Chocolate Cupcakes with a graham cracker crust and toasted marshmallowy meringue frosting. Oh. my. gosh. These were super duper delicious! I’ve been so excited to make these S’mores Cupcakes for a while now but I didn’t have a kitchen torch to toast the tops. I don’t know why I haven’t bought one before, but I’m super excited that I got one for Christmas. Thanks Mom!
The recipe for these cupcakes is from Jennifer Shea’s new cookbook, Trophy Cupcakes and Parties! (pssst… I’m giving away a couple of signed books below) Trophy Cupcakes has several locations in Seattle. You should visit if you get a chance. Such cute shops and the prettiest cupcakes. I visited the shop in Bellevue a few years ago. Adorable!
But the first time I met Jennifer was back in 2008 when we were both on The Martha Stewart Show. What?!?
Yes. Still crazy to me. I was on to show Martha how to make my Cupcake Pops about six months after I started the blog (P.S. This past Saturday was National Cake Pops Day. YAY!) and Jennifer was on the show to make these same s’mores cupcakes … which I didn’t get a chance to try when I was on the show.
So, I thought they would be the perfect ones for me to make from her new book.
And boy am I glad I did. They are fantastic!
They start with a graham cracker crust for the cupcake. Awesomeness!
Place a teaspoon of the crust mixture in each baking cup.
And press with the bottom of a small glass.
Like so.
But that’s not all. They get chocolate, too.
Yep. Just sprinkle chopped chocolate on top of the crusts and bake for a few minutes to set first.
Cool and then… fill with the chocolate cupcake batter. YES!
But we can’t stop there. Before baking, sprinkle more graham cracker mixture and chopped chocolate on top. I like where this is going … oh and I’m messy!
Beautifully cupcakes. I actually think they’re great just like this.
But they wouldn’t be s’mores without the fluffy marshmallow frosting.
Swirl the meringue frosting on top of the cupcake with a star tip and then toast using a kitchen torch.
P.S. I love my kitchen torch. This was the first time I’ve used one, and now I want to toast everything. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get one. So fun!!!
But not as fun as biting into these babies. Yummmm!
Here’s the recipe … and check out Jennifer’s video on MarthaStewart.com too OR skip down below for the giveaway.
S’mores Cupcakes
Ingredients
GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST
- 1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 20 squares)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1-3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2/3 cup boiling water
MERINGUE FROSTING
- 6 egg whites
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- MAKE THE CRUST FIRST: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin pans with cupcake liners.
- In a medium bowl, mix together crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter until well blended and no dry crumbs remain.
- Place 1 tablespoon of the mixture into each liner. Press the crumbs flat into the liner using the bottom of a small glass. Sprinkle about 2 teaspoons of chocolate over each crust. (Reserve remaining graham cracker crumbs and chopped chocolate to top the cupcakes before baking.)
- Bake crusts for 8 minutes. Remove the pans and let crusts cool for at least 5 minutes before adding cupcake batter.
- FOR THE CUPCAKES: After crusts are prepared, increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside. Then combine eggs, milk, oil and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add sugar and mix until combined. Then add flour mixture. Blend at low and then increase to medium. Beat for 2 minutes until blended and smooth. Remove bowl from stand and add boiling water. Gently stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Batter will be thin. Then let batter rest for 15 minutes and stir again gently before using. Fill liners with prepared crusts three-quarters full with batter. Sprinkle with reserved chocolate and graham cracker mixture.
- Bake about 16-20 minutes until done. Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then remove to a rack to cool completely.
- MAKE THE MERINGUE FROSTING: Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of a stand mixer. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water without letting the bottom of the bowl touch the water in the saucepan. Hold the handle of the bowl with an oven mitt while whisking the egg white mixture until the sugar is dissolved and the whites are hot to the touch… about 4 minutes. Then transfer bowl to the stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat the mixture, starting on low and increasing to high speed. Beat until stiff, glossy peaks form and the meringue has cooled, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the vanilla and whisk just to combine. Use frosting immediately.
- Place the frosting in a pastry bag fitted with an Ateco #867 star tip. I used a Wilton 4B tip. Pipe high swirls on the cupcakes and brown the meringue using a kitchen torch and serve immediately.
Notes
Source: Trophy Cupcakes & Parties! by Jennifer Shea, 2013
Here’s a little peek into the book.
