The other day, Ashby really wanted to bake something while Madeley napped, so we decided on cupcakes. I was going to make my Buttermilk Chocolate Cupcakes, but decided to switch it up just a tad and turn them into Halloween Hot Cocoa Cupcakes…because that’s festive, right? The frosting is a Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting which is insanely delicious (and cocoa and marshmallows just go together!) and simple to make. So, if you’re looking for a quick little treat this Halloween, here you go. Enjoy!
This recipe makes about two dozen cupcakes.
Shopping List
½ cup butter, softened
1½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 tablespoons hot cocoa powder (the kind you have to stir into water or milk for hot cocoa, we used Swiss Miss)
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
For the frosting:
½ cup butter, softened
1 (7 oz) jar of marshmallow cream
2 cups powdered sugar
a splash of milk
Candy pumpkins to garnish, optional
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Line 2 (12 count) muffin tins with cupcake liners. (I add a second liner to my cupcakes after they have baked.)
In a large mixing bowl, cream your butter and sugar together. Next, beat in one egg at a time. Beat in your vanilla.
In a second large bowl, combine your flour, baking soda, hot cocoa powder and salt together with a whisk or a fork.
Slowly beat in a little of the flour mixture into your butter mixture. Then beat in a little buttermilk. Repeat two or three times or until everything is incorporated. Do not over beat your batter.
Stir in your chocolate chips.
Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 of the way full of batter. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Let cupcakes rest in pan 10 minutes before removing them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
To make your frosting, beat your butter with your marshmallow cream and powdered sugar. Add in a splash of milk. Add more milk if it’s too thick or more powdered sugar if it’s too thin.
Frost cooled cupcakes and garnish with a candy pumpkin.
Keep any leftovers in the fridge.
A sweet little way to celebrate Halloween.
Narci says
Cute!! These look delicious, friend! What a fun desert to make for Halloween!
Nicole says
I’ll be making these for our PTO Halloween party at my daughters school!
Lizzie @ This Happy Life says
Those are so so cute!! I know my kids would love them!
Kelly says
So cute! Where do you find your cupcake liners? I love them:)
Mix and Match Mama says
I believe I bought those at Hobby Lobby :).
Heather says
Is buttermilk necessary for this recipe, or can we substitute milk?
Mix and Match Mama says
You can substitute with regular milk…buttermilk just makes them extra moist.
Kelly says
I know you sometimes write that certain meals would be a good dinner to take to someone if they just had a baby. Have you done a post of good meals to take new mamas?
Mix and Match Mama says
I have done a post on that! It’s here: http://mixandmatchmama.com/what-to-make-when-you-take/