SWEET POTATO-MARSHMALLOW MINI CUPCAKES

Sweet Potato-Marshmallow Mini Cupcakes image

Sweet potato casserole is a holiday side dish that transforms easily into dessert. These adorable cupcakes have the punch of familiar spices (including a little cayenne) and a topping of toasted marshmallows a perfect stand-in for frosting.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories dessert

Time 2h35m

Yield about 36 mini cupcakes

Number Of Ingredients 15

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Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes (about 12 ounces)
Cooking spray
18 marshmallows
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

Make the sweet potato puree: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roast the sweet potatoes until very tender, about 1 hour. Let cool, peel, then puree in a food processor until smooth. Set aside 1 cup of the puree for the cupcakes and reserve the remaining puree for another use.
Make the cupcakes: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line mini muffin tins with paper liners, and coat the liners and the top of the tin with cooking spray. Halve each marshmallow on the diagonal with kitchen shears; set aside.
Whisk the flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cayenne together in a large bowl. Beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in another large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and creamy. Add the 1 cup of reserved sweet potato puree, and beat until incorporated (it's OK if the batter curdles). Beat the eggs in 1 at a time. Beat in the vanilla. Adjust the mixer speed to medium-low, and beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed, until just incorporated.
Divide the batter evenly among the cups of the prepared muffin tins. Bake until the tops spring back when pressed, 18 to 20 minutes, rotating the tins halfway through. Let the muffins cool in the tins for a few minutes, then transfer them to a rack. While the cupcakes are still warm, top each with a marshmallow half, cut-side down. Let the cupcakes cool completely. (They can be cooked and cooled a day ahead and stored at room temperature in an airtight container.)
Preheat the broiler. Transfer half the cupcakes to an unlined baking sheet, and broil, rotating the sheet as needed, until the marshmallows are toasted and golden. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes. This can be done up to 2 hours before serving.