Hostess Cupcakes from Scratch

   By MissingMinnesota  Mar 20, 2013
7

The recipe for these scratch hostess cupcakes is one of my favorites to make. This can be done in cake form, or in cupcake form, or both in this case! It seems like there are a lot of steps to this, but they really do come together fairly quickly. Plus, the end result is SO worth the work!

So start by sifting all the dry cake ingredients together.

Next pour that into your mixer along with the canola oil, coffee, and milk. Mix it until it is fully combined. Next add the eggs and vanilla, and mix on medium speed for 3-5 minutes. Prep your pans by lining your cupcake tins with liners and then spraying with cooking spray. Spray your 8 inch cake pan with cooking spray, and then line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper and spray that too. That is the single best piece of cake baking advice I have ever read or received. Your cakes will come out of the pan EVERY time, none of that sticking to the bottom, half coming out half staying in business. Nope. Not for us.

Fill the cupcake tins (all 24!) about 2/3 of the way full.

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

Pour the rest of the batter into the cake pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes (for the cupcakes), and about 25 minutes for the cake. Begin testing 5 minutes prior to the listed time with a toothpick, and remove the (cup)cakes from the oven when the tester comes out clean. Let them cool for 5 minutes in the pans, and then carefully remove from the pan and let cool completely on wire racks.

Start you filling next by creaming the soft butter in your mixer, and then adding 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Add in your vanilla and 1 TBSP of cream. Mix this until well combined, and then add in the last 1/2 cup of powdered sugar and 2 TBSP of cream in batches, alternating each one. Scrape down the sides of the mixer as necessary. When this is fully mixed together beat in the marshmallow cream. Put the filling into a baggie or icing bag fitting with a filling tip.

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

Poke the tip into the cupcakes and gently pipe some filling into them, moving up and down as you do it. You want about 2-3 tsp of filling to end up inside the cupcakes. If you can’t quite get that much, don’t worry. Every little bit is good!

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

When all the cupcakes are filled, carefully slice your cake in half. I use a serrated bread knife, slowly slice about 1 inch into the cake all the way around in the middle, and the continue the cut while turning the cake. To remove the top, I use two bread knives and lift the top off carefully.

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

Pipe the remaining filling onto the cake, staring with the outer circle and working your way in.

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

Reassemble the cake, and start putting together your ganache. To do that, heat your cream and butter to almost boiling, and then pour it over the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is melted, and then mix in the vanilla.

Dip your cupcakes in to the ganache, coating each one.

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

If there are any little holes in the middle from the filling tip, take a spoon and pour a small amount of ganache into it to make it even. Pour the remaining ganache over your cake and gently spread it evenly, letting a little bit fall over the sides.

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateveverYouDo.com

Refrigerate until the ganache sets. It took mine about 30 minutes.

While the ganache is setting, prepare your icing by placing the butter, milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a mixer and beating until it is smooth. Place that into another piping bag fitted with a small tip. When the ganache is fully set, pipe on the little hoop designs, or whatever design you want, onto each cupcake.


Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateveverYouDo.com

I am horrible at icing designs. If you could see the top of this cake, you would laugh. I need lessons from Julia!

Scratch Hostess Cupcakes from OrWhateverYouDo.com

From Scratch Hostess Cupcakes
 
 
 
 
Serves: 10-12
 

 

This is a decadent from scratch recipe for my version of the Hostess cupcake and cake. This will make 2 dozen regular sized cupcakes plus one 8″ cake. If you would like all cupcakes it will make 2.5-3 dozen depending on how full you fill your liners. All cake and it would make 4 – 8 inch rounds. See notes below for further details.
Ingredients
  • Cake:
  • 2 cups cake flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ¾ cup cocoa powder
     
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 1 cup hot strong coffee 
     
  • 1 cup 2% or whole milk
  • 2 lg eggs
     
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • Filling:
  • 4 TBSP butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 3 TBSP heavy cream
  • 1 cup marshmallow cream
  • Ganache:
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 TBSP butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • Icing:
  • 1 stick butter, salted
  • 2 TBSP milk
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ tsp vanilla
 
 

 

Instructions
  1. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, and sugar. In the bowl of a large mixer, combine dry mixture with oil, coffee, and milk. Mix until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla and beat on medium speed for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Bake in a pan lined with cupcake liners and then sprayed with cooking spray. Fill liners ⅔ of the way full. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes in the pan, and then remove from the cupcake tins and let cool completely.
  3. Make filling while your cupcakes cool by creaming the butter and adding ½ cup of the powdered sugar. Add vanilla and 1 TBSP of cream. Beat until well combined, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add last ½ cup of powdered sugar and remaining 2 TBSP of heavy cream alternating between the two and mixing well between each. Beat in the marshmallow cream last.
  4. Place the filling in a piping bag with a filling tip, and poke into center of completely cooled cupcakes, moving up and down as you gently squeeze approximately ½ – 1 TBSP of filling into each cupcake. If you are making a cake as well, cut the cake in half after it is completely cooled, and pipe filling onto the middle of the cake and reassemble.
  5. To make the ganache, heat your heavy cream and butter until almost boiling. Pour over chocolate chips in a metal bowl and stir well until the chocolate is completely melted. Add the vanilla and stir to combine.
  6. Dip the filled cupcakes into the ganache to coat. Pour the remaining ganache over the top of the cake and spread evenly, letting a little bit spill down the sides. Place the cupcakes/cakes in the refrigerator until the ganache is set, about 30 minutes.
  7. To make the icing, beat the butter, milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and fully combined. Place into a piping bag (or a baggie!) with a small tip attached, and pipe loops onto each upcake after the ganache is fully set.
 

 

 

 NOTES:

  • As is, this recipe makes 24 cupcakes and 1 – 8 inch round.
  • You can make all cupcakes if you would rather.
  • It will make approximately 3 dozen depending on how full you get the tins.
  • You can also make ALL cakes. It will make 3 or 4 – 8 inch rounds, also depending on how thick you make them.
  • If you DO choose to make all cakes, I suggest doubling the fillingrecipe to account for the additional real estate you need to fill.
  • If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

 

Make a Comment

 
SHARE
Comments
mamamitch2010 by mamamitch2010 | Greenville, AL
Apr 03, 2013

Thank you so much for the recipe. I love these little cakes. Now I can have them without the preservatives.

eiafearless by eiafearless | Memphis, TN
Apr 02, 2013

Wow I have got to try this recipe.This looks so delicious and bet my family will enjoy.

VANE82 by VANE82 | douglasville, GA
Mar 29, 2013

Wow! So yummy great recipe!

Megstar by Megstar | HURST, TX
Mar 28, 2013

Who knew? This is brilliant! Thank you!!!

Mininoesmivida by Mininoesmivida | SAN DIEGO, CA
Mar 27, 2013

It looks so delicious! I would make it as a birthday cake for my son.

anointedone70 by anointedone70 | CLARKSVILLE, FL
Mar 23, 2013

Thanks for the recipe, I love Hostess cupcakes!

RoyalT by RoyalT | NEW YORK, NY
Mar 20, 2013

YUM! I can't stop looking at these delicious photos. It still cracks me up that my friends argue over Tasty Cakes v Hostess. Thank you for the recipe!