It’s filled with recipes for cupcakes and crafty ideas to help you create charming parties. It’s basically super cute.
Enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Trophy Cupcakes & Parties!
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To enter just leave a comment below and share the best thing you ate this weekend. Was it sweet? Was it Super Bowl snacks? Do tell.
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Deadline to enter is
Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. ET.Sorry! Time’s Up, Winner announced below. -
Two (2) winners will be selected at random and announced sometime Wednesday evening.
Good Luck guys!
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Okay – we have two winners. And I’m now super hungry for party food and appetizers!!!! Thanks for sharing all your best bites. Mine was actually these cupcakes. They are seriously so good. And… I’m still eating them. I have to stop.
Congratulations Katie B. and E. Nadler. Hope you enjoy the book and you should definitely make these.
The best thing I ate over the weekend was broccoli quiche!
Best thing I ate this weekend, would have to be the gourmet pizza!
Made my son steamed lobster claws for the first time ever – boy did we have to work hard to eat dinner.
The wings at the super bowl get-together that we attended – so good!
Trophy Cupcakes is my favorite. I’m particulary fond of their triple chocolate and coconut cupcakes.
What was the best thing I ate last weekend? Mushroom ravioli.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Homemade lemonade!!!!
The best thing i ate this weekend was at gooey cheesy nachos with extra sour cream while watching the superbowl.
The best thing I ate this weekend was homemade onion dip-yum with homemade potato chips made from local Maine potatoes; that I brought to work and shared.
The best thing I ate this weekend was Chocolate Fudge Torte.
London Dairy’s double chocolate chip ice cream
Homemade chocolate chip cookies and they were delicious!
The book looks amazing
Superbowl food – in particular little pizza rollups with marinara a friend made. So yum.
The best thing I ate this weekend was Cochinita pibil (a traditional Mexican slow-roasted pork dish from the Yucatán Península of Mayan origin). It is delicious! ;)
best thing I ate was the pound cake I made! Yum-o! LOVE making cupcakes ;)
I made little football field cupcakes for the Super Bowl..huge hit! New to your site..Love it!
Porkchops that my husband had butchered himself. They were thick and yummy, even though they were not a sweet treat (which generally will win in my books)
We had home-made deep dish pizza that was divine!
I had yummy homemade chicken noodle soup to help fight the cold!
Coconut custard pie – but these look to die for – YUMM!
I had brownies made from a cake mix….not too bad! :)
Pizza
The best thing I ate this weekend was pineapple tarts! We’re celebrating Chinese New Year over here in Singapore and I ate a lot of yummy pineapple tarts! Sinful but oh-so-good :P
Not Super Bowl food but we ate at my in-laws. We had all my favorites – dressing, sweet potato casserole, grean bean casserole and homemade peach cobbler and pecan pie!! I would love this book – cupcakes are my favorite to make – can’t wait to try the s’mores!!!!
the best thing I had this week was bread with nutella at the new place in chicago Eataly! I was delicious, so sweet! :)
I ate a bruschetta pizza – fresh chopped tomatoes, mozzarella, and a balsamic reduction that was beyond incredible. I would gladly eat it EVERYDAY.
An asiago bagel with garlic and herb cream cheese from my favorite bagel shop, Bagel Street Deli! My go to ‘eat-out’ food.
I had a a Banfee pie at a restaurant with a butter toffee crust that was AMAZING!!
We made homemade fish and chips this weekend! They were amazing!
The best thing I ate this weekend was your Cranberry Chocolate Chip Walnut cookies…but with pecans instead of walnuts. Yummy!!!!
Ah, that’s an easy one – whoopie pies with devil dog filling that I made for a friend’s super bowl party! These are my favorite (and everyone else’s too) :) !
Oatmeal. I’ve always hated it since being force-fed it at boarding school but Hubby decided it was time to show me how good the real deal is :)
Our supper club had a Brazilian themed dinner, it was all very yummy.
That looks delicious! I made Super Bowl shaped cookies…
Oh my goodness these look amazing!!! Look at those layers. I I want one even before the frosting. This weekend my parents were in town for a painting party in our new house. We had sausage and pepper sub sandwiches with provolone. They were so easy to put together but amazing to eat.
OMG, how delicious do these cupcakes look!!!
