Campfire Cupcakes

chocolate campfire cupcakes decorated with wafers and mini marshmallows.

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These campfire cupcakes are everything your camping themed party needs! With a soft chocolate base, creamy Nutella filling, and orange flame frosting, they bring a playful camping party to life.

Prep Time40

Cook Time20

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: cupcakes

Author: Rachel Rodda

Equipment

Ingredients

FOR THE CUPCAKES

1 box Betty Crocker Devils Food Cake Mix
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs room temperature
1 teaspoon espresso powder optional

FOR THE FILLING

1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
½ cup Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread

FOR THE FROSTING

8 ounces cream cheese 1 block, softened
½ cup unsalted butter softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
yellow and red gel food coloring

FOR THE DECORATIONS

48 mini marshmallows
24 wafer rolls
24 toothpicks or thin pretzels

Instructions

FOR THE CUPCAKES

Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃) and line 2 x 12-muffin pans with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and espresso powder (if using) until smooth – about 2 minutes.
Fill liners with cupcake mixture until 2/3 full.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.

FOR THE FILLING

While the cupcakes are baking, in a mixing bowl whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
Add the Nutella and continue whipping until firm peaks form.
Transfer the filling to a piping bag or cupcake filler with a narrow round tip.
Once the cupcakes are completely cool, use a cupcake corer or small knife to cut a small hole in the center of each cupcake. Pipe the Nutella cream filling into the center of each cupcake.

FOR THE FROSTING

With a stand or hand mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
Reduce the speed to slow and gradually add the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine.
Add a few drops of yellow and red food coloring at a time until you reach your desired shade of orange. You will need more yellow than red coloring.
Transfer the fire cream cheese frosting to a piping bag and using your preferred tip, pipe the frosting on top of each filled cupcake to create a small "bonfire" shape.

FOR THE DECORATIONS

Break the wafer rolls into shorter pieces (about 2 inches long) to make "logs".
Arrange 3-4 wafer logs on top of each cupcake to make a little campfire.
Thread two mini marshmallows onto a toothpick or pretzel stick.
Arrange the marshmallow roasting stick on top of the frosting, nestling it between the wafer logs.

Notes

If you only have one muffin tin, simply prepare one batch of mixture and bake, then repeat.

If you don’t have a piping bag, simply use a zip-top bag and cut a small corner from the base to pipe the frosting over the cupcake.

Other options for the campfire log decorations include pretzel sticks or chocolate covered biscuit sticks (like Pocky).

These cupcakes are best enjoyed immediately, but you can store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note the wafers may soften once placed in the fridge.

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