I did it. I finally made them. Hi Hat Cupcakes have consumed my cupcake thoughts since I first saw their tall chocolate dipped tops online after I started blogging. But, I have to tell you, I’ve been nervous to make them. They scare me. I knew for sure I would screw them up and end up with a melted mess.
But this weekend, I tried them. Mainly because I tasted my very first one a couple of weeks ago. Seeing them in person fueled my fascination.
So I decided to use the only recipe I remembered seeing. It’s from Martha Stewart.com and it did not disappoint.
> Update: I just realized this recipe is also from the book, Cupcakes! by Elinor Klivas – Confused it with Martha’s Cupcake book in her online description. Why I don’t have this one already, I don’t know. <
Chopped chocolate. A perfect way to start. I really liked this cupcake recipe. It’s great topless, too.
But even better with the frosting. I used a disposable pastry bag with an Ateco #807 tip. Basically one with a huge round opening.
If I had paid attention to the directions beforehand I don’t know if I would have been as eager to get started.
12 minutes later and a candy thermometer in check to make sure the frosting formed stiff peaks at the right temperature. Yikes.
Actually, it never made it to just the right temp, but after 12 minutes… I was over holding the hand mixer.
So I took a leap of faith it would work and piped it on the cupcakes… as tall as I could get it.
The cupcakes went in the freezer while I prepared for the scary part. The dipping. You’d think this part would be smooth sailing. But I was skeptical. I mean look at all that thick white frosting. It’s definitely going to melt when I cover it in chocolate. Melted heavy chocolate. Right?!
One bag of semi-sweet chocolate. I used the mini chips.
And melted them in the microwave with three tablespoons of vegetable oil.
Tasty.
Melt them on medium-low in 30 second intervals and stir in between until melted and smooth.
Then wait a few minutes to make sure the chocolate isn’t hot.
Now, take a deep breath and grab one of the cupcakes from the freezer.
Turn it upside down and slowly submerge the entire top in melted chocolate.
Okay, here goes…
A little more……
More…
Keep going…
I’m closing my eyes.
Now… take a deep breath and lift it out.
Holy cupcakes… it worked.
It totally completely worked.
And it’s beautiful.
Use a toothpick to touch up any spots at the base of the cupcake that may not have been covered… controlling your excitement…
And then go again.
And again…
And again.
We’re having fun now.
If you use a small, deep bowl, it will make the dipping easier. The one I used was a cup leftover from Easter egg decorating.
Mini hi hats anyone?
Aside from the obvious first impression *wink wink*… these are amazing.
Place the dipped cupcakes in the freezer for a few minutes to let the chocolate harden and then refrigerate until ready to eat.
You want to see inside don’t you.
I did too.
Oh my.
I’m still amazed.
Don’t be afraid to make some.
I was SHAKING in the boots when you dipped those puppies! And they’re fantastic! Oh. my. goodness. Just fantastic. I agree with Paulette, they remind me of DQ dipped cones. YUM! Thanks for showing us the inside, I was really hoping you would. And bravo for taking the leap.
AMAZING! I cannot wait to try this- they look so DELICIOUS!
ps I just bought your book today. I cannot wait to try out the cupcake pops- my 3 yr picked those to make first :) Congrats on your book!
nice job!
I agree; they look like DQ!!!
at Christmas time:
… you could use white chocolate colored dark green and these would look like Christmas trees!!! Add some sprinkles or candies; they’d look like decorated trees. Could even color the inside icing too.
… or dip them in red, add a white candy ball on the tip, and some white sugar/ cottom cancy, white chocolate; they could be Santa hats !!
thanks for sharing your fabulous ideas!!
These look delicious.
I’m with Karen Lizzie. My candy thermometer seems a bit off, so the last few times I needed to take a temperature I actually used the meat thermometer (which has never actually touched meat) and estimated when it went around the dial.
Oh my gosh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to make these!!! How cute would the be if you put them in mini ice cream cones and threw some sprinkles on them, so the look like a soft serve ice cream!!!!!
Wow! They look great! BTW – anyone looking for the Cake Pops book – Barnes & Noble has some great sales/discounts going on right now! http://tinyurl.com/26om9wv
That is a thing of beauty.
