Ingredients

½cupunsalted butter,diced into 5 pieces

2ozbittersweet chocolate,60%, chopped

¾cupall-purpose flour,+ 2 tbsp

⅓cupcocoa powder,unsweetened

½tspbaking powder

½tspbaking soda

½tspsalt

2eggs,large

½cupgranulated sugar

¼cuplight-brown sugar,packed

1½tspvanilla extract

¼cupbuttermilk

¼cupsour cream

Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

12marshmallow snowmen,instructions follow

24large marshmallows

24pretzel sticks

nonpareil sprinkles,black or brown

12Reese’s chocolate bells

2orange Dots candies

Icing

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add chocolate and butter to a microwave safe bowl and heat in microwave on 50% power, in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted and smooth. Allow to cool until lukewarm, about 10 minutes.

In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract, about 1 minute. Whisk in melted chocolate mixture.

In a liquid measuring cup, measure out buttermilk then whisk in sour cream. Sprinkle ⅓ of the flour mixture evenly over the top of the batter, than whisk to combined.

Add ½ of the buttermilk mixture and whisk to combined, repeat process once more then end by dusting remaining ⅓ of flour over top and mixing just until combined.

Divide batter evenly among 12 paper lined muffin cups and bake in preheated oven 17 to 20 minutes until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in muffin pan several minutes then transfer to a wire cooling rack.

Cool completely then frost with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting and top each cupcake with one marshmallow snowman.

Using clean scissors, trim about ¼ of the bottom from 12 of the marshmallows and compress to make it smaller (to create a smaller top for the head).

Depending on the length of pretzel sticks, break them to desired length for the arms. Trim orange Dot candies into small carrot shape noses using a pairing knife (or scissors).

To assemble, use icing to stick marshmallows together (trimmed side down).

Poke 2 pretzels into the sides of the bottom marshmallows for arms.

Use toothpicks to create tiny wells for the eyes and the buttons to expose the sticky marshmallow then add 2 sprinkles for the eyes and 3 for the buttons.

Using a toothpick, poke a small hole in the marshmallow for the nose and gently press orange (Dot) nose into the hole.

Dot the bottom of Reese’s candy with icing and place on top of the snowman.