Moist chocolate cupcakes with a marshmallow cream center, glossy chocolate ganache, and the signature white swirl. Bake them in the oven in about 18 minutes or the air fryer in about 10.
Ingredients
Cupcakes
2½cupsall-purpose flour
½cupunsweetened cocoa powder
1tablespoonbaking powder
½teaspoonsalt
2cupsgranulated sugar
1cupheavy cream
½cupvegetable oil
2large eggs
2teaspoonspure vanilla extract
1cupboiling water, or boiling coffee
Marshmallow Cream Filling
4tablespoonsunsalted butter, room temperature
1cupmarshmallow creme
1cuppowdered sugar
3 to 4tablespoonsheavy cream
Chocolate Ganache
8ouncessemi-sweet chocolate baking bar, finely chopped
½cupheavy cream
Instructions
Make the batter
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 and mix just until combined. Whisk in the boiling water until smooth. The batter will be thin; this is correct.
To bake in the oven
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners and fill each two-thirds full.
Bake 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in the pan, then completely on a wire rack.
To air fry
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 9 to 10 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Work in batches, leaving about ½ inch between liners. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Fill, glaze, and swirl
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 cream, mix on low, then beat on medium about 2 minutes until fluffy. Add another 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 until you feel it swell slightly.
Ganache: Place the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream just until it simmers, pour it over the chocolate, and let sit 4 to 5 minutes without stirring. Whisk from the center outward until smooth and glossy.
Glaze: Dip the top of each cupcake into the ganache, twisting slightly as you lift. 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.
Equipment
Muffin tin and paper liners (oven)
Air fryer with silicone liners or an air-fryer-safe muffin tin
Hand Mixer
Piping bags with a long filling tip and a small round tip
Notes
Convection oven: 325°F for 15 to 18 minutes.
Flatter tops in the oven: 325°F for 20 to 23 minutes.
Air fryer ovens: use the middle or bottom rack and check at 10 to 11 minutes.
Air fryer runs hot? Drop to 310–315°F and add 2 to 3 minutes.
No filling tip? Cut a 1-inch-deep cone from the center, fill, and press the top back on.
Chocolate: chop a baking bar, not chips.
Total heavy cream: about 1¾ cups across all components. Buy a pint.