Description
These Camp Fire Cupcakes are a fun and delicious dessert that perfectly capture the spirit of a campfire with a creative twist. Featuring moist French Vanilla cake topped with a rich, creamy buttercream frosting tinted like flames and garnished with graham cracker crumbs, pretzel rods, and mini marshmallow ‘logs,’ these cupcakes are sure to be a hit at any gathering or themed party.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 box French Vanilla cake mix
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsalted sweet cream butter
Campfire Base
- 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted sweet cream butter (for frosting)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3-5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- Yellow gel food coloring
- Orange gel food coloring
Decoration
- Pretzel rods
- Mini marshmallows
- Toothpicks
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners to ensure easy removal after baking.
- Make the Batter: In a standing mixer, combine the French Vanilla cake mix, unsalted sweet cream butter, whole milk, and eggs. Mix on medium speed until the batter is smooth and well combined, ensuring even texture.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Scoop the batter into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about 3/4 full to allow room for rising during baking.
- Bake the Cupcakes: Bake in the preheated oven for 21 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Then remove and set aside to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form, creating a smooth, creamy buttercream.
- Color the Frosting: Divide the frosting evenly into two bowls. Add yellow gel food coloring to one bowl and orange gel food coloring to the other, mixing each until the color is consistent.
- Create Campfire Base: In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs and cocoa powder. This mixture will simulate the charred ground around the campfire.
- Assemble Marshmallow Sticks: Using toothpicks, place two mini marshmallows on each to mimic marshmallows on a stick, ready for decorating.
- Frost the Cupcakes: Generously frost each cooled cupcake, then dip the bases into the graham cracker and cocoa powder mixture to coat the sides and create the ‘campfire’ look.
- Pipe the Flame Frosting: Using a large piping bag fitted with a medium star tip, pipe the yellow and orange colored frosting in the center of each cupcake, blending colors to create flame-like effects.
- Decorate with Logs and Marshmallows: Arrange pretzel rods around the frosting flames to mimic logs, then place the marshmallow sticks on top as if roasting them over the fire, completing the campfire design.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can adjust the amount of food coloring to achieve your desired flame intensity.
- Use fresh pretzel rods to maintain a sturdy log appearance.
- The graham cracker and cocoa coating adds a delicious crunchy texture and enhances the campfire theme.
- Mini marshmallows can be toasted lightly with a kitchen torch for extra authenticity (optional).
