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Bonfire Cupcakes

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Chocolate cupcakes topped with orange frosting, wafer rolls arranged like campfires, and mini marshmallows as decoration.
Prep Time:40 minutes
Cook Time:20 minutes
Total Time:1 hour

Ingredients

Cupcakes

  • 1 box chocolate cake mix
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp espresso powder

Nutella Whipped Cream Filling

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream cold
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup Nutella

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz (1 block) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Orange food coloring or red and yellow food colouring 20 yellow and 6 red

Decorations

  • Wafer sticks like Pirouline or any rolled wafer cookies
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Toothpicks

Instructions

Make the Cupcakes

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line cupcake pans with liners.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and espresso powder until smooth (about 2 minutes).
  • Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
  • Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let cupcakes cool completely.

Make the Nutella Filling

  • In a cold mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with the powdered sugar until soft peaks form.
  • Add the Nutella and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
  • Transfer filling to a piping bag with a round tip (or a zip-top bag with the corner snipped).

Fill the Cupcakes

  • Using a small knife or cupcake corer, remove a small plug from the center of each cupcake.
  • Pipe the Nutella whipped cream filling into the center of each cupcake.

Make the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating well after each addition.
  • Add vanilla extract.
  • Mix in orange food coloring until you reach your desired shade.

Frost the Cupcakes

  • Pipe the orange cream cheese frosting on top of each filled cupcake, creating a small “bonfire flame” shape.

Decorate the Bonfires

  • Break the wafer sticks into shorter pieces (about 2 inches long) to make “logs.”
  • Arrange 3–4 wafer pieces leaning around the frosting like a little campfire.
  • Thread two mini marshmallows onto a toothpick.
  • Stick the marshmallow “roasting stick” into the cupcake, nestling it between the frosting and wafer logs.
Servings: 24 cupcakes