Chocolate Marshmallow Cupcakes

Chocolate Marshmallow Cupcakes Recipe courtesy: Jessica Cuff Show: Cupcake Wars Episode: Ace of Cakes 100th Episode Celebration

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 12
• Yields: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1  cup sugar
• 1  cup flour
• 1⁄3 cup  unsweetened cocoa powder (Hershey's)
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  egg
• 1⁄2 cup milk
• 1⁄4 cup  vegetable oil
• 1⁄3 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄2 cup hot water

• MARSHMALLOW FROSTING

• 16  ounces marshmallow cream (Fluff)
• 1 1⁄2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1⁄3 cup vegetable shortening
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

• CHOCOLATE GANACHE

• 3  ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 tablespoon  hot  espresso
• 1⁄4 teaspoon light corn syrup

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Line a 12-cup cupcake or muffin pan with paper cupcake liners.
2. Sift together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. Combine and whisk the egg, milk, oil, and vanilla in a separate bowl.
4. Using a spatula, combine the dry and wet ingredients, alternating between the two, starting with 1/3 of the dry ingredients and ending with 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Stir until smooth, then add the very hot water and stir until incorporated. Transfer the batter to a pitcher (it is easier to pour the batter than it is to scoop, as it is very thin). Pour the batter into the cupcake pan, fill each cup 3/4-full and bake for 15 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool for 5 minutes before filling. Load the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a round pastry tip. Insert the tip into the cupcakes and fill with a little frosting, then using the same tip, frost the tops of the cupcakes. Chill the cupcakes in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to set the frosting. Drizzle the frosted cupcakes with tepid ganache.
5. TO MAKE MARSHMALLOW FROSTING:
6. In a large mixing bowl, combine the marshmallow cream, sugar, shortening, salt, and vanilla extract, and stir until blended.
7. TO MAKE CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
8. Combine the chocolate, butter, hot espresso, and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl and heat, 20 seconds at a time until the chocolate is melted, stir until smooth. Drizzle the chilled, marshmallow frosted cupcakes with tepid ganache.