Wow, those look amazing! I like the mini version too. They’re probably easier to eat but I think I’d rather have the bigger one :)
Dairy Queen Dip Cones! My favorite!!!
WOW. These look amazing – great job! I think I’d be equally as intimidated to try making these, but so glad yours turned out perfectly!
These look ‘oh my goodness’ good…inside and out. They remind me of my favorite ice cream – Dairy Queen vanilla dipped in chocolate. I will definitely be trying these. : )
Those look amazing! You’re such an inspiration! I am totally asking my husband for your book for Christmas! A Christmas gift which my kids will appreciate for years and years to come.
I REALLY need and want to try these. Love them!!
I have always wanted to try, but been a little nervous. Your explanation was very helpful. Now I will put it on my list.
Thanks a bunch.
So… what if I only have stand mixer? ): These cupcakes are so, so, so cute. But I don’t want to rush out to buy an appliance for just one purpose! ):
one day, one day we will be able to tadte them right off the screen!
one day, one day, we´ll be able to taste them right off the screen, for now, you gave us enough confidence to go out and make some! yum!
rockin’ awesome!
p.s. it makes me want to make some marshmallow frosting for the inside….mmmmm
These remind me of dipped cones from DQ. Very yummy – but anything that uses a candy thermometer puts a bit of fear into me! Thanks for sharing your awesome work!
Holy cow those are amazing!!!
Ha..I saw these awhile back on Marthas show, and also in her web site.I saved the recipe. I never ever never attempted to make them.Also worried what would happen,,,but, you of course ,Bakerella, took the chance and I now I shall as well. Thanks for your pics of how its done..you make it look sooooooo easy! Want to come over and help me? Be my guide ? ? Not too far from you…
Yeah, like others have said, these totally look like DQ Dip Cones. So cute!
My dreams are made of hi hat cuppies… I now have a strong urge to eat my screen thanks to you. Copied the Stewart’s recipe but I know I’ll never be able to these cupcakes successfully as I have a tendency to tweak recipes to death (usually the cupcakes’). Anyway, thank you for sharing something so beautiful with us failed bakerettes of this world. Until then, I shall be waiting for lick-o-vision.
Oh my goodness!!
I must make these as soon as possible.
My son and I make cupcakes and sell them at the local Farmer’s Market. Maybe they will be this week’s feature!
PS – when is your next book coming out!
Oh my gosh – I can’t wait to try them!
Yes, so reminiscent of chocolate dipped ice cream cones; I think I’ll have to call them a DQ Cupcake!
Beautiful; do you deliver?
Now on vacation. Can’t wait to get home and try these. Mine won’t look like yours, but I’ve got to try them!
Num Yummy!!!!
wow!!! delicious!!! chocolate hat!!! hmmmm I need to try them…
thanks a lot!
Gorgeous! These look awesome. I might have to try my hand at these…maybe. I’m not so skilled in this department…LOL!
WoW! These look so crazy I wanna moosh a whole batch straight into my mouth immediately! Alas, I don’t think I have the courage to try these yet. But one day…….. one day. Thanks for showing us how-to in detail! :D
Ohmyohmyohmyoh I must make these. And I know until I do, they will haunt me. HAUNT me. Hmmmm… October is just around the corner…. :-)
Pardon the language but all I could say when I first saw the one cut in half was “HOLY CRAP.” Followed quickly by “I NEED to make those!!” I had never even heard of them before, I must have missed your post that you talked about them previously. WOWSERS.
Great post!!
When I bought the Elinor Klivans book and rushed to try the Hi Hat Cupcakes, I was disappointed. I had problems with the frosting which carried over into the chocolate dipping. Seeing your success makes me think that the cupcakes deserve another try!
oh, wow! No wonder it took you awhile to get around to these… might take me awhile too! I think looking at your pictures would have to suffice at the moment :)
Those look so good! And I just picked up your book yesterday and I love it! Such great ideas and I love all the step-by-step pictures. I’m very inspired to make some more cake balls!
Saw some other comments along the same lines; they should be called a DQ Cupcake!
I am the QUEEN of failed cupcakes. But maybe I will try this with brownie bites? I so would have danced around like a maniac seeing how gorgeous they turned out!
