My name is Lindsey and my blog is Gingerbread Bagels. I love all things sweet and when you visit my blog, you’re sure to get a sugar high. 😉
When I was a kid, I was in love with Hostess Snacks. (Come on, you know you were too! ) They were so artery clogging good and I have fond memories of the glorious Sno-Ball Cupcake. A chocolate cake filled with vanilla cream, covered in marshmallow and colored sweetened flaked coconut. Pure sugar bliss.
Making The Sno-Ball Cupcakes…
Make my Black Magic Cupcakes or your favorite chocolate cake recipe or just use a box mix. But don’t use cupcake liners, just spray the cupcake pan with non-stick spray. And don’t fill the cupcakes up too much! They should look like this once they’re baked:
Once the cupcakes are done baking, begin on the marshmallow cream. This will be used for the inside of the Sno-Ball cupcakes and the outside.
In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment (a handheld mixers works fine), mix together 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened unsalted butter, two 13 ounce jars of marshmallow cream and 2 teaspoon of vanilla. So simple!
Put the marshmallow cream in a piping bag fitted with a large round decorating tip. Turn the cooled cupcake upside down, poke a hole in it with the decorating tip and squeeze the filling in. Continue doing this with all of the cupcakes.
Turn them back over and place the cupcakes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Pipe the marshmallow cream around the cupcake, starting from the bottom and working your way up. The piping doesn’t have to be perfect.
Take a knife and spread the marshmallow cream around the cupcake. If it begins to stick, sprinkle it with powdered sugar.
If you need more marshmallow cream, just make some more. Moving onto the colored coconut.
Empty a (14 ounce) package of sweetened flaked coconut into a container and put a couple of drops of pink food coloring on the coconut.
Shake it up to coat all of the coconut with the food coloring.
Pat the colored coconut down onto the cupcakes. The baking sheet of cupcakes will look messy, don’t worry.
Transfer them over to another baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put your hand around the cupcakes and press the coconut down more firmly.
Displaying The Sno-Ball Cupcakes…
Color some more coconut like you did for the Sno-Ball Cupcakes. Use a different color for the coconut. Place the coconut on a cake plate and then display the Sno-Ball Cupcakes on top.
Sno-Ball Cupcakes
Black Magic Cupcake Recipe
1 3/4 cup flour, sifted
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1/2 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed strong coffee, make sure it’s hot!
Marshmallow Cream Recipe
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 (13 ounce) jars marshmallow cream
1 (14 ounce) package of sweetened flaked coconut
Liquid food coloring – any color
For the Sno-Ball Cupcakes, you can either make my Black Magic Cupcake recipe or use your favorite chocolate cake recipe. Or a box mix works just fine too.
To make the Black Magic Cupcake Recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and kosher salt into a large mixing bowl. Mix together.
In medium sized mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup canola oil, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 2 large eggs.
Prepare the coffee maker and start brewing 1 cup of STRONG HOT coffee. It’s important that the coffee is very hot when you add it to the batter because if it isn’t, your batter will have a lot of lumps and the cupcakes will sink in the middle.
Turn the mixer of low and slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients until somewhat combined.
Slowly pour in the 1 cup of strong hot brewed coffee. Mix until barely combined.
There may be some lumps in the batter but there shouldn’t be too many. Use a spatula and give the batter a stir to incorporate it a bit more. The batter will be VERY thin, like liquid.
Pour the batter into a measuring cup.
Lightly grease the inside of the cupcake pan. Carefully pour the batter almost half way into each one. You
don’t want to fill these cupcakes as much as you typically would for cupcakes. I use a paper towel to wipe off the dripping batter after pouring each one. It can get messy!
Bake at 350 degrees for 14-15 minutes. Don’t open the oven up they’re done, you don’t want them to sink in the middle!
Cool the cupcakes in the cupcake pan for about 10 minutes. Then remove from the pan and let them cool completely on a cooling rack before filling
To make the marshmallow cream:
While the cupcakes are cooling, began on the marshmallow cream. In a large mixing bowl with the paddle attachment (a handheld mixer works fine), mix together 1 cup of softened unsalted butter and 2 (13 ounce) jars of marshmallow cream. Mix until completely combined.
Fit a piping bag with a large round decorating tip. Fill the piping bag with the marshmallow cream.
Turn the cupcake upside down and poke the decorating tip into the bottom of the cupcake. Squeeze the filling in. Continue filling all of the cupcakes, then turn them over and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Pipe the marshmallow cream around each cupcake. Start from the bottom of the cupcake and work your way to the top of the cupcake. Take a knife or small spatula and spread the marshmallow cream around the cupcake. If it starts to stick, sprinkle the cupcake with powdered sugar. Set them aside while you work on the colored coconut.
To make the colored coconut:
Put the entire package of coconut in an airtight container. Add in the food coloring, put the lid on and shake the container until all of the coconut is colored.
Press the coconut onto the cupcake to cover them in coconut. The baking sheet with the cupcakes will be messy, don’t worry.
