Smore's Cupcakes

 
Nutrition and a healthy lifestyle is really important to me. It really is, I promise! I know you don't believe me because of all of the heavenly goodness that I am making all the time but I guess that's why I share it with you, because we don't eat it at home. And I must get this creative passion out some where! Anyway, I have been really good. Just "trying" the food that I make and not having one, two or three servings of it. Then we went on vacation! A nice, long, lovely, relaxing vacation. When we went out to eat and I ordered figure friendly items, we went out for ice cream and everyone else was shoveling large dishes of cold creamy goodness with mixed candy pieces into their mouths, I drank ice cold lemon water. I was so good...until we ran across the cutest little cupcake shop! Locally owned...always my favorite choice! I can easily pass up chain restaurants and desserts, but not the homemade stuff! I HAD to enter!!! So, I stood there for probably 15 minutes trying to decide which "ONE" I would get...ok, so I settled on two...but I did share every other bite. Sometimes every third bite, the princess and the warrior were like little baby chicks squawking for more. I had the mama Mia - tiramisu cupcake and the Marshmallow Fondue - a s'mores cupcake. They were both really good, but I honestly think my cupcakes are better! That's the thing about most cupcakes places that I've found. Sure they look cute and the frosting is good? But the cake is bland.
I'm a s'mores girl. Last summer I made s'mores brownies...they looked delightful but I didn't have one, my self control was a little better a year ago. I needed a reason to make my version of the s'mores cupcake. The brownies I had made had a Graham cracker crust...these cupcakes needed one too. On top I knew I had to make this frosting my mom had made for angel food cake when I was a little girl...I didn't remember if it tasted like marshmallow but I remember it being light and fluffy like Marshmallow Creme. And it was a given that I would make MY chocolate cake, I haven't found a better one out there yet!
Anyway, There you have it! Oh, and to top it off I added a chocolate covered Graham cracker to the fluffy white frosting. Mmmmm.... You're dreaming about it now aren't you! I know!

Smore's Cupcakes
Ingredients

4 Graham crackers, crushed
4Tb butter, melted
2 tsp sugar
pinch of Salt

any Chocolate Cake batter, prepared but not baked yet (24 cupcakes)

1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 dash salt
2 egg whites, unbeaten
1 teaspoon vanilla 

Heat over to 350. Mix together the graham crackers, butter, sugar and salt. Divided evenly between cupcake liners. Press down gently and then bake for 5 minutes. Pour prepared cake batter on top of

graham cracker crust. I use an ice cream scoop to measure out the batter...perfectly sized cupcakes each time! Bake according to the directions for the cupcakes. Cool, of if you're like me...just toss then (gently) in the freezer for faster cooling! 

Now let's make the frosting! Combine sugar, water, cream of tartar and salt in saucepan. Bring to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolves. Very slowly add sugar syrup to unbeaten egg whites in mixing bowl, beating constantly with electric mixer until stiff peaks form (about 7 minutes). Beat in the vanilla.
Once the cupcakes are cool it's time to frost the them. Spoon, pipe or spread fluffy goodness on the cupcakes. Top with chocolate covered graham cracker cookie or make your own. To make your own just separate graham crackers at perforations. Melt about 1 cup chocolate chips or other chocolate in a microwavable bowl for 1 minute. Add 1 Tbl vegetable oil and stir until smooth and shiny. Lay the dipped graham cracker on a peice of waxed paper to set. 

Enjoy my friends!

Warmly, 
Mary