Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream
These hot chocolate cupcakes are topped with a delicious marshmallow buttercream and made to look like little cups of hot cocoa! With a candy cane handle and mini marshmallows on top, these are so fun for the holidays!
Happy Thanksgiving Eve, y’all. It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here and right around the corner we have Christmas to look forward to. Time seriously feels like it’s flying by, but today I’m feeling a little down about that.
One of my best friends and her family is moving today, and it just feels like I have a big hole in the middle of my heart. See, when you live this military life the friends you make become like family.
You may have heard that said before from other military spouses, or maybe you’ve even experienced it yourself. If you have, then you know the pain that comes from having to say goodbye to someone you love and not knowing when or if your paths will cross again.
I’ve been blessed to make a handful of very very close friends through the army, friends who are like sisters to me. One of them is leaving me today and I’m really struggling with it.
The hardest part of all, though, is that I’m not the only one losing my best friend. My son is losing one, too.
See, he and my friend’s son are like two little trouble-making peas in a pod! They’ve been buddies since preschool and watching them say goodbye to each other last night really tore me apart. Mostly because neither one of them is registering what’s happening, and also because I know this is just the first of many heartaches that I’ll feel on behalf of my little guy.
It is crazy to me how poignantly a mother feels every emotion for her child, even when they can’t yet express those feelings themselves. Mothers are so intuitive, it’s incredible.
I’m sorry to be so down in the dumps today, but I knew that what I needed to deal with a situation like this was definitely chocolate. When I feel a big depression like this one coming on, I soothe it with chocolate, french fries, Stella Rosa wine, and trash TV!
If you’re looking for me over the next few weeks, I’ll probably have one of those things nearby. Just keep a lookout.
These cupcakes were a lot of fun to make and even though I feel sad today, they still bring a smile to my face and make me excited for the holidays. I used my favorite chocolate cake recipe for the cupcakes then topped them with a marshmallow buttercream.
The buttercream is light and creamy, and so delicious. Finally I added some mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes to the top, then finished them off with a a mini candy cane handle. They look like little cups of hot cocoa, and it’s hard not to smile when you’re holding one of those. Chocolate to the rescue, right?
More Great Holiday Dessert Recipes
- The Best Chocolate Pecan Pie
- Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
- The Best Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
- Gingerbread Cookies
Recipe: Hot Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream
Ingredients
Cupcakes:
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup hot water
Buttercream:
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter,, softened
- 1 (7 oz) container marshmallow creme
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Toppings and decor:
- Mini candy canes,, cut to fit (see note below)
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix well.
- Add in vanilla, eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil mixing until smooth. Pour in hot water and mix well. Batter will be very thin.
- Pour batter into prepared cupcake liners, about ⅔ full. Bake in preheated oven for 16-18 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- To make the frosting, beat softened butter with an electric mixer over medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add in marshmallow creme and beat until combined. Finally add in the powdered sugar and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl and mixing until smooth.
- Top the cooled cupcakes with frosting, then sprinkle each one with mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, and crushed candy canes. Add a candy cane handle by inserting the hook end of the candy cane into the top-side of each cupcake. Enjoy soon after decorating.
Notes
I accidentally filled them too high and they overflowed like crazy????????????
Oh no! I’m sorry that happened!
I did that too… but I just took kitchen sheers once they cooled completely and trimmed off the overflow. When I frosted them I went as close to the edges as I could. Next time… I’m only filling them half full 😉 They still came out super cute and SUPER tasty!
Oh my goodness! These are adorable! Not only do they sounds absolutely scrumptious, but the way you decorated them is amazing! My kids will go nuts for these!
This is such a clever idea — a perfect weekend project with the kids.
That marshmallow buttercream sound incredible! Love the sound of these cupcakes – perfect for the holidays!
These are adorable! Such a sweet idea to use candy cane for the handles and make them look like actual tea cups…thanks for the inspo! I’ll definitely give these a go at Christmas!
These cupcakes are delightful! I love the holiday theme to them and how well the colours complement each other. These are going in my recipe cook for Christmas!!
wowza! these are adorable. i love the candy can handles, and i can only imagine how delicious they are!
These cupcakes are awesome! I was looking up a recipe for a hot cocoa cake and found this recipe for cupcakes so I decided to give them a try. I am so glad I did! Cupcakes are super moist and soo good! The marshmallow buttercream is delicious and piped beautifully for me. I will absolutely be making these delicious and pretty cupcakes again. Thank you so much for this recipe, its a definite keeper!
Yay!!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
These cupcakes are adorable! They are so perfect for Christmas.
Loving all the christmas desserts. These cupcakes look darling!
These cupcakes are the cutest thing ever! Dying over the candy cane “mug” handles! 🙂
And I am sorry that you and your son are having a rough patch. I know that this is just one of many sacrifices that military families often have to make. Hang in there. <3
Mine kind of baked like upside down cupcakes. Super bummed. Just took the over flow and put it in the cupcakes && ate them with spoons.
I’m thinking maybe because I’m baking where it’s high altitude and I haven’t gotten the hang of that! Is there an adjusted recipe?
Absolutely LOVED the buttercream! Definitely using again!!
Those are SO cute!!!
Hands-down, these are the cutest holiday cupcakes I’ve ever seen! My niece is in town and I think these would be the perfect baking project with her! <3
Aw Ashlyn I can only imagine how hard it must be to have your friend move away. I think God must give military families extra strength because you go through SO much. Just know that we appreciate you and all the sacrifices you make!
I think these hot chocolate cupcakes would make anyone feel better! They are SO cute!
These are adorable and I actually have this on my blog recipe idea list!
These cupcakes are the CUTEST! The way you’ve used miniature candy canes to make them look like little cups is so creative. I’m sorry to hear about your friends moving away; that’s never an easy change to handle.