S'mores Cupcakes: A Campfire Treat Brought Home

Start your S'mores Cupcakes adventure by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F and lining your cupcake pans with liners. Take a bowl and mix your graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until the mixture looks like wet sand. This creates your delicious base. Proceed to place about 1 tablespoon of this mixture into each cupcake liner and press down firmly to make a solid base. A simple yet effective method is using a vitamin bottle covered in plastic wrap for pressing down. To complete the base, sprinkle a bit of chopped chocolate on top of each graham cracker layer for that extra chocolatey surprise.

After preparing the graham cracker and chocolate base, pop it into the oven for about 5 minutes or until you see the edges becoming golden. This is where the magic starts as the buttery graham cracker layer begins to firm up, creating the perfect foundation for your S'mores Cupcakes. Remember, keep your oven on after this step, as you'll need it for the cupcakes themselves.

For the cake, you'll switch gears a bit by sifting together your dry ingredients: sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. This ensures a smooth, lump-free batter. Next, whisk together the wet ingredients: eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla, in a separate bowl. Gradually add these to the dry mixture and mix at a low speed to combine, then ramp up the speed for a full 2 minutes to introduce air into the batter, making it light and fluffy. The final secret ingredient is boiling water, stirred in gently, to create a batter that's thin but will bake up perfectly moist and tender.

Fill your prepared cupcake liners two-thirds full with the chocolate batter. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. This is where the transformation happens. The batter rises and sets into a spongey, moist chocolate cake that forms the base of your S'mores Cupcakes. After baking, allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

The marshmallow frosting is what brings the S'mores Cupcakes together, giving it that final touch of s'mores authenticity. Start by combining egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in a heatproof bowl. Place this bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, whisking constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture reaches 140 degrees F. This double-boiling method cooks the egg whites safely, ensuring your frosting is smooth and satiny. Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, and whisk from low to medium-high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form. This creates a light, airy marshmallow frosting that's rich in flavor. Finally, mix in vanilla to round out the flavor.

With your cupcakes cooled and your marshmallow frosting ready, it's time to bring it all together. Frost each cupcake generously with the marshmallow frosting, creating a swoop or peak design depending on your preference. For the quintessential s'mores experience, use a kitchen torch to gently toast the frosting, mimicking the charred, toasty exterior of marshmallows roasted over a campfire. This not only adds an authentic touch but introduces a slight crunch and a deeper flavor profile to the frosty. And there you have it, S'mores Cupcakes that bring the essence of campfire s'mores into a delightful, hand-held dessert perfect for sharing with friends and family.