These would be so adorable in white chocolate or even a colorful candy coating!
These are adorable! I’ll have to try the recipe for Halloween!
OMGoodness! These look delicious!!! I can’t wait to try them. Thanks Bakerella!
I always love the chocolate dipped cones at our local Dairy Queen and this just takes it to an even more terrific looking angle. I’m definitely going to have to give these a shot asap!
As an aside I think this is one of the most beautiful photo sets you’ve put on here.
oh my gosh! I too would have been terrified of making these! they look amazing!!!
Maravilhoso!!!
I simply adore your website. I can’t wait to see what’s new on your site. Makes my day!
They remind me of those dipped ice cream cones at Dairy Queen. Which I am now craving. Mmmm…
I sense a mess happening in my kitchen this week…….
I agree that these would be great baked in an ice cream cone and then dipped so that it would look exactly like Dairy Queen’s dipped cones. Awesome! Maybe you could be even more daring and do some dipped in butterscotch to mimic DQ’s butterscotch dipped cones. It’s been so long since I’ve had one of those, they may not use butterscotch anymore. That would be a pity!
Wow! These look great and super delicious! BTW, i’ve subscribed to your blog for a while and wanted to know what kind of camera you use to take all these great shots !
Can’t wait to try these. I was having trouble with my candy thermometer, so I got my digital “meat” thermometer out and used it when I was making a french butter cream. It worked wonderfully because there was so little fluid in the pan and I could just hold the tip in. Thanks for another great idea.
BAKERELLA!!
You should’ve seen my jeering you along
“Go! Go! You can dip them!”
Picture after picture…smiling..
then my jaw dropped open :o
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Why aren’t we neighbours :(
They are beautiful! good job!
Love, love these. They would be so pretty for Christmas :)
Thanks,
Shannon from Horseshoe Bay :)
I saw this recipe a long time ago, too, and stuck it in my file. Thanks to YOU, I have the courage to try it now! Thanks!
Also, I LOVE your Cake Pops book! Wish you were coming to St Paul / Mpls for a book signing!
OMG, my little chef turns 11 in 10 days – I think she needs these for her birthday!
absolutely gorgeous !
OH MY!!!! They look, wow! Nice work!!
My husband took one look and immediately asked how you maintain your figure *giggles*. Seriously- how do you refrain from devouring every one of your delicious creations?
So many of the above comments are people acknowledging the beauty of these. BUT, if you go and read Martha’s comments on her webpage you read about many UNHAPPY comments about grainy sugar, sunken cupcake, etc.
I would like to ask Bakarella what she thought they tasted like regarding grainy frosting. The picture does look like her cupcakes fell a little also.
It’s a time consuming recipe and I’d like more comments from those who did make it. But, once again, Bakarella’s LOOK gorgous.
OMG OMG OMG. WANT!!!
AHHH! How cute! They look rather tasty as well! :)
I know what I’m doing this weekend. :3
JUST AWESOME,I AM SO TEMPTED TO TRY ONE…
So cute!!! They look so delicious too! Great job!
food as art!
yummy!!!!!!!! i’ll try to do some soon!
OMG…those looks so darn good!!!
FANTABULOUS!
This is literally the coolest looking cupcake I have ever seen!! You did such a great Job!!!
Aside for the gorgeous-ness of these cupcakes, I noticed that when you dipped your cupcake, the bottom of your cupcake liner looks fresh and new. Mine look sort of wet. Why do yours look so pretty? Not that anyone goes around looking at the bottom of a cupcake…
Stunning. The photo guide makes me almost feel like I could do this!
Hi bakerella –
As always, totally adorable and fantastic pics!
Just wondering – you think these would work with a white chocolate/candy melt coating ? My first thought was that they looked like little ghosts , perfect for Halloween!
They look beautiful! I would be scared to dip them…but you are a brave woman!
the cupcakes are gorgeous!!!!!
Awesome, and how cute would those be done up dipped ice cream cone style. I wonder if it would work. I may have a new project for this week!
I love High Hat Cupcakes! You’re so right – they are a bit scary to make at first, but they’re well worth the effort. You’rs look fab!