A red velvet donut with cream cheese frosting on top. It tasted as amazing as it sounds
Dinner with my boyfriend at TGI Friday’s – a Jack Daniel’s burger with extra bacon! So bad, but soooo delicious!
Yeasted pancakes with blackberry pear rosemary jam!
This weekend I gorged on Ricotta Cheesecake with strawberries!
Sweet and salty chex mix!
Pulled pork tacos with lettuce and lime cilantro rice – but we need something sweet! :D Thank you for the chance to win! <3
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!! :) spicy sausage cheese dip :)
I’m from Seattle woohoo!!! My husband made the best spicy sausage cheese dip ever!!!!!
A pint of Cookie Dough Ice Cream
A carnitas burrito
My mother’s creamy cheesecake pie!
Best thing I ate this weekend was butterscotch brownies (found the recipe here!!) I’ve been craving it for months but never had the time to bake it till now. It was delicious!
The last of my stash of thin mint girl scout cookie from last year!
I made the King’s Hawaiian baked ham sandwiches and they are ammmmmazing.
Nachos were our dish of the weekend.
Homemade nachos were our dish of the weekend. Yum! The smores cupcakes look divine.
Buffalo chicken dip at my friend’s super bowl party! yummmm.
I made s’more cups, but your cupcakes sound amazing!!! We might bake some tomorrow! :)
Choco chip cookie dough cupcake! Yummmmm….
I had a ranch cheese ball that was really yummy!
Red curry! Aaaand my chocolate cupcakes with Oreo cream frosting! Yum!
Homemade Banana and strawberry ice cream! Yum
Sushi for my birthday and homemade brownies!
I would have to say mini salted caramel cupcakes toped off my weekend eats! Mmmmm….
Those cupcakes look super delicious. The best thing I ate this weekend was smoked salmon lettuce cups so good
Made my boys’ fave box yellow cake cookies covered in non pariels. (Yellowcake mix + 2 eggs + half cup oil) use cookie scoop and roll in sprinkles prior to baking @ 350.
Best thing I ate this weekend? A Genoa Salami sandwich – white bread, butter and a lot of salami.
Hi Bakerella,
Favorite snack Superbowl Sunday were these Herb Pretzels. You just can’t have one! Let me know if you want the recipe!
the best thing i ate this past weekend were these hot dogs. the meat was from new york, and they were delicious
The best thing I ate this week end was my mother’s recipe for
Carrot Cake with cream cheese icing! YUM! THE best ! ! !
Chocolate chip banana bread!
Salmon sliders on a pretzel bun!
lemon scones & hot chocolate. not together ; )
best thing i ate was pizza and popcorn for the superbowl!
The best thing I ate this weekend was earl grey tea ice cream I made!
Honestly, it was Doritos. I hadn’t eaten any for a very long time, and they tasted really good. Thanks for the chance to win!
Buffalo turkey meatballs with LOTS of hot sauce :)
The best thing was homemade cinnamon rolls
the best thing i ate was grannies homemade pho
Cute book! We had compost cookies! I had never tried them before but they were surprisingly tasty! Chocolate, coffee, caramel…mmmm.
I made Mongolian beef and it was amazing!
super early valentine baking cause I got the date wrong!
Date night – we made Manhattan-Style Fish Chowder!
we got to celebrate my moms bday at a thai restaurant and the pad thai was heavenly!
We had a Chinese New Year party and everyone had to make a Chinese food dish to share. Needless to say I ate lots of yummy food, but my favorite is always an egg roll!!!
The best thing I had this weekend was Pumpkin Whoppie Pies. These cupcakes look yummy.
What we call, Chocolate pretzel cake. Pretzels, butter, Eagle brand, chocolate. Omg.
chocolate milk with a chocolate chip muffin
Berry topped waffles!
Homemade Chili and cornbread :)
red velvet cheesecake – yum!
@ neighbors house. We were watching the super bowl, and I had a salad with avocado and chickpeas with strawberry dressing. Delish
The best thing I ate this weekend was a german chocolate cake that my mom and I made over the weekend for my dad and my brother’s birthday.
I had orange creamsicle cake pops I made from scratch! They were a HUGE hit at the Super Bowl party and with my kids. Yum!!!
