Mirage Recipe
Prep: 45 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Serves: 12 cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes, chocolate pudding, and gummy worms, oh-my! These treats are kid-friendly dessert heaven. Worms & Dirt is a classic recipe that kids across the country have enjoyed for decades, and this year we’ve put it onto cupcakes. Mirage Margarine’s chocolate cupcakes are moist, rich, and decadent – they make the ultimate base for the extra goodies in these treats (like the tasty chocolate pudding piped into the cupcakes for a gooey surprise). The chocolate cream cheese frosting adds a little bit of tang, balancing out all of the chocolatey decadence. With a sprinkle of chocolate cookie crumble and gummy worms to top these cupcakes off, the ultimate summer treat has been made. Enjoy these Worms & Dirt cupcakes at your kid’s birthday party, on a warm summer evening, or as a fun nostalgic treat any time of year.
For more kid-friendly baking inspiration, visit @mirage_margarine on Instagram.
Ingredients
Chocolate Cupcakes
3/4 cup
all-purpose flour
2/3 cup
cocoa powder
1 tsp
baking powder
1 tsp
baking soda
1 tsp
salt
1/3 cup
Mirage Margarine (room temperature)
1 cup
granulated sugar
2 large
eggs (room temperature)
2 tsp
vanilla extract
1/2 cup
buttermilk (room temperature)
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
1/4 cup
milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup
Mirage Margarine (room temperature)
4 oz.
cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup
powdered sugar
1/4 cup
cocoa powder (sifted)
1/2 tsp
vanilla extract
1/8 tsp
salt
Decorations
1 cup
chocolate pudding (store-bought or homemade)
1 cup
oreo crumbs
1 package
gummy worms, cut in half
Directions
Chocolate Cupcakes
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the Mirage Margarine and sugar on high until fully creamed and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, then mix on medium-high until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl periodically.
Slowly stream in the buttermilk, before increasing the mixer speed to medium-high and mixing until fluffy and white, about 5 minutes. Make sure your ingredients are all room temperature during this step, and take your time with the mixing to ensure everything properly emulsifies.
Add the dry ingredients and mix on low just until incorporated. Do not overmix.
Fill the cupcake liners ¾ full and bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Heat the chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave until fully melted and smooth.
In a large bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the Mirage Margarine and cream cheese together on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the melted chocolate and mix until incorporated.
Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Mix on low for 30 seconds to bring everything together, then beat on high for about 2 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
Decorations
Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, pipe chocolate pudding into the center of each cupcake by inserting the piping tip directly into the top and squeezing gently until the cupcake feels slightly filled.
Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with the chocolate cream cheese frosting and pipe a swirl onto each cupcake.
Sprinkle the tops with Oreo crumbs to resemble dirt, then finish by placing gummy worms on top of each cupcake. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