I have the Elinor Klevins cupcake book and I am always looking at that recipe and I have wanted to attempt it also but like you I was afraid, very afraid. But wow it really works….I will try them this weekend. Thanks…..
I know what I am making next!!! :)
I made these once myself, lots of work but worth it. Everybody actually thought I bought them. :)
OMG! I’ve never seen or heard of these before…now that I have, I MUST make them! This is why I love Bakerella!
I saw the woman who “invented” these cupcakes on Martha some years ago and loved them ever since… although I have the Cupcake book with the recipe in there, I’ve never attempted them but now that I see you got your nerve up to make them and they turned out, I’m going to make them soon too! Thanks for reminding me to take a chance!
Deborah
Oh my goodness, these are darling! Not to mention they look like the perfect breakfast…ahem… I mean dessert. Okay, I mean anytime treat! Yummmmmmm!!!!! Way to go Bakerella!!
Yummmmmmmmmm
I will never stop being amazed at how perfect your desserts are. Adorable!
These just look AMAZING O_O *applause for you* They remind me of Mcdonalds’ Dip cones they sell here.. Only better because there’s cupcake underneath that yummy chocolate covered frosting ^w^
mmmmmmmm!
They are beautiful! I need an excuse to make them, I am trying to think if anyones birthday is coming up!
Oh, I’ve been wanting to bake this since… forever! but yes, they scare the heck out of me. specially the frosting. hope I’ll be brave like you Bakerella, someday! :D
This is further evidence suggesting that lil cupcake cookbook was just a stepping stone towards complete world domination.
Well, I know what I’m making now…Haha.
Amazing! Now, who was holding the camera while you were dipping?? ;)
These are absolutely adorable. Obviously they look like a dipped cone of ice cream but how cute to have. I may attempt making them this weekend, may I said. LOL.
PS…love the fact you use an old cup from Easter egg decorating. I make these cookie dough pops and that would be so much easier to coat them in. Thanks for the tip. :)
Wow! I think they are beautiful with or without the chocolate top! :-)
OMG Gorgeous! Scrumptious!
The little pink mini one is my favorite! These are like the best of both worlds; cupcakes and Dairy Queen! : )
Those cupcakes look SO good; nice job!
those look amazing!
Hi Hats are great fun and even more fun to mix and match colors. These pink ones I made were featured on Cupcakes Take the Cake as well!
http://americancupcakeinlondon.blogspot.com/2010/07/designer-hi-hats.html
Beautiful!
Interested tp hear that you had problems with your thermometer, I have ruined a couple of recipes by waiting for the thermometer to say the temperature was OK. If I had trusted my own judgement I would have saved both recipes!
Yes they do remind me of Dairy Queen. Must stop there today . Almost as much work as my Tiramasu cupcakes but worth it.
In one word….AMAZING!
oh
my
gosh.
amazing!
These look amazing! They make me think of Dairy Queen for some reason. :)
Wow I’m impressed.
I can’t wait to make those. They look like Dairy Queen dipped ice cream cones!
i am not understanding the melted chocolate. would you get the same desired result with chocolate bark and a double boiler?
WOW!!!! Those look AMAZING!!!! I have never seen that done before or even heard about them. Cant wait to make them with my nieces : ) SO EXCITED to meet you in Portlan Oregon & get your book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : )
It’s like a little Dairy Queen dipped cone…but a cupcake. Genius!!!!
i really love it..! this are fantastic..YUMMY!
YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! These look fantastic! I tried this recipe a few months ago and they were super tasty but not as good looking as yours…i mean of course, you are bakerella!!…Fantastic pictures too. Ciao from Italy
These look so amazing! I cannot wait to try and make them myself!! They remind me of choc tops from the cinema….
awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww they look too scary to make !!!!!!! :P
Those look amazing! reminds of those dipped cones :) Thanks for the idea!!!
These are fun aren’t they? I used another recipe, not Martha’s and liked the results. A friend of mine found a recipe for cherry coke hi hats that I need to try.
these look divine!! great job!
hahah at the first impressiont thing, I didnt even think of that before you wrote it now I cant stop thinking about that when I look at them. they look delish anyway, is that wrong?