Orange creamsicle cake pops I made from scratch! My kids loved them and they were a HUGE hit at the Super bowl party!!
Frozen bananas blended with crunchy peanut butter. Amazing! Tasted like ice cream :)
Wow! Those smores cupcakes look very yummy!! Probably the sweetest thing I’ve eaten were the maple pumpkin cookies my sister made! :)
The best thing I ate this weekend were some crispy grilled wings!
Deep fried bananas. With vanilla ice cream and whipped cream!
I had a red velvet muffin from Tim Hortons! Mmmm soo good
I had homemade fish and chips this weekend! They were so good
A Max’s bakery glazed donut. Very, very good.
I made some super awesome chili for the Super Bowl. I didn’t really measure anything so it came out a little spicier than anticipated, but man it was good!
Baked brie with cranberries and almonds.
I had a sundae on Sunday. It was delicious – vanilla ice cream, home made caramel and daim!
Tempura lobster!!
Peruvian tamales, wrapped in banana leaves with onion salsa. OHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! how I miss my beautiful PERU.
im always craving for Caesar salad lately and that is what ive been eating for almost a week no hehehehe:))
warm, runny ,chocolatey, gooey fudge cupcakes with melted chocolate centers YUM!
Rice Pudding
The best thing I ate this week was indeed sweet, I had a slice of dominican cake for my birthday :P
Carbonara from my favorite italian restaurant.. yum!
Homemade cream puffs!
A greek panini!! amazing…
I drank my fruits, veggies & protein in the morning to indulge in Super Bowl snacks, particularly tortilla chips and warm, gooey, yummy Buffalo Chicken dip!
I had Hostess cupcakes (my guilty pleasure) and my special no-bake cookies!
The had fully loaded nachos and brownies decorated like a football. Yummy!
Today I ate a wonderful chocolate cake that just melted in my mouth. I’m still looking for the recipe… :)
The best I ate was definitely cookie dough ice cream!
I made (& ate too many) cinnamon streusel muffins. They were oh-so-good!
Fresh avocados, salted, wrapped up in a flour tortilla.
Twice.
Macaron! Yum yum!!!
I had strawberry whoopie pies! OMG, they were amazing!! :)
This weekend the best thing I ate has got to be my homemade teriyaki and wasabi chicken nachos! so delicious!
The best thing I ate this weekend was a gluten free chocolate chip cookie. I’m very newly gluten free and I really wanted something sweet. I’m glad to say it was actually good!
my husband’s hot wings
We go to this local barbeque place most weekends and they have this amazing potato casserole. It’s so good!
Blueberry muffins!
homemade lasagna on Sunday night – worth all the work!
I ate nuts/caramel pie!! yummy yummy
Those cupcakes look so yummy!
The best thing I ate this weekend was oyster chicken at a Super Bowl potluck.
I had a belated Lunar New Year dinner complete with delicious stuffed tofu!
I ate a fresh croissant with cheese and it was delicious!
I made my Grampa’s chocolate birthday cake and vanilla cupcakes they were great!!!
Lemon bars. Yum!
Homemade vegetable soup and bread
Chicken noodle from my home town :) Yum!
Blake’s Place for baby back ribs, messy but so good
Wow, they look fantastic! Best thing this weekend was panko crusted chicken, sooo tender and yummy I almost didn’t miss dessert…
I ate the ultimate red velvet cheesecake from the cheesecake factory yesterday. I think it is the best thing I ate; it melted on my mouth…
Homemade Frech Toast for Saturday morning breakfast, super sweet, warm, and delish!
Homemade tacos and brownies with chocolate ganache!
Spaghetti Carbonara with Romano cheese instead of parmesan.
best thing was friday night pizza.
Best thing I ate was…. Middlesworth Chips. A Pennsylvania delicacy
Sushi!!!!
Now I have a reason to get a kitchen torch!
Cinnamon french toast covered in crunchy corn flakes.
Best thing I ate was french toast from Hash House in San Diego!
Pollo Asado! It was amazing!
Beans and rice with Guacamole!! Yum!!
Some ebelskivers filled with nutella….super yummy. The book looks super cute.
ben and jerrys cinnamon rolls ice cream!
Love the book!!! Just came home with a dozen Trophy cupcakes last week! They taste as good as they look! Had some yummy wings while cheering on the SEAHAWKS!!!
