Perfect S'more Cupcakes (+ giveaway winner and update on Sister Saturday Challenge)

For my son's fifth birthday a few months ago, I wanted to make s'more cupcakes. (To be honest, this was completely for me and the other moms, since my son wouldn't eat marshmallows that were "aww mewty!" Thus he did not appreciate the joy of s'mores, though he did enjoy lighting a marshmallow on fire while camping this weekend.) Since summer officially begins this week, I thought this was the perfect time to share! What says summer better than s'mores?


I've had a s'more cupcake at our local cupcake shop, but I wasn't impressed. I think it's a texture thing: you just can't replicate the experience of warm melted chocolate, even with chocolate cake. And a crispy-gooey marshmallow is nothing like a boiled meringue frosting.


So I sent Jasmine off to do some digging for me, and she came up with a couple s'more cupcake inspirations. I found a quick graham cracker cake recipe on All Recipes—and then I did what I wanted. (Hello! Wayward!)

To start, I made a milk chocolate ganache by bringing 1/4c heavy cream to a boil, then taking that off the heat and adding 1/2c milk chocolate chips. Once the chocolate chips were fully melted, I poured that into my small mixing bowl to cool and refrigerate.


For the cake, I crushed one cellophane package of graham crackers into fine crumbs (about 1 1/4 c crumbs, but I think 1 1/2 c would be better):


Baby helped me dispose of the extra graham cracker pieces.


I added the crumbs an 18.25 oz dry yellow cake mix:


Since we're at a high altitude, I figured this would be okay. And since I didn't feel like getting out a whole 'nother egg carton just for the third egg, I only added two eggs with the other indicated wet ingredients.

I took a page from Cupcake Wars and used an ice cream scoop to fill the cups.


Yes, baking is an exacting science, and an exacting scientist, I am not. Luckily for me, this time it turned out even better than okay: the cake was moist and delicious!


By now the ganache was cool (I started it in the morning and baked the cupcakes in the afternoon). I took it out of the refrigerator and whipped it in my mixer.

Then I scooped the middles out of the cupcakes with a serrated spoon which called itself a "tomato corer":

Holy cupcakes!

And filled with the whipped ganache:

I used a plastic baggie with a corner snipped off for both the ganache and the frosting: marshmallow crème.


I'd show you how I piped it on, but 1.) it took both hands and 2.) it's not impressive.

Now, marshmallow crème will run together after it sits a few minutes, so I recommend only "frosting" a few at a time (at most 6, less if you're going slowly). Once you have a small batch frosted, pop 'em under the broiler:


I like to keep my oven open while I do this because I do tend to burn things under the broiler.

But if you burn these, it's okay! The burnt marshmallow pops off like a lid:


And you can try again.


These actually keep pretty well in airtight containers overnight. The delicious golden brown crunchiness of the marshmallow will dissolve but it keeps the coloring and the shape. But nothing beats a warm, fresh one! (Reheating under the broiler made the frosting crack, but it tasted amazing!)

Next time, I might even brave making a cake from scratch.

Recipe

Whipped chocolate ganache filling
1/4 c heavy cream
1/2 c milk chocolate chips
Boil cream. Add chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate chips are fully melted and mixture is deep brown. Pour into bowl. Cool and refrigerate. Once cold, beat with electric mixer until you reach the desired consistency (like frosting).

Graham cracker cake
Add 1 1/2 fine graham cracker crumbs to yellow cake mix. (May omit 1 egg.)

This recipe was prepared at high altitude

How would you make s'more cupcakes?



And a few updates:

The first ever Saturday Sister Spotlight was so much fun! I loved getting to know the Three Sisterz better—and I loved seeing how they took up the Saturday Sister Challenge! You can see all their watermelon-inspired crafts in the challenge update here!

And the winner of my ribbon runner from last week, chosen completely at random, I swear, is . . .

Flannery of Three Sisterz!


Send me your address, Flannery, and I'll get that in the mail to you this week!

34 comments :

Becky said...

These look delicious!!!

AsylumTanya said...

Amazing! I don't have one, but could you use a mini torch to brown the tops instead of putting them in the oven (like when making creme' brulee")? However you make them, they look YUMMY!

