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Saturday
Aug132011

Malted Chocolate Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling

Malted Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling

The final stretch of summer is before us—the dog days, if you will. Schools will soon be ringing their bells, our jobs will beckon us back indoors, and the weather will slowly begin turning away from this humid heat into a brisk fall. And, I ask you, is there a more depressing thought?

I don't know about you, but I'm wondering where my summer went. It simply disappeared. Packed up and left. I like to imagine it escaped to a tropical paradise and left me behind, without even sending a postcard to drop a hello. I've been outside most of the summer (it is one of the perks of being a camp counselor), but somewhere along the way I forgot to appreciate it. I have a deep tan from working in the sun. I've been eaten alive by mosquitos on a near daily basis. I spent a week on the beach doing nothing but watching the tides flow in and out. Yet, I still feel as if summer has skipped me by, even though it isn't over just yet.

Malted Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling

One of my favorite summer pastimes is to lounge in the sun on a beach chair in the backyard and read a good book while eating fruit roll-ups (yes, sometimes store-bought sugar hits the spot. Don't judge me and I won't judge the giant bag of gummi bears sitting in your cupboard. Oh, wait. That's me, too). I feel a bit ashamed to admit to this, but my beach chair is still packed away and the book left unopened. I feel like I haven't eaten enough ice cream. I haven't spent enough time riding my bike around the city. There is too much on my to-do list that I simply haven't done.

When I was younger, summer seemed to last forever. When August finally hit, I would be overheated, bored, and yearning for something new to do. I looked forward to school so I would finally have something to fill up the long hours in my day. Maybe that's the truth in growing older. Your responsibilities change and those long hours get swallowed up in working and obligations so that by the time you finally have the moment to do as you please, the sun has set and the television beckons.

Malted Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling Malted Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling

Perhaps the real way to enjoy summer, to fully appreciate summer, is to slow down. It's about taking a minute to ignore the daily responsibilities—the dirty dishes and piles of laundry—to just go outside and play. Take a moment to visit a park, picnic in the backyard, or simply read that book out in the sun with a box of fruit roll-ups by your side.

I hope you find a way to enjoy the last few weeks of the sun, sun, sun before the carefree summer fades into the hustle and bustle of fall. Don't let it pass you by, not when there is ice cream to be eaten and smoothies to be slurped.

Malted Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling

I can only hope these Malted Chocolate Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling find a place on your summer playlist. A moist dark chocolate cupcake is filled with an ooey gooey toasted marshmallow filling and frosted with a rich, malted chocolate buttercream. These cupcakes feel as light as air, but one will be enough to sate your sweet cravings. The malted chocolate buttercream really ties the flavors in the cupcake together, so I do recommend you use this particular buttercream recipe instead of another. This cupcake is perfect for special occasions and lazy summer afternoons.

One Year Ago: Incredibly Moist Chocolate Prune Cake (this one is a keeper!)

Malted Chocolate Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling
Adapted from Sweetapolita

Yields 18-24 cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong black coffee (or 1 heaping tablespoon espresso powder dissolved in 1 cup water)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cupcake tin with baking cups.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add the eggs, coffee, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract and beat for 2-3 minutes on medium speed to mix. Batter will be liquidy.

Fill baking cups 2/3 of the way full and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean with a few crumbs. Cool cupcakes to room temperature before filling and frosting.

Toasted Marshmallow Filling
8 large white marshmallows
1/2 cup Marshmallow Fluff (or prepared marshmallow cream)
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Turn oven on to broil. Place marshmallows 1-inch apart on a non-stick baking mat (such as a Silpat) or a parchment-covered baking sheet. Heat under broiler until lightly browned. Watch very closely! The marshmallows will brown very quickly.

In a medium bowl, beat together the toasted marshmallows, marshmallow fluff, shortening, sugar, and vanilla extract until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes.

Malted Chocolate Buttercream
1/2 lb butter (2 sticks or 1 cup) at room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup malt powder
1 cup (6 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate, melted
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

In a large bowl, beat together butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add vanilla and malt powder and mix on low speed until just combined. Add melted chocolate and whipping cream. Beat on high until well combined, about 2 minutes. Best if used immediately, but keeps well at room temperature.