Nutella brownies.
These cupcakes look amazing! The best thing I ate this weekend was actually a s’mores brownie made by my best friend for my Super Bowl party! How perfect.
Beef and Chinese snow pea stir fry. New recipe and it’s a keeper!
Sweet Potato and Beetroot Kebabs..yummy and healthy too..!!!
The best thing I ate this weekend was my grandma’s homemade mole and rice! She made it just for me because she knew I was coming down to visit her. It reminds me of home and is the ultimate Mexican comfort food to me.
The best thing I had was crock pot fudge my sister gave us.
Hummus Crusted Chicken, yummmmm…
cranberry orange rolls!!!!… or bacon :)
Lots of great food was consumed this weekend! Probably my favorite was cheese fondue. It was so delicious!
hmm. the best thing i ate this weekend would be breakfast for dinner (pancakes & bacon) at a diner friday night to ring in the weekend!!!
My Mum made a very delicious soup! Nyammmmmmi :)
Pizza and cookie dough :)
Meringue cookies with marshmallows yummmmmmmmmm :)
Homemade brownies i made myself Fudgy and with semi sweet choco chips sprinkled on top perfect to go with a movie :)
Strawberries dipped in dark semi sweet chocolate with fluffy whipped cream to go with it
coconut citrus macaron!
The best thing I had this weekend was a homemade chocolate cake with a hazelnut (Nutella) filling…and it was delicious (and it’s all gone, lol).
a raspberry lemonade cupcake from sweet tooth fairy…oh…heaven…
My family and I enjoyed my home made Chocolate Toffee Cream cupcakes while watching the game :) Sweet and delicious!
The best thing I ate this weekend was a deli club sandwich piled high with so many goodies and the bread was amazing!
I made a Watergate cake with Cover-up frosting for the first time in my life. It was pretty awesome!
Chips and guacamole! Yum!
The best thing I ate was a bacon egg and cheese biscuit! There is something about eggs, bacon and cheese!
Best thing I ate this weekend was one of the best cupcakes ever! I made them with Biscoff!
Homemade nachos!
Tofu scramble with apples, veggie sausage and gouda!
The best thing I ate this weekend was the homemade brownie that I baked myself. :-) Chocolatey, moist, and delicious.
I’m on the college dining hall food grind so nothing spectacular…but Sunday had make your own sundae bar!
Not fancy but my favorite this weekend was sharing dried seaweed snacks with my 19 month old son. He just stuffs as many as he can in his mouth…! Hilarious.
Philly Steak Eggroll
Lou Malinati’s pizza! Yum!
I had the most wonderful Super Bowl snack, Buffalo chicken dip with Fritos!! :)
Samoa cupcakes!!!! Chocolate cake with caramel buttercream, toasted coconut flakes, and chocolate drizzle :-)
We had ribs and garlic/chicken broth infused rice.
Chicken wings, pizza and nachos for the Super Bowl.
Made Mexican themed Superbowl spread, Chicken Enchilada Casserole, Chopped Salad, Guacamole and 4 mini desserts, Tres Leches Cupcakes, Hot Chocolate Snickdoodles, Dulce de Leche Cheesecakes, & Vegan Black Bean Brownie Bites.
Homemade Mexican food! I could eat it every day!
I made a pot of chili that was so darn delicious. The new book looks fabulous. Those Smores cupcakes, gonna have to try those with my granddaughter. Baking and cooking is our fav thing to do together.
Buffalo chicken sweet potato skins-so yummy!
The best thing I ate was a homemade blonde brownie. (Or two… )
Jerk chicken wings!
Homemade baked chicken empanadas!
I made a simple aloo gobi with saffron rice that was lovely, and the kids actually ate it. :)
Best thing I ate was a Russell Stover Dark Chocolate Red Velvet Truffle heart- simply amazing!! Kind of tastes like a cake pop in a heart shape.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with pancetta and hazelnuts! I’m thinking of driving an hour each way just for more!
I made caramel and walnut sticky buns for breakfast. They are oh so delicious!
Chicken and wild rice soup!
Oh yum! Can’t wait to try! The best thing I ate this weekend was chocolate chip banana bread.
An italian sub from a pizza place.
Homemade hummus and naan bread. so delish!!
I had a good slice of blueberry cheesecake!