Sour Cream Chocolate Cupcakes with Marshmallow Daisies

I haven't been using cake mixes in my baking as much lately as I used to. Anne Byrn's The Cake Mix Doctor is an awesome cookbook for making special treats without too much work, and I have a few favorites I always go back to, like these sour cream chocolate cupcakes. It was my daughter's birthday so we took cupcakes in to share with her preschool class.

I'm not into fussy decorating. Sprinkles are usually good enough for me. I care about putting the work into making something taste good rather than look good. But we have a little cupcake cookbook - in fact, it's Ginger's favorite car reading - that gave me the idea for these simple marshmallow daisies - perfect for a spring birthday!And of course it was the perfect excuse to finally get the cupcake carrier I've had on my wishlist for years:
The preschoolers loved them - sugar topped with sugar and more sugar!

Cupcakes:
1 package plain devil's food cake mix
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
3 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Frosting:
I made an orange buttercream frosting but you could make any favorite you like. Mine was 1/2 cup butter, about 4 cups powdered sugar, a few tablespoons orange juice, about 1 tsp orange extract, and food coloring.

Daisies:
24 gum drops
40 large marshmallows (less than 1 bag)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Combine all cake ingredients in mixing bowl and blend on low for 1 minute. Scrape sides, then blend on medium for a few more minutes until well combined. Pour into lined cupcake pans.

2. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until they spring back when lightly touched. Cool 5 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

3. For the frosting, beat butter and sugar. Add orange juice and orange extract until taste and consistency are right; add food coloring as desired.

4. For marshmallow daisies, first frost cupcakes. Work quickly so frosting doesn't harden or crust. Place a gum drop in the middle of a cupcake. Gently flatten a marshmallow so it's more oval than round and cut into thirds. Lay 5 marshmallow pieces around each gum drop like flower petals. Could NOT be easier!


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