Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa Cupcakes.
Let me ask you guys a question.
When you think of Christmas, how do you picture it?
In my head, it is a winter wonderland full of snow, hot chocolate and marshmallows. Oh, and of course, the North Pole, Santa, his elves and his reindeer. No, I am not five. I am just currently stuck in a five-year old’s brain and always will be when it comes to all things Christmas.
Ok, now another question.
Picture this, it is freezing cold outside and snowing like crazy. You make a warm fire and a stifling hot cup of hot chocolate and settle down right next to your brightly lit up Christmas tree. Ok, now this picture is already sounding pretty cozy and kind of like my dream night (or really anytime of the day).
So now for the question.
What is the one thing that could make that picture better?
Ah huh.
Sugar cookies!
The look of this cupcake has been in my head for the longest time now, but it was only a week ago that I finally nailed down what flavor I wanted my North Pole look-alike cupcakes to be.
Obviously, this idea came to me during a very snowy and picture perfect Christmasy morning hike.
Do not let the long recipe scare you off. These are pretty easy and I gave you not one, but two frosting choices. A buttery, vanillay buttercream and a marshmallow frosting.
Both are delicious, but if you are looking to go the easier route go for the buttercream. Sometime marshmallow frosting can be a little temperamental.
Normally I am not into using food colorings, but for these I just could not resist doing a red and white swirl. It was a must for my “North Pole” themed cupcake.
I still cannot believe how easy it was to swirl the colors together.
All you need to do is add the red frosting to one piping bag and the vanilla frosting to another piping bag. Then place both bags into another large bag and use whatever tip you would like (I use the Wilton 1M) and swirl away.
I swear, it really does work and if you are looking for something even easier you can buy this piping bag from Sur La Table that would probably be really helpful, especially if swirled frosting is a big part of your holiday baking plans.
Next break some candy canes in half, dip the top in frosting and roll the frosting in some silver sprinkles.
Now all you need to do is stick the poles right in the center of the cupcake and there you go. You have yourself your own little piece of Santa’s workshop. YES!
So cheesy….I know, but it is Christmas!
I would recommend drizzling the extra ganache all over the cupcake right before eating.
It is SO good.
Oh, oh, oh and you could even add some crushed candy canes on top of the frosting. I would have, but I am just not the biggest peppermint/candy cane fan.
I know, what!?!?
Sorry, it is just not my thing…..yet! I have been known to change my tune about certain foods.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa Cupcakes
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookies, cupcakes, sugar
These are pretty easy and I gave you not one, but two frosting choices. A buttery, vanillay buttercream and a marshmallow frosting.
Ingredients
Sugar Cookie Bottom
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg yolk at room temperature
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon milk
Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee warm
Chocolate Ganache Filling
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tablespoon butter
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chopped or use semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee optional
Whipped Vanilla Buttercream
- 3/4 cup unsalted salted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream or more to your liking
Marshmallow Frosting
- 4 large egg whites
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tarter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 12 candy canes
- red food coloring
- silver sparkly sprinkles
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F . Line a 12-cup cupcake/muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
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To make the cookies. In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy, about a full 3-5 minutes. Add the egg yolk and mix until evenly combined. Add 1/2 cup of the flour, baking soda and salt, beating until the dough forms a ball. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of flour and beat until the dough forms a ball. It will seem crumbly at first, but it will come together. Beat in the milk. Roll the dough into rounded tablespoon size balls and then press the balls into the bottom of 12 cupcake liners. Place the cupcake pan in the fridge while you make the cupcake batter. You will have leftover cookie dough (YES!!). I would make some cookies with it!
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To make the cupcake batter: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
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In a large bowl whisk the canola oil, eggs, vanilla and sugar until smooth and combined. Stir in half the flour mixture and the coffee until lightly combined. Stir in the remaining flour and the buttermilk until just combined. DO not over mix, batter will be thick. Divide the batter among the 12 cupcake molds, placing the batter right over the cookie dough. Bake 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. (I baked mine 20 minutes and they were perfect.) Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before filling with ganache and frosting.
