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Sunday, January 24, 2010

Campfire S'more Cupcakes (a.k.a. The 6 hour cupcakes)


I have been searching for a s'more recipe for quite some time now. I even attempted another recipe from Annie'sEats and it was a complete disaster! It was completely my error (think I added the vanilla in the frosting too soon) but I have been left with an insatiable craving. After scrolling through some blogs I often look at, I came across these little delights. I have been looking at them for a few days and when my turn came up to bring treats to class, I knew these had to be it! Little did I know what an endeavor these would be.

So let me being by laying out the time line of the 6 hour cupcakes:

* Long week, working till 11:30 each night on my thesis,the hubs and cleaning is neglected.

*Started out at 7 pm on Wednesday night to begin the cupcakes.

*By 7:20 realized that I only had 1 cup of sugar when I needed 3 (I doubled the recipe). So, I ran to Target.

*7:45 I returned and restarted the cupcakes.

*7-45-10ish: made up two pans of cupcakes; let bake while reading a research article for class; within minutes of being removed from the oven; all collapsed in center where marshmallows were placed.

*10-12: Rapidly searched the Internet for reasons for failure; no answers; did read review of recipe and saw a couple others had same problem. Made another small pan with 1/3 of marshmallow inside and turned out better, only slightly collapsed. Mixed up another single batch, added 1/4 marshmallow inside. Some collapsed more than others.

*12am: I am left with 23 minimally acceptable to serve; fed up and tired; decided to package up anyways (without ganache topping) because I couldn't arrive empty handed. Returned to another research article due for class the next day but couldn't stop thinking about failure cupcakes.

*12:30; had idea to cover holes in cupcakes; cut marshmallow in half; place on cupcake and broil to give toasted effect! Completed task and was overjoyed!

So, in conclusion, I have no overall idea of why I failed with these cupcakes but am very hesitant to attempt cooking with marshmallows again. I am slightly proud that I was able to salvage the cupcakes after all that time, as they turned out to be a hit with my class! Also, I do plan to make these again sometime because I hate to let the cupcakes win!


Campfire S'more cupcakes

Source: Bakerella

Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup oil
6 jumbo marshmallows cup in half, plus more for decorating

Graham Cracker Crumb topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted

Ganache
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda together with a wire whisk. Separate the mixture in half into two bowls.

Stir cocoa into one bowl and the graham cracker crumbs into the other.
Add 1/2 cup milk, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/4 cup oil to the cocoa mixture and beat on medium until combined.
Repeat adding the same ingredients to the graham cracker crumb flour mixture.

Prepare the graham cracker crumb topping.
Add the brown sugar and crumbs in a small bowl and pour on melted butter. Stir until combined.

Pour a little graham cracker cake batter into the bottom of your baking cups (so it barely covers the bottom) and then sprinkle the topping mixture lightly on the surface.
Place a marshmallow half on top and then cover the marshmallow with the chocolate cake batter until it is about 3/4 full. ( I used 1/4 a marshmallow cut into 4 pieces on my more successful batch).
Sprinkle with more topping mixture.

Bake cupcakes for about 15-17 minutes.

According to recipe it yields 12 cupcakes: I made a double batch and came up with 36 even with filling my first pan too full.

Let cool completely. (To cover the collapsed portions, I cut a marshmallow in half and placed into the hole. Turned the oven on broil and placed rack in notch, second from the top to allow room for marshmallows. Watch very closely as they burn quickly!! Toast to desired color.)

Heat the butter and cream on the stove. Heat until just before it boils. Remove and add chocolate. Stir until completely melted and smooth. Let cool for few minutes to let ganache slightly thicken. Pour over cupcakes and marshmallows. (I only used around 1/4 of the ganache mixture, next time I will make a half batch)

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