Rocky Road Cupcakes

Recipe and photo from: Paula Deen

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup cocoa powder
¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
½ cup mini marshmallows
½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup almonds, loosely chopped

For the Chocolate Meringue Frosting:
2 egg whites
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons cocoa powder
18 almonds, mini marshmallows, and chocolate pieces for decoration

Directions

For the Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder in a medium-sized bowl.
Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and milk until blended.
Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined.
Fold in marshmallows, chocolate chips, and almonds.
Fill cupcake liners 3/4 full.
Bake for twenty-five minutes or until a toothpick comes out dry.

For the Chocolate Meringue Frosting:
Combine the egg whites and sugar in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer.
Set mixing bowl on top of a pot of boiling water.
Whisk until sugar has reached 110 F on a candy thermometer.
Remove mixing bowl from the pot and place on mixer.
Whisk for 10 minutes on medium speed using the whisk attachment.
Whisk on high speed for another five minutes (you should see stiff glossy peaks).
Whisk in cocoa powder until just integrated.
Spoon onto cupcakes.
Top each cupcake with an almond, marshmallow, and piece of chocolate.
Toast the meringue and marshmallow using a culinary torch or placing under your oven broiler for just a quick second. Make sure to not walk away as these will toast fast.