Hot Chocolate Cupcakes!

So my grandmother asked me to make some cupcakes for her karaoke group that usually meets on Mondays. So while looking through Family Circle magazine this season, I spotted this recipe and thought it would be perfect for grandma's get-together! Also great for celebrating the holiday season too!

Now the recipe below makes 6 cupcakes... yes, only 6. So I had to double, triple, quadruple up on the ingredients! You might have to too!

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2oz semi sweet bakers chocolate, melted and slightly cooled
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening (NOTE: I used butter shortening thinking it would be better for taste, but the vegetable shortening would probably make the frosting white, rather than yellowish)
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons milk or water
1 1/4 cups mini marshmallows
3 candy canes

Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line indents of a standard-size 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.

2. Cupcakes. In medium-size bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

3. In large bowl, with mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy, 2 minutes. Slowly mix in 2 oz melted semi sweet bakers chocolate. Beat in eggs and vanilla until fluffy, 1 minute. On low speed, beat in flour mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fill each cupcake liner two-thirds full (about 3 tablespoons of batter per liner).

4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove cupcakes from pan to wire rack; let cool.

5. Topping. In medium-size bowl, with mixer on low speed, beat confectioners sugar, shortening and milk or water until smooth. Spread over cupcakes, about 2 tablespoons for each. Top each cupcake with 8 or 9 mini marshmallows. With a serrated knife, cut wrapped candy canes into 2-inch pieces. Unwrap and tuck a piece into each cupcake.

All in all the cupcakes were a hit with the singing old folks! I made 24 cupcakes, and NONE of them came back in the carriers! I got brownie (or in this case cupcake) points with grandma and I also got to try out a new recipe! Happy Holidays with these yummy bad boys!