Hostess Cupcake Cookies
These Hostess Cupcake Cookies take your favorite childhood treat and turn it into soft, chocolate cookies! They are topped with sweet marshmallow and smooth chocolate ganache, and of course, the classic white swirl!
Reasons These Will Steal the Show
Cupcake in Cookie Form: All the flavor of a classic Hostess cupcake, but in a fun cookie you can devour anytime.
Childhood Favorite: Brings back those sweet memories of classic Hostess cupcakes we all loved growing up.
Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a party, Christmas treat, snack time, or a homemade gift, these cookies always impress.
Ingredients for Hostess Cupcake Cookies
Cake Mix Tip: I used a dark chocolate fudge cake mix, but any chocolate cake mix works. Adding the cocoa powder helps darken the chocolate color. Devil’s food and triple chocolate cake mix also work great!
Chocolate for Ganache: The cookie is pretty rich, so milk chocolate is the perfect balance for the ganache.
White Chocolate: I like to use white candy coating (also called candy melts or almond bark) for smooth melting and easy piping, but white chocolate chips work too.
How to Make Hostess Cupcake Cookies
There are a few steps to follow, but trust me, the end result is worth it! These Hostess cupcake cookies are a classic childhood memory worth turning into a fun cookie version.
Make the Dough: Add the cake mix, cocoa powder, vegetable oil, and eggs to a large bowl and mix with a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until a thick batter forms.
Bake and Cool: Use a medium cookie scoop (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) to scoop the cookie dough, then roll it into uniform balls with your hands. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are set. The centers will look soft, but they finish cooking as they rest on the pan for 2–5 minutes. Then transfer to a cooling wire rack to cool completely.
Marshmallow Cream
Make the Marshmallow Topping: Add the butter, powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt to a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer or stand mixer (paddle attachment) until combined and crumbly. Add the marshmallow fluff and vanilla extract, then beat until smooth, scraping down the bowl so everything mixes evenly.
Add Marshmallow Frosting: Spoon the cream into the center of the cooled Hostess Cupcake cookies. Spread it into an even circle, leaving some of the cookie exposed. Don’t frost the whole surface. Let the cookies sit for at least 10 minutes before topping with ganache.
Ganache and Swirl
Chocolate Ganache: Make the ganache by adding the chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream to a small microwavable bowl. Microwave for 30-45 seconds and stir until smooth. The ganache will seem runny. Keep stirring and heating in 10-second increments until smooth and melted.
Top with Ganache: Spoon a heaping teaspoon of ganache in the center of the marshmallow cream. Spread it out into a circular layer. Allow it to set up for a few minutes.
Melt White Chocolate: Add the white melting chocolate to a small microwavable bowl. Microwave in 20-second increments until fully melted.
Add Signature Swirl: Add the melted chocolate to a small ziplock bag with the corner barely snipped off. You can also use a piping bag fitted with a small round piping tip (size #1 or #2). Pipe the signature swirls over the top of the ganache on the cooled Hostess Cupcake cookies.
Alyssa’s Pro Tip
Don’t Overbake: Don’t wait for the centers to look done! They’ll finish baking on the cookie sheet and stay soft and perfectly delicious!
Hostess Cupcake Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookies
1 (15.25-ounce) dark chocolate fudge cake mix Duncan Hines2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder½ cup vegetable oil2 large eggs room temperature
Marshmallow Cream
½ cup softened unsalted butter2 cups powdered sugar1 pinch salt1 (7-ounce) container marshmallow creme½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Ganache and Swirl
½ cup milk chocolate chips3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream¼ cup white candy coating chocolate
Instructions
Cookies
Marshmallow Cream
Ganache and Swirl
Notes
Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature or 5 days in the fridge.
Freezing: Don’t freeze the finished cookies. The marshmallow and chocolate can turn sticky as they thaw. Instead, freeze the plain cookie base for up to 3 months, then thaw completely before adding the toppings.
Nutrition
Try These Other Nostalgic Treats!
Don’t stop here! If you liked these Hostess cupcake cookies, try these other beloved treats that bring back all the good memories. Click on the copycat recipes below.