Today’s my birthday, so I decided to make
something sweet and delicious that appeals to my inner child (assuming I could
get my feeble brain to remember that far back). When I was a tot, my favorite
treats were Hostess Snowballs. Remember them? They were devil’s food cupcakes
with a (faux) cream filling, neon pink
marshmallow coating and a sprinkling of
sweet coconut all over. I wasn’t crazy about the texture of the rubbery pink
marshmallow, but I adored the magic combination of chocolate and coconut, and
still do. I didn’t try to recreate the Snowball here (it remains in a class by
itself), but used it as inspiration for my own birthday cupcake.
The devil’s
food cupcakes are both chocolaty and tender, while the French-style
buttercream, made with whole eggs, is rich and scented with a touch of vanilla
and dark rum. A generous handful of flaked coconut adds a sweet, nutty finish. Delightful.
Happy Birthday to me; and a very Happy New Year to you….
