Hot Cocoa Cupcake Recipe Recipes Recipe Cards

HOT COCOA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper or foil liners., Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking cocoa, hot cocoa mix, baking powder and baking soda; beat into creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating after each addition., Fill prepared cups two-thirds full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; cool completely., For frosting, beat butter until creamy. Beat in marshmallow cream and vanilla. Beat in confectioners' sugar alternately with milk. Beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Spread or pipe onto cupcakes. Add toppings as desired.

HOT COCOA MUG CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray four 6-inch cake pans with cooking spray.
• Prepare the cake mix according to the package directions. Divide the batter among the prepared pans and bake until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then unmold and cool completely.
• For the buttercream frosting: Beat the sugar, butter and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed in a large bowl until incorporated. Add the vanilla, increase the speed to medium high and mix until smooth. Mix in enough milk to make it spreadable. Reserve 1/2 cup frosting in a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Mix food coloring into the remaining frosting to desired color.
• For the decorations: Cut off the domed tops of the cake rounds with a serrated knife so they are completely flat (save the trimmings for another use). Using a paring knife or 5-inch round cutter, cut a 5-inch circle from the center of one cake round, making sure to keep the outer ring intact (this will be the rim of the mug). Trim the cutout circle to a thickness of 1 inch, then use a paring knife to cut out a handle that is about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide. While you assemble the cake, freeze the handle on a small plate until very firm (this will make it easier to frost).
• Place a cake round cut-side up on a cake stand or serving platter. Spread with a thin layer of frosting almost to the edge. Top with another cake round and spread with a thin layer of frosting. Repeat with a third round. Top with the cake ring. Frost the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting to make a crumb coat (you don't need to frost the inside of the ring). Spread a thin layer of frosting on the handle. Freeze the cake and handle until the frosting is set and the handle is firm, about 30 minutes.
• Frost the cake--excluding the center cutout on the top--with more frosting. Smooth the sides and rim with an offset spatula. Frost the handle.
• Hold the handle gently against the cake and insert two to four 4-inch skewers to attach it. Smooth over any smudges in the frosting on the handle. Pipe a stripe of the reserved white frosting around the top and bottom of the mug (or wrap with strips of sour candy rope).
• When ready to serve, fill the cavity at the top of the cake with the pudding and spread flat to the rim with an offset spatula. Just before serving, top with whipped cream, leaving a rim of pudding showing.

HOT COCOA "CUPCAKES"

Steps:

• Make the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Transfer to a standing mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or use a hand mixer) and blend briefly.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add to the dry ingredients and mix at low speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add the hot water, mixing at low speed until just combined. The batter will be quite thin.
• Pour the batter into coffee cups and arrange them 1-inch apart on a sheet pan or a rectangular cake pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (a few crumbs are okay), and the center feels firm to the touch, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let the cakes cool on the pan. (Don't remove the cakes from the cups!)
• Meanwhile, make the Topping: In a chilled bowl, combine the cream and sugar and whip, using a hand-mixer, until soft peaks form.
• When ready to serve, spoon the topping over the cakes to cover, so they look like a cups of cocoa topped with whipped cream. Serve with a spoon.

KID-MADE COCOA CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners., Combine the first 5 ingredients. In another bowl, mix eggs, milk, water and vanilla. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients, beating on medium until smooth. Beat in butter; add melted chocolate and beat just until blended., Fill prepared muffin cups half full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. If desired, top with whipped topping. Decorate as desired.

FILLED CUPCAKES WITH COCOA FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
• Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt for cupcakes together into a medium bowl. Combine mayonnaise, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Slowly add flour mixture and beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Divide batter evenly amongst the prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed, 25 to 28 minutes. Cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• While the cupcakes are baking, stir together flour and salt for the filling in a small saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and pudding-like, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover, and refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Cream shortening and confectioners' sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in chilled pudding mixture and vanilla extract, beating until light and fluffy. Transfer filling to a pastry bag fitted with a small tip.
• Push the pastry tip into the top of a cupcake about 1 inch deep. Squeeze filling to fill cupcake, stopping before it starts to leak outside of the hole. Repeat to fill remaining cupcakes.
• Combine butter, milk, and cocoa powder for the frosting in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and transfer to a mixing bowl. Immediately add confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract; beat well. Frost cupcakes with warm frosting.