OH MY GOD.
those are a-maze-ing! as always you make it look simple. I wish I had one here to sample…
Magic! Can’t believe you managed to do that AND take pictures!!
gorgeous!
They look great! :)
stunning!
Aaaaaaahhhhhhh! O….M…G…!.!.! I have died and gone to heaven! I am totally speechless……
oh my god! those are incredible!!!! i’m so excited to try my hand at them now!
Reminds me of my first job at the Dairy Freeze…..dipping those tall ice cream cones upside down into the chocolate coating…..I can honestly say I fished out a lot of ice cream that belly-flopped into the choc vat, ha, ha.
I’m not a cupcake queen, but I think I’ll have to try these, mostly because I like the name High Hat. THANKS for the tutorial, Bakerella!
Oooh, they’re so gorgeous!! Can’t wait to make them!!
So cool! I think these could be just the treat for my daughter’s Halloween party!
Thanks for sharing!!! Gonna make these in a few weeks for my son’s 11th birthday!
How do you manage to do such great pics !!! It’s absolute torture for me to see this scrumptious “Hi Hat” and not be able to eat one !!!
Guess I have to have a go at making them !!!
I’ve had a cupcake like this before and at their bakery they called them a DQ cupcake because they look like the ice cream cones dipped in chocolate from Dairy Queen!
How in the world did you cut that cupcake? You must have some AMAZING knives!
These are amazing. AMAZING.
Gorgeous! My friend at http://www.bakingdom.blogspot.com did some of these a few months ago, and they look awesome! I haven’t been brave enough to try them yet, but your are so cute!
Complete AWESOMENESS!!! =)
such a sweet tutorial
Those are super cute and, of course, look absolutely deeelish!!! Ok…so when you say mini….they aren’t regular size cupcakes?…they look regular sized…but mini would definitely be easier to dip and EAT!! (more than one for sure!)
Holy DE-LISH!!!!
These have been on my mind since I first started blogging, too!! I’m scared to try them, but let me just say… yours look out of this world amazing!!! NICE job!!!
Yum!! Reminds me of my favorite chocolate-dipped ice cream cones at Dairy Queen growing up. :) I wonder if I could just make the icing and dip it… don’t know if I could handle all the sweetness of icing AND cupcake!
These look very yummy!! Idk if I could pull that off…
beyond cuteness…….
OMG!!! Gotta make those. Will start with minis and work my way up to jumbos. Perfect ending to a dinner party. Will add some ‘bedazzles’ and give all credit to you!
omg, wow those are amazing! We used to do that with icecream at the place i worked at but my icecream ALWAYS fell off, i never got it to work. These are fab!
Oh my! This looks really tempting!
I made some of these several months ago and they were so fun and delicious! Love all of your many pics of the process and they turned out lovely!!
You continue to amaze! I’ve never seen anything like this. I might just have to try them!
Oh man… those look so awesome. SO AWESOME. They look like ice cream cupcakes.
Wow, I love these! I’m pretty sure I could hold the mixer for 12 minutes if I got to eat one of those in the end. Yours look perfect!
I’ve been so nervous too but so intrigued!! This has inspired me to try! Does the type of cupcake matter? I’m not a huge fan of chocolate cupcakes..
They are beautiful. :) The half of the cupcake looks so cool.
My roommate and I are currently doing this to the cupcakes she made yesterday. We wish you were coming to Florida on your book tour!
These look yummy! I cant wait to try them!!!!
Um WOW! They look AMAZING! You totally inspire me to try anything! :)
WOW! That’s so fun, and something I’ve not seen before. I’m definitely going to try that! I’m thinking bright orange cupcake holders to go with that chocolate would make very cute Halloween cupcakes! And bite-size? Yes, please!
i made these with buttercream. They don’t hold their shape as well but they are still super tasty!
I can’t wait to make these! Hope I can get them to turn out as perfect as yours are!
I want a cupcake so badly right now! Love the cut away view!
I have the Cupcakes! book that Martha attributes these to. Scared the livin’ daylights out of me, but I just can’t get them out of my mind! Now you’ve inspiried me & I’m going to do them “mini”! Thanks, Bakerella!!