To Assemble
Using a sharp knife (or cupcake corer), cut out a cavity in the center of the cupcake. I run the knife in a circular motion, while always pointing the knife towards the center of the cupcake. The cavity should be coned shaped. Using a pastry bag, fill the cupcake with the toasted marshmallow filling until the marshmallow just reaches the top.

Pipe the malted chocolate buttercream frosting on top of the cupcake. Garnish with chocolate sprinkles and whoppers.

Malted Chocolate Frosted Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Filling

Reader Comments (22)

Mmmmm :) Those look really good. I love reading your blog, everything looks so good!
08.13.2011 | Unregistered CommenterSarah
I've made chocolate malt cupcakes before and they were delicious, but toasted marshmallow filling? Oh man, I bet that takes these over the top.
I am so in love with the use of toasted marshmallow anything lately!!!! Kristin ur my fav marshmallow toaster! Lol! :)
Fruit roll ups...gosh i havnt had them for a unreasonable amount of time, they are going straight on the shopping list! :) I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments about summer, lovely post, and these cupcakes I am craving something silly - a toasted marshmallow filling? that shouldnt be legal. Gorgeous recipe!
Gorgeous cupcakes & that marshmallow filling sounds heavenly!
08.14.2011 | Unregistered Commentermarla
Had seen these on sweetapolita when Rosie had made them. Loved them on first sight. And love yours too.
08.14.2011 | Unregistered CommenterShumaila
these look so delicious! love your blog and glad to be a new follower! :)
These look awesome (especially that buttercream)! What's marshmallow fluff and can you not use it in there as I don't think it's available in Australia.
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterPhuoc'n Delicious
I thought I was good at chocolate cupcakes although I specialise in Gluten free recipes only but these look amazing! Will be RSS feed to this blog for sure.
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterNola Baldwin
I just read about your blog in the Bismarck Tribune. It will be fun reading and trying your recipes.
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterAnn Gallup
I saw this recipe in the Bismarck Tribune and plan to give it a try - looks wonderful!
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterMary Ann
Very fashionable Indeed!
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterKS
Congrats Kristin!!!!! This site is awesome and i will definitely be visiting it often. Happy Baking!!!!!!!!
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterPatty
yes the color looks so delicious and yummy. Maybe I should show the recipe to my gf see if she can make it for the weekend. thanks a lot.
08.15.2011 | Unregistered Commenterjamiee zeitler
After reading the article in the Tribune, it made me think that you may have inherited your baking gene from Grandma Irene. I loved the orange or pineapple rolls that she would sometimes supply for the Luther League Sunrise Service Breakfast. It was fun to read about what you've doing. Take care!
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterJanell Q.
Phuoc'n Delicious-- I've read that you may be able to find marshmallow fluff in Woolworths and Coles (though I'm not from Australia so I can't be certain). If it still evades you, double the amount of marshmallows in the filling and toast them all to substitute for the marshmallow fluff. Believe it or not, this is how I originally made the filling before making the version the marshmallow fluff. The only difference is that the marshmallows will be very sticky and hard to work with (luckily, the mess dissolves in hot water!). I hope this helps!
08.15.2011 | Registered CommenterKristin Rosenau
Congratulations, Kristin! Loved the article in today's Tribune and your blog site is top-notch! I'm impressed, and am adding it to my favorites...even though I'm not much of a baker. Keep up the good work, whether it be in physics, baking, or both!
08.15.2011 | Unregistered CommenterKayla M.
I would start with the top and work my way down!
08.16.2011 | Unregistered CommenterJim
Great article in the Bismarck Tribune..congratulations!
08.18.2011 | Unregistered Commenternorsklady
Do you think that this would work as a cake?
11.23.2011 | Unregistered CommenterNatasha
Is there something I could use to replace the coffee?
04.11.2012 | Unregistered Commenterjessica
Very well said. These tips are really amazing. I appreciate it for sharing them.
02.27.2014 | Unregistered Commenterfilled cupcakes

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