These cupcakes are a combination of desire to bake something with marshmallow fluff having made a batch of Teacakes, a want for chocolate, and a craving for salted caramel. The presentation of these is a nod to the wonders of Fatties Bakery and Mini Maegden and their hot chocolates with halos of torched marshmallow. You can make these without torching the marshmallow but that's a bit like drinking a cold cup of tea. I mean, you can but it doesn't hit the spot. Just in case you are wondering the photographs of the cakes use freshly made salted caramel. If you leave them to sit the caramel will set a little more (which makes them a little easier to eat).
Makes 12
Hands-on Time 30 minutes (plus cooling)
Baking Time 20 minutes
Ingredients
100g Chocolate (minimum 70% solids)
125g Unsalted butter (softened)
210g Caster sugar
3 Eggs, medium
1 tsp Vanilla extract
150g Self-raising flour
40g Cocoa powder
1/8 tsp Fine salt
1 tbsp Full-fat milk
3 Egg whites, medium
145g Caster sugar
1/2 tbsp Golden syrup
1/4 tsp Fine salt
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
Equipment
12 hole Cupcake pan
Paper cupcake cases
Microwavable bowl
Microwave
Spatula
Large mixing bowl
Electric whisk or wooden spoon
Teaspoon
Skewer
Wire rack
Sharp serrated knife
2 Re-useable piping bags, one with a nozzle
Blowtorch (optional)
Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C (Fan)/325°F/Gas mark 3.
Line the cupcake tin with the paper cases.
Break the chocolate up into a microwavable bowl and pop into a microwave for 30 second bursts. Between each rest give a stir with a spatula. Repeat until it has melted.
Leave the chocolate to sit whilst you get on with making the cake mix.
In a large bowl beat together the caster sugar and butter with an electric whisk until a light creamy pale yellow.
Continue beating, add the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract until fully combined.
Fold in the flour, cocoa, and salt using a clean spatula.
Add the melted chocolate and combine.
Finally, add the milk and gently stir until you have a smooth yet thick batter.
Divide the mixture between the the paper cases and smooth out using the back of a teaspoon.
Pop the tin into the oven onto a middle shelf and bake for 20 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
When the time is up remove the tin and leave to cool. When the cakes have cooled enough so you can handle them, remove the cakes, still in their cases, and place them on a wire rack.
Once the cakes have completely cooled you can get on the decorating.
Using a serrated knife cut out the centre of the cakes, making sure you only cut down half of the depth of the cake.
Eat all the bits you cut out. I know, it’s a struggle.
Fill a piping bag fitted with a nozzle with the marshmallow fluff and pipe circles around the outer edges of the cakes, avoiding the middles.
Fill another piping bag with the salted caramel and pipe it into the middle of the cakes, try and avoid any splashing/dribbling.
If you have a blowtorch, toast the marshmallow until blackened/browned.
Enjoy!
