Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

With Christmas only days away I thought I would share with you a slightly different take on a classic winter warmer - Hot chocolate cupcakes!  With a marshmallow surprise centre and topped off with a little gold Lindt bear, these cupcakes go down a treat with friends and family. They also happen to be pretty easy to make! For those who are short on time or energy I have included an alternative recipe cheat!

For those wanting to make the cupcakes from scratch - trust me its easy! You will need:

275g Sugar
225g Flour
25g Cocoa powder
1/4 tsp Baking powder
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
2   Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla extract
100ml Milk
75ml Vegetable oil
175ml Hot water
12 large cupcake cases
Packet of marshmallows

Preheat the oven to 160C, 350F, Gas Mark 5

Sift all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and mix well, set aside. In a medium bowl mix eggs, vanilla, milk and oil together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix on a low speed for 4-5 minutes. Then slowly add the hot water while you mix until everything is combined.

By adding the hot water you get a really lovely texture!

Add to large cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes, test with a skewer to make sure they are cooked. It should come out clean. Carefully cut a hole in the top of the cupcakes and add a marshmallow. Allow to cool completely.

To decorate you will need:

200g Butter
200g Icing sugar
1 tsp Vanila extract or vanila bean paste
Chocolate chips
Mini marshmallows
Mini Lindt chocolate bears

Cream the sugar and butter together, add the vanilla and mix well. Add to a piping bag and pipe onto the cupcakes. Add a bear, marshmallows and chocolate chips.

Cheat:
For the cheat you will need a box of Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake and to follow the directions on the box. Like my recipe cut out a little hole from each cupcake as they are cooling and pop in a marshmallow. Allow to cool and follow my decoration instructions above.

These cupcakes would be a great Christmas Eve or Boxing Day treat,  I also think they would make a great alternative gift in a clear cellophane bag tied up with ribbons and bows.

Happy Baking!

Emma Xx

Chocolate Bears c/o Lindt