey I wanna use the torch! This is a really good recipe. Love the flavor combination.
Amy's Cooking Adventures
March 17, 2011 at 6:17 pm (14 years ago)These look delicious….and fun! Thanks for sharing!
Amy’s Cooking Adventures recently posted Vegetarian Chickpea Burgers
Belinda @zomppa
March 17, 2011 at 6:22 pm (14 years ago)Oh darn, as if the flavors weren’t enough, you brought out the torch!! This is torture!
hannah
March 17, 2011 at 6:32 pm (14 years ago)omg i need a smores cupcake now
Lindsey at Burn Me Not
March 17, 2011 at 8:41 pm (14 years ago)I have made a version of these cupcakes before, and my husband was floored by how delicious they were. Yours look scrumptious!!
Too many fun kitchen tools to choose a favorite, but I really love my cake turntable… it makes frosting cakes SO much easier!
Medeja
March 18, 2011 at 3:55 am (14 years ago)Those cupcakes with that frosting look great 🙂 can i have one? 😀
Maja
March 18, 2011 at 5:30 am (14 years ago)Mmm, they look great ! Maybe this can be my excuse for buying a torch !
Maja recently posted Шакшука Shakshouka
Sues
March 18, 2011 at 11:04 am (14 years ago)These are awesome and they’d be the perfect way for me to try out my new kitchen torch! S’mores and cupcakes are two of my very favorite desserts 🙂
Mary @ Delightful Bitefuls
March 18, 2011 at 12:52 pm (14 years ago)OMG! That looks incredible!!! That frosting… oh me, oh my!
Great blog; happy I found you!
KMUHA
March 18, 2011 at 11:37 pm (14 years ago)My boyfriend and I just finished doing this recipe and these cupcakes are absolutely delicious! The perfect amount of everything for a cupcake to imitate a s’more. HUGE hit in my household so far. My sister has already had seconds!
This is a MUST TRY AND KEEP recipe.
**In order to try and make this recipe a tad “healthy” I used white whole WHEAT flour instead of unbleached all-purpose flour and nobody said a thing about it tasting funny. Couldn’t even tell the difference!**
Oh and because I did not have a torch for the frosting, I did the suggested alternative with the broiler. (but only at most for 25 seconds, otherwise the tip of the frosting almost began to burn and smoke.) The broiler worked just perfect!
Thanks for sharing..looking forward to more recipes =]
Tiffany
March 19, 2011 at 6:10 am (14 years ago)The bruleed frosting makes this cupcakes EXTRA special! I want one right now!
Tiffany recently posted Tangelo Tofu
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog)
March 19, 2011 at 7:02 am (14 years ago)Ok, I need a blowtorch! Those are fabulous.
Elyse @The Cultural Dish
March 19, 2011 at 9:20 am (14 years ago)Such a cute idea! I love how the tops look after using the kitchen torch. I’m passing along an award to you that you can receive here: http://theculturaldish.blogspot.com/2011/03/st-josephs-day-and-award.html
Elyse @The Cultural Dish recently posted St Josephs Day and an Award!
Alaine
March 19, 2011 at 12:23 pm (14 years ago)These look divine. I recently made my version of a S’Mores Pie which tasted fabulous. Doesn’t look as pretty as yours though. I did cheat a bit, I used Ghirardelli’s Ultimate Brownie mix for the filling. Because I love thier Ultimate Brownie mix! I will have to try this frosting recipe next time so that it will be look REALLY pretty!
http://www.funfabulousfood.com/2011/02/ultimate-smores-brownie-pie-semi.html
Joyti
March 19, 2011 at 1:01 pm (14 years ago)Great use for the torch too. The cupcakes sound and look delicious.
Joyti recently posted Coconut Carnaroli Kheer Rice Pudding
Bianca
March 19, 2011 at 10:02 pm (14 years ago)I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! I’ll have to try the recipe! Keep those cupcakes coming!!
Bianca recently posted Elijahs Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
Simply Life
March 20, 2011 at 5:28 am (14 years ago)Oh WOW! These look incredible!
Simply Life recently posted Inspired by Chocolate- Gail Ambrosius Chocolatier
Kita
March 21, 2011 at 12:52 pm (14 years ago)I love the recommendation to purchase a torch. It’s something that hasn’t made it to my collection yet. These cupcakes look great 🙂
Peggy
March 21, 2011 at 1:46 pm (14 years ago)Oh, I’m definitely with you! My favorite gadget has to be a tie between my blow torch and my immersion blender. I pull out both of them any chance I get!