Transfer the cupcakes to another baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Put your hand around the cupcake and press the coconut onto the cupcake.
Enjoy!
Thank you Lindsey for this super fun cupcake that makes me smile every time I look at it!
Thank you my friends for the well wishes and for keeping me in your prayers! I hope you have a beautiful week!
claudia lamascolo says
Yum these look fabulous!
Anonymous says
I saw these on Lindsey's blog and loved them too. So so cute!
Eileen says
I really wished I liked coconut because I feel like I'm really missing out on something good when I look at these!
The Mom Chef says
How very cool! I love the filling that's on the inside AND outside. And what a vibrant pink. Very cheerful and perfect for Lora. Great job Lindsey.
Amy says
I saw these on Lindsay's blog and was admiring them before :)! They are so incredibly cute, and I bet 100X better than the snowballs I had as a kid from the store!
scrambledhenfruit says
I heart sno-balls. 🙂 These are delish! 🙂
Monet says
My two favorite ladies…what a rough few months we've had…I wish we could all sit together tomorrow morning and heal together. I love you all so much. Thank you both for sharing, for creating, and for inspiring me to remember all the beauty and good in this world. Many blessings tomorrow and in the days to come this week.
Sandra says
I saw them too at her blog and I thought they are the cutest little cupcakes!
Hope you feel better soon!!!!!
Becky says
I love coconut and chocolate, too, but I never liked the "Sno Ball" cupcakes, when I was a kid.
Even back then I was a connoisseur of fine baked goods:) I' sure that I would love yours, Lindsey!
So cute and pink.
Lindsay @Eat, Knit, Grow says
Yum! Those look so delicious and pretty!!
A Thought For Food says
I have never had fresh sno-ball cupcakes! But I bet they are just delicious!
Shawn says
My only problem with the Original Sno Balls was the kinda tough marshmallow exterior. Your recipe definitely solves that problem. I can't wait to try these!
Angela@RecipesFromMyMom says
I'm also a coconut hater but I think these are so fun. Great for Easter and Lora's love of pink. All the guest posting for eachother makes me so happy to be part of the Foodbuzz and larger blogging community.
Susi's Kochen und Backen says
Lindsey, I was drooling over these sno-balls when you had your 24×24 party feature. They look so good! My kids love the original and would be ecstatic if I made your version. I will definitely have to try them. Thanks for sharing :o)
Fresh and Foodie says
Oh. My. God. I love those Hostess Sno-Balls too, but never let myself eat them. I don't think I've had one in 15 years. I totally totally totally want to make these!!!
Erin says
Oh my gosh! Blast from the past! Love these!!!
Sherry @ JustAPinch says
These are my childhood favorite! Thanks for sharing!
Kulsum@JourneyKitchen says
This sno balls look fabulous! I wonder why I never made them. Sounds fun and easy.
Anne says
I love recreating favorites from my past. These are so pretty. And I bet they taste so much better than what I remember! I'm very excited to try them!
Evan @swEEts says
Chocolate and marshmallows 🙂 My kinda cupcake! And that pink is so fun and vibrant and I have two of my fave bloggers in one place today!
Happy When Not Hungry says
Great guest post! These sno balls def remind me of my childhood! Love the bright colors too!
sara @ CaffeIna says
Oh these cupcakes are stuck in my head. I'm dreaming about them now. They are adorable, fun, and I'm sure delicious. Great guest post, girls!
Jennifer-Adventuresome Kitchen says
What a fun and whimsical dessert! And the colors are perfect for Easter too! My kids would devour these in about 30 seconds!
Georgia | The Comfort of Cooking says
Oh my gosh, these are so fun and colorful! Great post, Lindsey and Lora! 🙂 This really put a smile on my face.
Sue says
Love these! So bright and cheery!
Jamie says
Oh how I loved Sno Balls when I was a kid and now who doesn't love chocolate cupcakes and marshmallow cream? I love them! Sending huge hugs to Lora! Am thinking about you, cara! Baci!
Meagan @ Scarletta Bakes says
So cute and fun for the upcoming holiday!
Thanks for sharing – these are adorable and look delicious!!
Torviewtoronto says
beautiful delicious dessert
check out the event in my site
regards
Lizzy says
Lora, hope you're resting and recovering…special thoughts for you! xoxo
Lindsey, what beautiful cupcakes…even I could manage to ice these and make them pretty (I'm a failure with piping anything!). Another coconut lover here…I have a massive craving for one of these gems! Such a great guest post 🙂
Magic of Spice says
Lindsey these look fantastic, so Spring 🙂
Lora I hope you are doing well…
vanillasugar says
those are just so damn cute girl!
Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels says
Thank you all for the sweet comments! 😀
rosie says
lindsey- are you still out there baking. My kitchen just hasn’t been the same since you left and took all your amazing recipes with you. Does anyone have a copy of Lindsey’s red velvet and or cream cheese frosting recipes?? i have tried so many other red velvets cakes, but hers really was/is the best, and i lost the only copy i had of it.