Kristine@thefoleyfam said...

I am no a baker, but you make it look so easy and this looks so worth the try ;)

THANK YOU so much for linking up to Strut Your Stuff Sunday!! We appreciate it!! Hope to see your fabulous ideas again!! Have a great day!

Kristine
www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

Just Jaime said...

I want to make these! Ganache is a great idea!

Ycats said...

Might have to try these! they sound great!

Connie Mercer said...

they look yummy!!!

Flannery @ Three Sisterz said...

Yeah!!!! I'll send you an email;)

idesign said...

i bet these tasted incredible!

Mary Pat Siehl said...

soooooo YUMMY!

memakingdo said...

Those look very yummy! I just featured them!

Brit said...

Yummy!! Thanks for sharing, my kids will love you for this, going to try it :)
www.jandmseyecandy.blogspot.com

Ashley said...

o man those look so fun and good

Tracy said...

Ohhh I have to try these.
My daughters make smores in the microwave during the winter, they love them so much, lol.
These look so good.

Jordan McCollum said...

Thanks, everybody!

@Tanya—I'm sure you could use a kitchen torch (I seem to remember a Martha Stewart version where they did), but be sure to go slow and practice!

@Tracy—Microwave s'mores are good for kids, but when I'm making them (for me, of course) in the winter, I like to use bamboo skewers over my electric range, or the broiler.

Anna said...

What a delicious idea. I'm definitely going to have to try these.

Thank you for sharing at the Weekend Warrior Link Party.

Anna
www.askannamoseley.com

Anonymous said...

VERY nice! Would you come over to my link party tomorrow and share your recipes with us at Cast Party Wednesday? http://www.ladybehindthecurtain.com
I hope to see you there!

Erin said...

Oh yum! These look wonderful! Great job!

Katie @ This Chick Cooks said...

How yummy! I wanted to invite you to come over and share your recipe at These Chicks Cooked Recipe Spotlight today. Have a great day :)
Katie

My Recent Favorite Books said...

These look great! they make me hungry for smores! =)

Kim @ keller-creative said...

I love that idea and I think I need to make these. I just made s'mores pops and posted them on my blog today!

Heather Landry said...

These look incredibly delicious! I want to make these right away!!! Yum.

Leanne said...

Yum!!! Thanks for linking to the party.

Terri @ A Creative Princess said...

looks yummy! thanks for linking up to "Its a Party"!

Alice said...

How precious! Smores are my favorite part of summer. These just might become a way to joy "smores" in the cooler months.

Susan said...

Looks delicious!

Tracy said...

Yumm-o!

Thanks for sharing and linking up this project this week at Craft Junkie Too's T.G.I.F. Linky Party......
~Tracy

Craft Junkie Too

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh! They look amazing! Love your use of ganache and toasty marshmallows.. I can't wait to try these.. Thanks for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party!

Amanda @ Little House on the Corner said...

Now THAT is a s'mores cupcake if I've ever seen one! Very creative and wayward of you! :) My mouth is watering right now!

Jami said...

Those look delicious!!! Love the browning of the marshmallow cream! Perfection! Thanks so much for linking to the Tuesday To Do Party!
Smiles!
Jami

Sanghamitra Bhattacherjee(Mukherjee) said...

It looks so yummy! Thanks for sharing. You got a stunning space here! Hope to see you on my blog:)

Alexandra said...

These do look perfect and delicious! Please share your recipe by linking it up at Muffin and Cupcake Monday. Thanks!

http://www.talkingdollarsandcents.net/muffin-monday-maple-brown-sugar-and-applesauce-muffins

SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime said...

The Creative Bloggers' Party & Hop has grown for the better because of your participation. Thanks for linking up this great post! :)

Screaming Sardine said...

Whoo hoo, this looks great!! I love s'mores but don't get them often since I don't wanna build a bonfire - lol! This recipe is going on my to make list!

I'd love for you to link this and any other cupcake post you have at the month long Cupcake Link Party!

Cheers,
Tracy

Kelli said...

I'm so excited about this! I love ANYTHING s'mores...and I've been drooling over plenty of s'mores cupcakes pictures on Pinterest. I will definitely have to try this out!

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