Joy
March 23, 2011 at 12:54 pm (14 years ago)that looks so good
Joy recently posted Tea Party for a Cause
Grace
March 24, 2011 at 1:42 am (14 years ago)Yumm!
Seeing all these S’mores Cupcakes makes me want to buy a mini torch the next time I make these tasty sweets. I recently did a version similar to yours:
http://gbtgraphics.com/blog/2011/03/15/simply-smores/
Can’t wait to try yours!
KitchenAid has to be my favorite kitchen tool! 🙂
veronica
March 24, 2011 at 7:58 pm (14 years ago)could you use storebought marshmallow fluff/creme on top?
Stephanie
March 25, 2011 at 2:34 pm (14 years ago)Veronica – I’m sure you could use marshmallow fluff on top. I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how the texture will work as a frosting, but let me know how it turns out!
Laura
March 30, 2011 at 11:41 am (14 years ago)These look amazing! I definately need to give these a try.
Laura recently posted Four Cheese Baked Ravioli
blogbytina!
April 3, 2011 at 2:59 pm (14 years ago)this is just crazy enough to work
kathy
May 24, 2011 at 12:57 pm (14 years ago)Ok, so I saw this recipe and I had to make it! So I asked for a torch for Mother’s Day. My husband actually got a tear in his eye because I wanted a torch! So I made them and they turned out great!! I thank you, and my children thank you for sharing this wonderfull recipe.
Thanks, Kathy
Stephanie
May 24, 2011 at 1:02 pm (14 years ago)@Kathy – that’s great! You’re very welcome, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
Ruby
June 6, 2011 at 12:52 pm (14 years ago)This is my next cupcake project! Thank you.
Did you find they were ok to leave at room temperature for a day or 2? I normally don’t leave them out longer, as cupcakes tend to dry out, but not sure how stable they are after a day?
Lastly, do you think they would freeze well?
TIA!
Stephanie
June 6, 2011 at 4:20 pm (14 years ago)@Ruby – You’re welcome! I think I let them sit out for a day, but I can’t remember for sure. The cupcakes themselves should be fine, but I would wait until the day you’re serving them to make the frosting. Not sure about freezing – again, the cupcakes would probably be fine but I don’t know if this frosting will freeze well (I doubt it). I’ve only frozen buttercream before (which works ok, but it comes out a little greasy). If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Alison
October 26, 2011 at 6:58 am (13 years ago)Yum!!! I cannot wait to try these!
Jessica
February 16, 2012 at 3:12 am (13 years ago)These look great, I’m going to visit a friend next week and she sent me this recipe and says we have to try them out! I’m more than excited to do so!! Nice work!
Jessica recently posted Speculoos (paste)
Susie
September 15, 2012 at 7:28 pm (12 years ago)Your recipe calls for a mixer with a whisk attachment to make the frosting..does it work if I use my regular beaters?
Stephanie
September 15, 2012 at 9:03 pm (12 years ago)@Susie – yes, that should still work.
catherine
June 27, 2015 at 7:32 am (9 years ago)I used regular beaters and it worked fine. for anyone else reading through these comments years later 🙂
Beth
April 7, 2013 at 2:35 pm (12 years ago)Thanks so much for the recipe! I just made these, and they’re AMAZING – huge hit. My only feedback is the frosting was a total disaster, and it could be user error. My frosting had great stiff peaks prior to slowly adding the sugar/water mix, but once I did that, it just turned to liquid and stayed there- despite a kitchen aid mixer trying desperately for at least 10 minutes. I found the original recipe online, though, and see that it recommends combining the sugar, egg whites and cream of tartar in a double broiler and whisking until reaching 155 degrees, THEN mixing with the whisk attachment. This worked much better. Just fyi in case someone else had the same problem I did. Thanks again!!! Delicious!!
grace
November 17, 2013 at 7:14 pm (11 years ago)where can i possibly buy a mini torch?
Stephanie Nuccitelli
November 17, 2013 at 7:26 pm (11 years ago)You can buy a torch on Amazon or in any kitchen supply store (like Sur La Table). I think I’ve also seen them at Target in the kitchen section.
Melanie Fields
March 30, 2014 at 12:56 pm (11 years ago)Today’s math lesson:
1 3/4 halved is 7/8 Flour
3/4 cup halved is 3/8
1 3/4 = 7/4 7/4 x 1/2 = 7/8
3/4 x 1/2 = 3/8
and this is why cooking is good for teaching fractions