(adapted from Food Network magazine, modified by Lovestoeat & then me)
For the Cupcakes
1 & 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 & 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 & 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1 & 1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
For the Filling
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla exrtact
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 cup marshmallow creme
For the Ganache
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the Icing
1 stick unsalted butter
1 & 1/2 - 2 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1 & 1/2 - 2 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350. Place paper liners in muffin tin for about 20 cupcakes.
Prepare the cupcakes: Bring the sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes. Pour into a large bowl; add the chocolate and butter and let sit, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture has cooled slightly. Stir in the vanilla.
Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl.
Using a mixer, beat the eggs into the chocolate, then mix in the dry ingredients.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans (about 1/4 cup batter per cupcake) and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in the pans for about 25 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to a rack to cool completely.
(They will sink in the middle...they'll puff up when filled later)
For the filling: Using a mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and 1 tablespoon heavy cream; beat until smooth. Beat in the remaining 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar and 2 tablespoons heavy cream in batches, alternating after each addition. Beat in the marshmallow creme; set aside or refrigerate.
For the ganache: Place the chocolate in a stainless-steel bowl. Heat the cream and 1 tablespoon butter until just boiling, then pour over the chocolate; let stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla; let stand until cool but still glossy and liquid.
Spoon the filling into a pastry bag with a medium star tip. Insert the tip into the center of each cupcake top; fill until the cupcake is heavier (do not overfill). (It's OK if some of the filling peeks out, it will be covered by the ganache.)
Spoon a little ganache on each cupcake and lightly spread with an offset spatula or a knife. Chill for at least 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare the icing: Using a mixer, beat the remaining 1 stick butter, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, the milk and confectioners’ sugar until smooth, adding more milk if needed. Spoon into a pastry bag with a small tip (I used a #2 plain tip); pipe onto the cupcakes to decorate.
Store in the refrigerator.
Very cute! Cupcakes and your valentine's. You've got some great guys there!
ReplyDeleteYour cupcakes look very good... I love chocolate :)
ReplyDeleteOhhh sooo sweet! And the cupcakes are adorable too. Sounds like you spoiled the men in your family and they spoiled you right back.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have to make these one day very soon. :-)
Holy Cow! Those cupcakes look so good! Thanks for your comment on the Hershey Pie....let me know if you try it and what you think!
ReplyDeleteDeanna :-)
Those cupcakes look soooo yummy! The inside looks rich and moist. They would make nice for a party and for name placments at a table.
ReplyDeleteCute!
I thought of you when I saw those Martha cupcakes , just as I always do when I see the Hostess version. I love that "cursive" story.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid, I was a Hostess cupcake fanatic. I always ate the entire icing top first, leaving the crumbling cupcake and gooey white filling for last. I love your cupcakes with writing on them -- so true to the original, but even better.
ReplyDeleteWOW THAT IS AMAZING! I LOVE THEM!
ReplyDeleteThose came out terrific!! Great photo of your son enjoying his!That was sweet the little menu & meal he planned for you! sounds like you had a really good day!
ReplyDelete~ingrid
Those look like the real thing!!
ReplyDeleteVery cool
Wow, those look really good and just like the ones you buy at the store!
ReplyDeleteThese look perfect. I so can not wait to try them!! They are probably sooo delicious. My kids would love them!
ReplyDeleteYum! I can't believe you made those!
ReplyDeleteI think God wanted us to be neighbors ;D
THAT family...you're right! I think so, too! :)
ReplyDeleteThose look so good! I may have to make some soon!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't even noticed your new header! Love it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new Header, Bridget! Lovely COOKIES and great photo :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bea! Let me tell ya...my eyes are so glazed over right now from trying to edit and resize that thing! ;)
ReplyDeleteUmm, can I have some? Those hostess cupcakes are amazing!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, you have some nice Valentines. I love you too Bridget for posting this recipe! I am making these, and soon!
ReplyDeletei love the header :)
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog. cookies are adorable!!! what's your sugar cookie recipe??? The recipe I use is delicious, but the cookies don't hold their shape like yours do.....
ReplyDeleteHey Seriously...you can find the recipe I use most under the "livestrong" post label. That recipe can be changed around with different extracts, too.
ReplyDeleteI've heard your tale about the "cursive" before. I remember thinking it was so funny and I'm not even that much older than you am I?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it is sad or a good thing that my kids have no idea what a Hostess Cupcake is. Maybe I'm just to old school to appreciate them. But I think I am going to have to add this recipe to the list of recipes to try with the kids. Great photos and instructions.
ReplyDeleteLike your new header!
ReplyDelete~ingrid
I was looking at this post again and I just saw the Valentine's menu your family created. Your husband gets bonus points for that one!
ReplyDeleteBrigdet-I am starting a contest tomorrow and this entry would be great!
ReplyDeleteOh I am so excited these look WONDERFUL!
ReplyDeleteAll yum and no calories, right?!?! How cute!
ReplyDeletewhat a fun idea! The cupcakes are just plain adorable. I'll definitely keep some of these ideas for next year.
ReplyDeleteFound you through We Are THAT Family. Looking forward to following your blog.
ReplyDeleteNow... these cupcakes... oh. my. stars. I'm always looking for a way to make stuff at home rather than buying so I LOVE this.
