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Air Fryer Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

Air Fryer Copycat Hostess Cupcakes

4.86 from 7 votes
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 20 Servings

Description

Air Fryer Copycat Hostess Cupcakes are moist chocolate cupcakes with a marshmallow cream center, glossy chocolate ganache, and the signature white swirl on top. They bake in 10 minutes in the air fryer — no oven required.

Ingredients 

Cupcakes:

  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup boiling water

Marshmallow Cream Filling:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup marshmallow creme
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream

Chocolate Ganache:

  • 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate baking bar, finely chopped
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a second large bowl, whisk together the sugar, heavy cream, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Whisk in the boiling water until smooth. The batter will be thin — this is correct.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 325°F on the air fry setting for 3 minutes. Fill silicone liners or an air-fryer-safe muffin tin two-thirds full.
  • Air fry at 325°F for 9 to 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Work in batches, leaving about ½ inch between liners. Cool completely on a wire rack.
  • Filling: Beat the butter with a hand mixer until smooth. Add the marshmallow creme and beat to combine. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add 3 tablespoons of heavy cream, mix on low until combined, then beat on medium for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the remaining tablespoon of cream if it's too stiff to pipe.
  • Fill: Transfer the filling to a piping bag with a long narrow tip, reserving about a quarter for the swirls. Insert the tip into the center of each cooled cupcake and squeeze gently — you'll feel the cupcake swell slightly. Stop there and pull the tip straight out.
  • Ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Heat the cream just until it simmers, remove it from the heat immediately, and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit 4 to 5 minutes without stirring, then whisk from the center outward until smooth and glossy.
  • Glaze: Dip the top of each cupcake into the ganache, twisting slightly as you lift to break the drip. Let set about 15 minutes.
  • Swirl: Using the reserved filling and a small round tip, pipe seven continuous loops across the top of each cupcake.
  • Plate, serve, and enjoy!

Equipment

  • Air Fryer, Air Fryer Basket or Air Fryer Oven
  • Cooking Spray, or Non-Stick Cooking Spray
  • Muffin Tin, Muffin Pan, or reusable silicone molds

Notes

  • Air fryer ovens: use the middle or bottom rack and check at 10 to 11 minutes.
  • Runs hot? If your tops darken before the centers set, drop to 310–315°F and add 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Chocolate: chop a baking bar, not chips. Chips contain stabilizers that keep ganache from turning glossy.
  • Coffee swap: use boiling coffee instead of boiling water for a deeper chocolate flavor.
  • Total heavy cream needed: about 1¾ cups across all components. Buy a pint.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 392kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 4gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 137mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 2gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 395IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 64mgIron: 2mg