Cupcakes: The World's Most Perfect Food

We have 4 children.  With 4 kids, reasons to celebrate are endless.  One day it could be someone getting their braces off, while another day it could be getting a good grade on a project.  This week in our house, it was my youngest getting invited to a FEA (Future Educators of America) conference. Honestly, it was just the excuse I needed, we have been stuck in this house with a foot of snow around us and a treat would bring a few smiles I was sure.  And who could turn a cupcake down?  So I pulled out a recipe that was an oldie but definitely a goodie.  Rocky Road cupcakes, it's a combo of my family's favorite chocolate cake recipe and your standard rocky road toppings.

And yes, it tastes as good as it looks.  Here's the recipe...your welcome!

Rocky Road Cupcakes

For cupcakes:

One box of Devil's Food cake mix (I always use Duncan Hines)

One small box of instant chocolate pudding

3 eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 cup vegetable oil

one cup of chocolate chips (I use milk but you can use semi sweet chips too)

Line 2 cupcake pans with paper liners and preheat oven to 350.  Combine first 6 ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix with a hand mixer on medium until well combined.  Fold in chips until they are distributed through out batter.  Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full and bake according to directions on the back of the cake mix box.

For Topping:

                                                                                  1/4 

1/2 cup of  butter                                                      1/2 tsp vanilla 

1/3 cup evaporated milk                                           about 1 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup Hersey's unsweetened cocoa                         about 1 cup of mini marshmallows

4 cups of powdered sugar

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small sauce pan, stirring until butter melts.  Bring to a boil stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla and salt, stir until well combined.  Once the cupcakes are baked and still warm, take 5-6 marshmallows and press them into the top of the cupcake, quickly pour the fudge topping over top until all the marshmallows are covered, sprinkle with pecans.  Repeat until all the cupcakes are complete.   Enjoy, seriously ENJOY!

Hope you give these babies a try, they really are something special.

In the mean time, be kind to each other,

xoxo,  Mickey