Curly Q Cupcakes

Remember Hostess Cupcakes? I don't remember loving them but, I did love the little curlyQ on the top! I just made chocolate cupcakes with a cream filling and a chocolate frosting with the little icing do-dad. These taste better and my girls think they're super cute too. 

       I just used a Dark Choc  Boxed Cake Mix - make according to package directions

Filling:
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c confectioners’ sugar
3/4 c marshmallow creme
1 1/2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp heavy cream

Frosting:

1/4 c heavy cream
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened

For the filling: In a medium bowl, beat the butter with the confectioners’ sugar, marshmallow fluff and 1 1/2 tablespoons of the heavy cream at medium speed until fluffy. Transfer all but 1/2 cup of the filling to a decorating bag . Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon of heavy cream into the remaining filling and reserve for piping the tops of the cupcakes.

Using a melon baller I scooped out some of cupcake to have room for filling (reserve these tops). Insert the tip of the decorating bag  and squeeze lightly to fill with cream. Set tops back on them.

For the frosting: Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan until steaming. Add finely chopped chocolate and let stand for 5 minutes. Add the butter and stir until smooth. Let cool a minute then spread the top of each cupcake with the frosting.

Spoon the reserved filling into a decorating bag fitted with a very small plain tip and pipe curly Q on each cupcake. Refrigerate the cupcakes for at least 10 minutes to set the frosting.

Makes 12 cupcakes!

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