The Hostess chocolate cupcakes are some of my favorites. The chocolate ganache on top and that little white swirl are the best. This is a copycat Hostess cupcake recipe, but with a little twist on the decorating to make them fun for Valentine’s Day or any holiday/occasion you want to celebrate LOVE!
Valentine's Love Copycat Hostess Cupcakes
What you will need
CUPCAKES
- 2 Cup sugar
- 1 ¾ Cup flour
- ¾ Cup cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 Cup buttermilk
- 1 Cup fresh-brewed coffee
- ½ Cup canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
WHIPPED CREAM FILLING
- 2 Tbsp cold water
- 1 ¼ tsp unflavored gelatin
- 1 ½ Cup chilled heavy whipping cream
- ¾ Cup powdered sugar
- 2 disposable piping bags one fitted with a number 2 tip
CHOCOLATE GANACHE
- 1 Cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ Cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 Disposable piping bag
Instructions
Cupcake Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake pan with cupcake liners
- Using a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients
- Beat in buttermilk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla until combined
- Scoop batter into cupcake liners and bake in the oven for 15 minutes
- Allow cooling completely
Filling Directions
- Using a small bowl, add the cold water
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water and allow to set for 10 minutes
- Using a small pot, add about ½ C water and place over medium to high heat
- Place the gelatin bowl over the pot
- Once stir until the gelatin is melted
- Using a standing mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form
- Beat in the gelatin mixture until stiff peaks have formed
- Scoop some of the whipped cream batter into the piping bags
- Pipe cream into the centers of the cupcakes
Chocolate Ganache Directions
- Using a small pot, heat up the heavy whipping cream over medium to high heat until slightly simmering
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl
- Allow sitting for 1 minute before whisking until smooth
Decorating directions
- Dip the cupcakes into the chocolate ganache
- Allow hardening for a few minutes
- Using the filling with the tip, pipe out the words “Love” in cursive onto the top of the cupcakes as well as the traditional squiggle