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To make the buttercream frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl with a hand mixer) beat together the butter and powdered sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the vanilla, pinch of salt and heavy cream and beat another 3 minutes or until the frosting is light and fluffy. Add more cream to your liking. If desired, color half the frosting red with a drop or two of red food coloring.
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To make the marshmallow frosting: Bring a small pot of water to a simmer. In a heat proof bowl, add the egg whites, sugar and cream of tarter. Place the bowl over the simmering water and whisk constantly for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and beat the mixture, starting on low speed and gradually increasing the speed until stiff peaks form. Stir in the vanilla. If desired, color half the frosting red with a drop or two of red food coloring.
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Make the ganache. In a microwave safe bowl add the cream, butter and chocolate. Microwave on 30 second intervals, stirring after each until smooth. Stir in the instant coffee until dissolved and smooth.
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To assemble the cupcakes use a small paring knife to cut a cone-shaped piece from the center of each cupcake. Fill the hole with the the chocolate ganache and if there is room return the top of the cupcake to the hole. Pipe or spread on either the marshmallow frosting or the buttercream frosting.
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To swirl the frosting, spoon half of the red frosting into one piping bag (or use a ziplock bag) and half white frosting into the another piping bag. See my photo above. Place both the bags of frosting into a larger bag fitted with a piping tip. Pipe onto cupcakes as desired. Take one candy cane and break it in half. Dip one side of the candy cane into a little of the frosting and then roll the top in the sprinkles (it is helpful to add the sprinkles to a bowl). Stick the pole right in the middle of the cupcake. And your are done! Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days and in the refrigerator for up to 5.
Recipe Notes
*To bring eggs to room temperature quickly place them in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes. *Marshmallow Frosting adapted from [Martha | http://www.marthastewart.com/314199/marshmallow-frosting]
Oh and that layer of ganache you see there? It is my favorite!
I have a similar picture of Christmas in my head and I’m not 5 either. 🙂 These cupcakes are adorable! I like everything about them, the peppermint, the marshmallows, the chocolate, all of it. Pinning!
Thanks so much, Norma!!
You seriously just blew my mouth off my face with these cupcakes meets cookies! Not only are they ridiculously cute and uber Christmas-y..they are 2 of the best desserts all wrapped up into one dessert transformer. Ya, these are a must. Pinned!
Thank you, Taylor!!
So pretty!!! The marshmallow frosting only has to be over the boiling water about 4 minutes??? I do mine the whole time which is about 8-9 minutes. Mine also has white karo syrup but I would love to have a good recipe without it.
I am not a candy cane eater either. I do like mint though.
Thats is just what Martha (Stewart) said, so I listened! LOL! To be honest, it tasted amazing, but I had a hard time getting it to stiff peaks. Next time I will try doing 8-9 minutes and see how it goes!
Thanks so much, Charlotte!!
Omg, these are the cutest things ever!! They would be so perfect to put out on the dessert table. I LOVE that double-colored frosting. Gorgeous!
Thank you, Julie!! The frosting is so fun!
I envision Christmas the same way you do…lots of white fluffy snow, never-ending mugs of hot chocolate, and Christmas lights all around. Yup, sugar cookies are a MUST on Xmas, and having them be the surprise at the bottom of a delicious cupcake is sheer brilliance! Love your ideas, my dear!
Thanks Julia!! Did Tahoe get some snow this week too?
Ok, these are just the cutest things I’ve ever seen. And the fact that you added a sugar cookie dough base is ridiculous. In a good way.
Thanks Laura!!
Love the little sparkly topper on these Tieghan!
Thank you, Jeanette!
We have lots of snow if you want some. 😉 These are so creative. Love them!
HAha! Thanks, but we have tons here too! Actually, around this time of year I will always take more, so send it my way! 🙂
Thanks Aimee!
Cookies and cupcakes together?! Where have these been all my life!
🙂 Thanks Steph!
These look so decadent and festive! And I love the North Pole idea, which I think I’m going to steal for the gingerbread house I’m decorating this weekend.
Thanks Megan!! Have fun with that house!
Oh my gosh, these are the cutest holiday holiday cupcakes ever!! Especially love the sugar cookie bottom.
Thank you, Kelli!