They look AMAZING! I have a cookbook(Cupcakes!) by Elinor Klivans with this exact cupcake…the whole reason I bought the book! Now, you have given me the courage to try them! :) Thanks!
That makes me want dairy queen! You should do a tribute to them and wrap the cupcakes in their ice cream cone paper some time!! Maybe even put the cupcake in their cones and then dip it.
i think that is the most beautiful thing i’ve ever seen……
sue:)
Oooh my! I’ve always thinking about how to make cupcakes like that. I’ts just amazing!
oh.my.word. i was looking for something to make this next weekend for a friend’s baby shower…i think i just found that something!
Your photos are amazing, I can’t get over how perfect they are!
May I order a dozen of those for my daughter’s birthday. I live in the Philippines. Haha. Kidding. They are just so beautiful!
WOW! These look amazing. I wish I could eat chocolate! I wonder how “white chocolate” would work….
me too bakerella..now i think it’s time i tried as well!!!
These look awesome! Maybe around Christmas time you could use brown cups and dip them in green-colored white chocolate and then decorate them up like little Christmas trees – little colored lights and a star on top. That would be so cute!
I HAVE to make these now!! I’m glad I’m not the only one who tries to bake new things with one eye open. :)
Wow, you couldn’t have posted this at a better time! Someone made these at a Cupcake Event I went to yesterday and I was thinking this morning that I really needed to find a recipe for them. Thanks!
Wow! They look amazing. You are so brave!
Those are beautiful! Is that a mini top hat cupcake is see??? just when i think ive seen everything you can do you whip these out. great job!!!
must try!
I recently saw a picture of some similar cupcakes…but they didn’t put the recipe.
but wow the inside…just beautiful and amazing!
They look amazing! I’m too intimidated to try them. Well, maybe the mini ones. I’d definitely start with minis. Great job!!
OMG!!! They look heavenly! YUM!!
just bought some tools to make some of your totally cute cupcakes from your new book, thanks for the inspiration!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm… no wonder I am gaining weight!! I was doing so good post baby too… oh well. Life with out cupcakes(and cookies and candy and chocolate!) is like, well, death!
sooo cool! I’d be afraid of dipping the cupcake and it coming out without the frosting…lol! they look great!
Oh My! I’ve always wanted to attempt these, but I’ve always been so scared, not of melting, but that the frosting would just fall right off! Goodness! You are brave, but they turned out, I’ll give them a try sometime.
I’ve made something almost identical to these, but I used peanut butter frosting and sprinkled on chopped Butterfinger before the chocolate set.
They were super duper yummy.
Yours are gorgeous!! I’m so glad you gave it a go and fulfilled your hi hat dream!!
Have a fabulous week!! :)
I’ve made these before and they are such a hit, people just love and are totally impressed. Yours look perfect of course.
Those are the coolest things ever! Imagine them dipped in white chocolate, decorated all Christmas-y….I have to try these!
Or add green food coloring to white chocolate for a Christmas tree look
Love It!! I will make these soon!!
i think i’d like the mini cuz i’m not really into frosting. They look so cute tho!!
LOVE these!! The photos are GREAT! Can’t wait to try them!!
oh. my. goodness!
cute and delicious looking..
oh my goodness!! I have to try these sometime when I have the kitchen to myself…thanks for sharing!! :)
oh my goodness! ive made these and was just as scared! i love them! they are too rich to eat as big cupcakes too. the mini ones are perfect
YUM. Why can’t I make my icing look like that? Ever?
My brilliant hubby said that these would be the perfect cupcakes to bake in ice cream cones – a la the Dairy Queen dipped cone. Master of illusion!
These look so tasty! Maybe I’ll try them
Those are amazing! I wonder would it work with any other kind of frosting? Because I do not think I committed enough to hold a thermometer and a mixer for 12 min!! :)
I have been putting off trying these forever but I think I just might.
fabulous!! i love these!! you’re a genius. i can’t wait until you come to dallas for a book signing!!!
You are a brave woman! These scare the pants off me. Maybe one day I’ll be brave. Those are gorgeous!
Oh My!!! These look so pretty and tasty! I love all that chocolate coated frosting!
I am pretty excited to have the first post.. TWICE now :)
Oh my.. my kids are going to LOVE these :)