First of all, instead of frosting, this cupcake uses a "filling". But not a filling that we normally think in the sense of fillings. This one calls for cutting the cupcake in half and making a cupcake sandwich. So, no frosting on top. Interesting.
Let's go back to the beginning. I read in another cupcake book that adding either a gelatin mix, or pudding mix to most box cake mixes makes the cupcakes moist and just have a better overall consistency. I have used this technique before, and I agree, so I decided to try it again in this recipe. The box mix I was using was Devil's Food and I added instant chocolate pudding mix to the bowl. Nothing special about these directions.
The first funny part of this cupcake was half way through the first round I realized that since I will be unwrapping all of the cupcakes to frost (or fill) them, I didn't really need to bake them in the wrapper. In fact, I shouldn't have baked them in the wrappers at all because all the wrappers are now sitting in the trash can as we speak. Waste of money right there. But that's OK, that is what this project is for! Learning, learning, always learning (and wasting money...AH! Moving on...). The next funny part was when I was watching the cupcakes in the oven they just kept growing and growing and growing in size. When they came out it was like "HOLY CUPCAKE!" But after they cooled, they all shrunk and not just back to a normal size, they shrunk about 1/8 of an inch in from the pan. Very odd. The next batch I decided to fill a little bit fuller. Again, in the oven they expanded. But this time, when I pulled this batch out they pretty much stayed large and in charge. They may have shrunk a tad, but not so much and definitely not noticeable in the pan. Oh, and with this batch I used one of those fancy silicone pans. You know, the flimsy ones that you must use 2 Ov-Gloves to take out of the oven otherwise the pan will flop and spill your cupcakes all over the floor (yea...that's happened...).
Alright so, cupcakes are baked..time for frosting! I used store bought frosting for this recipe just because it also called for marshmallow cream so I figured since the recipe called for it to be doctored up already, I would save myself some time. :-) I mixed the marshmallow cream and vanilla frosting together and to work, I went.
It broke my heart to unwrap all of those cupcakes and throw away the wrappers. I mean, I know they are just wrappers, and they are not THAT expensive, but still...:-( (I know...get over it!)
I cut each cupcake in half, spread the "filling" in between the two halves and put the top back on. Now according to the recipe that is it. The cupcake should be finished. I don't know about you, but looking at a cupcake without SOMETHING on the top looks funny to me. So, I sprinkled some powdered sugar on top of each cupcake. The picture in the book looks like there might be cocoa powder or some other kind of chocolate powder on top of the cupcakes, but the recipe doesn't say anything about this and since I didn't have any cocoa powder in my house, the powdered sugar was the next best thing (and much prettier I think). AND a little trick my mother-in-law taught me (since I don't have a sifter) is to use a strainer to help sift ingredients. So I just plopped some powdered sugar in my strainer and shook it (like a Polaroid picture.. oh yea OutKast!) over each cupcake and it worked perfectly!
Now for the taste test. These cupcakes tasted pretty good. But, I have to admit the middle was a bit squishy. Not so squishy that I wouldn't eat them, and not squishy like they weren't cooked all the way through. But, just....squishy. ("I shall call him Squishy and he shall be mine and he shall be my Squishy." Gotta love Dory.... I digress..) I'm not sure if it's because I used the chocolate pudding and it made the cupcakes too moist, or maybe it was the filling (although it was only on the cupcake for a few minutes before I ate it). Or, maybe I should have used regular chocolate cake mix instead of Devil's Food Cake (even though that is what the recipe called for). Either way, the taste was good. Consistency, not my fav.
Here is a link the recipe online. Chocolate Whoopie Pie Cupcakes
And here are my photos!
Happy Baking!!
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