Can I just say:
ReplyDelete♥ YUM! ♥
MMMM! Those look great!
ReplyDeleteAnd that menu?!?! Awwww! Wish I had been greeted by something like this... instead, I helped pick myself out a bouquet to go on the table. How romantic, right?! lol. Have a great day!
What a fun idea! This takes me right back to childhood. And I loved the story of you asking what it said on top.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. I'm jealous of Kristin--I wish I lived next door to a baking blogger! :-)
Saw your goodies pictured on We are THAT! Family! & had to come by to tell you how amazing they look! I will just have to imagine how yummy they taste. You have a lucky neighbor (& family, & friends...) I look forward to lurking/drooling some more!
ReplyDeleteWOW! cant believe all your yummy cookies-Amazing & you live next to Kristen-awesome-she is a dear friend- hope to meet you soon.
ReplyDeleteThese are so decadent. So moist, and chocolatly. Great recipe..tedious to make, but so worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteThose homemade hostess cupcakes might be some of the cutest baking I have seen in a long time...what a cool idea! And I bet they tasted DELICIOUS!
ReplyDeleteLOVE these cupcakes!! i'm totally making these when i get back home!
ReplyDeleteI just made these using your recipe and loved them. Hope you don't mind if I link to this.
ReplyDeleteAmy, that would be great...thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteBridget...finally going to get around to making these...the icing recipe seems like it would make alot of icing since it's just for the decoration? Is it worth making or would white royal icing do the trick?
ReplyDeleteHey Kara...I honestly don't remember how much extra icing I had....that mean I need to make them again. :) I'd probably vote against royal icing, since once it's dried, you'd wouldn't want to refrigerate it. But, if you do try it, please let me know how it works. :)
ReplyDeleteI just made these for my Lunch Lady Gourmet Club dinner. After trying a few recipes for Hostess cupcakes, these were the winner. They were a hit and I served them with hand picked homemade peach sherbet that I packed in those little plastic cups with the wooden spoons to complete the school lunch cafeteria theme we had going. Thanks for posting this!
ReplyDeleteIade these tonight and they are amazing!! I used the leftover filling frosting with some extra powdered sugar for the decorations (worked ok), though. First time making homemade "cakes"!
ReplyDeletefollow up - these were a hit. i ate like 10 of them. however, my filling was a little runny which made it hard for me to fill the cupcakes, resulting in 1/2 of them having little to no filling at all. that was kind of a bummer...definitely will make these again, though! very yummy!
ReplyDeleteOh my word - these sound delicious! I love hostess cupcakes and so does my husband but we can't get them over here in South Africa. He will LOVE these!! Can't wait to try them!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and am enjoying the entries. The Hostess cupcakes look better than the real thing - I think I shall have to try them very soon!
ReplyDeleteYummy! I love making homemade versions of "store bought" items :D
ReplyDeleteThe cupcakes turned out well- pretty close to the regular ones! One thought - I did have a LOT of ganache, icing, and frosting leftover after making them. Maybe the amounts could be smaller? Other than that, great recipe! :) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI made these and they turned out wonderful! And I HATE baking.
ReplyDeleteI posted my results on my blog, and linked back to yours.
THANKS for a great recipe to share with my daughter.
Hi! I made these cupcakes and posted them on my blog, too! They are amazingly delicious. Seriously. I linked to your entry in my blog.
ReplyDeletesomethinimpractical.blogspot.com
The cupcakes are out of this world!!! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMy husband LOVED these! Seriously, they got rave reviews. And they were so much fun to make! I can't get over how they look exactly like hostess cupcakes! So fun :) I'll be posting about them soon!
ReplyDeleteOh, what a fantastic idea!! My kids have been deprived as I don't like to buy baked goods that have been sitting on the shelves and these look great! Thanks so much for sharing this idea and recipes!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what I did wrong, the only thing I did differently was use semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of unsweetened, but my cupcakes basically exploded all over my oven. They were unusable! I'm sure I messed it up somehow. Yours look adorable though! Love them!
ReplyDeleteQuestion....I just made the cupcakes and wonder if I should wait to fill and frost them until tomorrow? They are for my daughters bday on Saturday afternoon.
ReplyDeleteBusy MoGo loves your cupcakes! What a great way to recreate a classic. Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteThese came out AMAZING! They were the start of the party; people thought that I had them ordered in from our local cupcake shop.
ReplyDeleteI made these for my friend's black-and-white-themed birthday party. They were absolutely adorable and a huge hit!!! They are all over the photo albums from the party. People kept asking "did you really make those??" "did you they look just like Hostess cupcakes?!?" Hahaha--duh, they're supposed to!!
ReplyDeleteI have made a few versions of Hostess cupcakes, and these are by far closest to the original (but way more delicious!!)! The cake is very light and spongey, the filling is super sweet and gooey, and the bittersweet ganache balances the sweetness of the filling.
I wrote 'happy' 'birthday' and the birthday girl's names on each cupcake. Adorable!
cool idea,can you please explain this chocolate cupcake recipe
ReplyDeleteCould you make these ahead and freeze them?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't. You could bake the cupcakes, freeze them, then thaw and continue on with yhe recipe.
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