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.

Sugar Cookie Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

5 from 7 votes

12 Cupcakes

by Tieghan Gerard

calories 823kcal

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Prep30 minutes mins

Cook25 minutes mins

Rest5 minutes mins

Total1 hour hr

These are pretty easy and I gave you not one, but two frosting choices. A buttery, vanillay buttercream and a marshmallow frosting.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

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 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F . Line a 12-cup cupcake/muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
• 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!
• To make the cupcake batter: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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]

Nutrition

Calories: 823kcal | Carbohydrates: 97g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 192mg | Potassium: 263mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 75g | Vitamin A: 870IU | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 2.4mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.

Oh and that layer of ganache you see there? It is my favorite!