BLOGMAS DAY EIGHTEEN: HOT CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Hello everyone and welcome to blogmas day eighteen! Today i am bringing to you the third "Christmas Treats" post of the month. What is better than having a steaming cup of hot chocolate or a cupcake during the festive season? Well combining the two to create hot chocolate cupcakes is even better, a perfect treat for Christmas parties, family gatherings or simply just for fun...

12 Cupcake Cases

Paper Straws (cut down to size)

175g Self Raising Flour (sifted)

2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

175g Softened Butter 

175g Caster Sugar

3 Eggs

75g Softened Butter (for the frosting)

120g Cream Cheese

420g Icing Sugar (sifted)

Mini Marshmallows (to decorate) 

First things first you are going to want to pre-heat your oven to 180c/350f/gasmark4 and line the baking tin/s with the 12 cupcake cases. Taking a bowl/mixer, sift in the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder before adding in the butter, sugar and eggs. Mix all of the ingredients together until well combined and a smooth-like consistency. Divide the mixture into your pre-lined cupcake cases, filling each case around 2/3 full and bake in the oven for around 20-25 minutes or until springy to touch. Once out of the oven leave to cook completely before adding the cream cheese frosting. To make the frosting, place the butter and cream cheese in a mixer and combine before adding in the sifted icing sugar a third at a time. Beat the ingredients for a further minute or until the mixture is a creamy consistency before piping/spooning the mixture onto the cupcakes. All that is left to do is dust the cupcakes with a little cocoa, add some mini marshmallows and the cut to size paper straws. 

♥