S'more Cupcakes

For most people s'mores bring about memories of camping, sitting fireside, and staring up at the starry night sky.  Let me just say that the closest I've ever been to camping is sleeping on an air mattress in my parents basement.  This is what my sister and I called "camping."  A self-proclaimed germaphobic and arachnophobic, you will find me as far away from nature as humanly possible.  Forget camping, one mosquito bite will have me swollen and needing a 10-day course of antibiotics.  I will However, a few years ago my parents bought a fire pit, and we got hooked on s'mores.  Now don't let me kid you, this is not the slightest bit like camping.  The fire pit is powered by gas and it sits atop their deck, far away from the grass and any sort of creepy crawly creatures.  These cupcakes remind me of summer nights, sitting around the fire pit with my family, laughing and reminiscing.  Hope you enjoy!         


S'more Cupcakes
Cake:
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup light sour cream
3 eggs
1 box Devil's Food Cake Mix
graham cracker crumbs


Marshmallow Filling:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup marshmallow fluff
2-3 cups powdered sugar
2 T half & half

Graham Cracker Buttercream Frosting:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 T heavy whipping cream


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin tins with cupcake liners.
2.  In a large bowl, whisk together water, buttermilk, oil, sour cream, and vanilla extract.
3.  Add eggs, one at a time, whisking to combine after each addition.
4.  Slowly add the Devil's Food Cake Mix while stirring.
5.  Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full and sprinkle with 1 tsp graham cracker crumbs.
6.  Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7.  Place cupcakes on wire rack to cool completely.
7.  To make filling:  beat cream cheese and marshmallow fluff until light and fluffy; add powdered sugar and half and half; beat until combined.
8.  After cupcakes are cooled, using an apple corer, remove center of cupcake and fill with marshmallow cream.
9.  To make frosting:  beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy; add powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and vanilla and beat until combined; add whipping cream 1 T at a time until desired consistency is reached.
10.  Pipe onto cooled and filled cupcakes.  

Source:  Adapted from Your Cup of Cake's S'more Cupcakes