These are the cutest lil things ever! Period.
Thanks Ashley!
This is why I love this time of the year – cool bloggers like you get seriously creative! Love this.
Haha! Thanks so much, Ali!
WOAH! These are A LOT of work, but look incredible. But it is the holidays, worth the extra effort!
Thanks Sophia!! 🙂
BEST CUPCAKES EVER.
🙂 Thanks so much, Sally! I hoped you would like these!!
These are adorable! Love the cookie on the bottom 🙂
Thanks Liz!
What a gorgeous festive cupcakes!
Thank you, Erin!!
These are so cute and festive! I love them 🙂
Thanks Chelsea!
So cute and clever for the holidays! Love!
Thank you, Sandy!
These are adorable and so festive! Love the combo of cookie and cupcake!
Thanks Kathy!
These are super cute!!
Thanks Julie!
These are gorgeous! They’d be so perfect at a Christmas party.
Pinned!
Thanks Abbie!
What incredible cupcakes, I love the swirled frosting!
Thank you, Laura!
super cute cupcakes…look so festive and colorful 🙂
Thank you!!
What an amazing recipe – these look so delicious! I love your vision of Christmas – it is spot on. I would love to curl up by the fire with one of these cupcakes! Hope you have a great weekend – can’t wait to see what you’re cooking for us!
Thanks so much, Cate!
It’s a cookie cupcake with the best frosting ever. Love!
Thanks Dorothy!
Yes, I’m obsessed. You’ve combined everything good and necessary about Christmas, into one singular cupcake! Visually so stunning, and the recipe sounds spot on. Definitely pinning this for when the kids come to town for Christmas 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
This is one of my most favorite cupcakes I have seen in a long time!
Thanks Julianne!
Did you have fun in Summit??
Absolutely! And we got out just before the cold front hit hahah
woooooooowwww! I absolutely adore these.. so festive and cute!! And I bet they taste incredible :0)
Thanks Aimee!!
Everything I love about Christmas in one cupcake! Brilliant!
Thanks Gina!
These are the cutest things ever… and I’m pretty sure they taste god too!
🙂 Thanks Sommer!
i love the way you decorated them. they are so cute!
Thanks Dina!
I’m still stuck on the part where you put a sugar cookie on the bottom of the most glorious chocolate cupcake the universe has ever seen. I mean, WHY DON’T I LIVE WITH YOU?!
Also, those peppermint marshmallow swizzle sticks? ADORABLE.
Haha! I love you comments. They make me smile every single time!!!
Thanks Hayley!
I’m going to try these out to bring to a Christmas Eve dinner we’re invited to annually. Will let you know how it goes.
They look amazing!
YAY!! Hope you guys love them!! Thanks Anita!
I made these for my boyfriend yesterday and him and his family said they were “off the charts!!” Thanks so much for sharing!
Happy Holidays!
YAY!! So happy you guys loved these!! Thanks so much for making them and Merry Christmas! 🙂
I am a huge fan of your Simple Chocolate Birthday Cake, so I was perusing your other cake recipes and noticed this recipe is similar. I was going to use the Simple recipe to make cupcakes for an upcoming birthday party. How does the chocolate cupcake in this recipe compare to the cake in the Simple recipe (ie, taste, texture)? The ingredients and/or measures are only slightly different (no Greek yogurt). I suppose I could try it, but then I would have to eat them all! Thanks.
Thank you! The taste and textures are almost identical. You will love these! Happy Valentines Day! 🙂
Hi – I wonder if I did something wrong — I followed the recipe exactly, and even cooked the cupcakes for 5 mins longer than the recipe suggested. I went to do a taste test, and the cookie dough part was almost raw. Are you supposed to bake the cookie dough part first, then pour in the cupcake batter? Yipes!!
Hi Sally! I don’t bake the dough first, but you can try that and see if you get a better result. I would bake the dough for 8 minutes, then add the cupcake batter. That will ensure the cookie does indeed get cooked through. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
You mention vanilla extract in the cupcake portion and just “vanilla” in the buttercream icing; is this also vanilla extract?
HI! Yes, vanilla and vanilla extract are the same ingredients. So sorry for the confusion. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan