Star Surprise Cupcakes Recipes

EASTER SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 24 muffin cups, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• Cream together the margarine, brown sugar and white sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated.
• Fill each muffin cup 1/3 full, and place a chocolate egg in the center of each. Top with remaining batter until cups are 2/3 full.
• Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown, and tops spring back when lightly tapped.

STAR SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, 1/3 cup butter, the flour and egg until soft dough forms. On floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. Cut with 1- to 1 1/4-inch star cookie cutter, making 92 stars. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 23 regular-size muffin cups (make a small cut in each baking cup to mark the front of the cupcake).
• Make cake batter as directed on box. Spoon batter into 1 baking cup, three-fourths full (this cupcake will be crumbled and used as a garnish). Spoon 1 heaping tablespoonful remaining batter into each of remaining 23 baking cups. Place 3 cookie stars, standing up in center of batter, in each of the 23 baking cups. Carefully spoon 2 heaping tablespoonsful remaining batter on top of cookie stars in each, taking care not to tip them over.
• Bake at 350°F 22 to 27 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 25 minutes.
• In large bowl, beat marshmallow creme, 1 cup butter and 1 tablespoon of the milk with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Beat in powdered sugar on low speed, adding 1 teaspoon milk at a time as needed, until fluffy and spreadable.
• Pipe or spread frosting over top of each cupcake. Place remaining cookie stars on tops of cupcakes, facing front of cupcake where small cut is. In small bowl, crumble remaining cupcake without star cookies inside; sprinkle on cupcakes.

CHOCOLATE SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.
• In a large bowl, mix together flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, 1 teaspoon salt and baking soda. Stir in oil, water, vinegar and vanilla until blended. Pour mixture into prepared muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full.
• To make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt until light and fluffy. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop a heaping teaspoonful of the cream cheese mixture into each cupcake. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Allow to cool.

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.

"A STAR IS BORN" CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 2 dozen mini-cupcake pans with paper cupcake liners and spray with oil spray.
• For the crust: In a food processor fitted with the blade attachment, add the hazelnuts, brown sugar and gingersnaps, and pulse until a medium-fine paste. Then, add the butter and liqueur, and pulse until it's a paste that sticks when pinched with your fingers. Place 1 tablespoon of the crust into the prepared pans.
• For the cupcakes: In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then beat in the extracts. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk and beginning and ending with the flour mixture; beat until combined after each addition. Fold in the caramel pieces with a rubber spatula. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into the prepared pans three-quarters of the way full. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 11 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the pans when cool to the touch.
• For the butterscotch glaze: In a saucepan over low heat, combine the brown sugar, evaporated milk and butter, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Remove from the heat and allow to slightly cool (it will thicken as it cools). Reserve for assembly.
• For the frosting: In the bowl of an upright mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and salt together until lightened and fluffy. Reduce the speed to low and add the confectioners' sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the caramel sauce, heavy cream and vanilla bean paste. Beat on medium-high speed until light and airy and completely mixed, about 2 minutes). Place in a pastry bag fitted with a small star tip and leave at room temperature.
• For the stars: Lay out a large piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet on your work surface and spray with oil spray. In a medium saucepan, mix the granulated sugar, salt and 3/4 cup water; stir over low heat until the sugar dissolves to make a syrup. Increase the heat and bring the syrup to a boil. Lower the heat slightly and swirl the pan once or twice so the syrup colors evenly to a golden blonde. Remove from the heat and transfer to a flat work surface. Dip the tines of a fork into the golden blonde colored caramel and, in sweeping motions, make a star pattern on the parchment paper. Repeat until the desired amount of stars is achieved. Allow the caramel to harden, and then gently lift off the parchment paper and reserve for cupcake adornments.
• To assemble: Dip the tops of the cooled cupcakes in the room temperature butterscotch glaze. Pipe the caramel buttercream frosting in a 1-inch diameter rosette on top of the glazed cupcakes, and sprinkle with edible star glitter and turbinado sugar. Then finish by adorning with a radiating star topper.

SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Cream sugar and cream cheese together.
• Beat in egg.
• Stir in chocolate chips; set aside.
• Prepare cake mix according to directions on box.
• Place paper baking cups into a muffin tin.
• Fill paper bake cups 2/3 full.
• Drop one rounded teaspoon of cheese mixture into each cup.
• Bake according to directions on cake mix box.

SUPER-DUPER STRAWBERRY SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• FROSTING:.
• Mix cream cheese, butter, and powdered sugar together with a hand-mixer on low speed until incorporated. Increase mixer speed to high and beat until light and fluffy (4-5 minutes) scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.
• Lower mixer speed, add vanilla extract, then beat at high speed until fluffy. Refrigerate until somewhat stiff (can be made up to 3 days in advance).
• CUPCAKES:.
• Preheat oven to 350F and prepare 18 muffin cups.
• Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together.
• In a separate large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
• Beat for 3 minutes, frequently scraping the sides of the bowl.
• Add the 1/3 of the dry mixture to the creamed mixture, then 1/3 of the strawberries; continue until all ingredients are mixed together.
• Beat for 2 more minutes.
• Fill each muffin cup 1/3 of the way with batter and spoon 1 tsp jam into each cup. Top with remaining batter.
• Bake 20-25 minutes, until tester inserted into a cupcake comes out clean.
• Turn out onto wire racks to cool.
• When cooled completely, frost with cream cheese frosting.

BANANAS FOSTER SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the bananas, buttermilk, lemon juice and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to creamed mixture just until moistened., Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 375° until a toothpick inserted in cupcake comes out clean, 18-22 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert a very small tip. Fill with caramel filling. Push the tip through the top to fill each cupcake., For frosting, in a large saucepan, combine brown sugar and cream. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat. Stir in baking soda; cook and stir until smooth. Stir in butter and extract. Remove from the heat; cool slightly. Transfer to a small bowl; refrigerate until chilled, at least 30 minutes., Beat frosting on high until thickened, 15-20 minutes. Top cupcakes with frosting, banana slices and whipped cream; sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

SURPRISE EASTER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven according to cake mix package.
• Line cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
• Place 1 vanilla wafer in bottom of each.
• Prepare cake mix according to box.
• Fill cups halfway with batter.
• Place chocolate egg in center of each cup.
• Top with remaining batter.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden.
• Cool, completely.
• Tint frosting with food coloring as desired.
• Frost cupcakes and decorate with sugar or sprinkles.

HEAVENLY SURPRISE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, buttermilk, oil and vanilla until blended. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to egg mixture until blended., Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, cream the shortening, butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the milk, water and vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or resealable plastic bag; insert a small star tip. Fill bag with frosting. Push tip 1 in. into center of cupcake and fill with frosting just until top of cake begins to crack. Pipe frosting over the tops.