The Best Samoa Cupcakes

Winter, spring, summer, fall. All these seasons are great, but perhaps my most favorite season of the year is Girl Scout cookie selling season. Many of us anxiously await that time of year when delicious Girl Scout cookies will be sold. It is a chance to stock up on favorites. As a mom of three Girl Scouts, I can safely say that one of the most popular sellers are Samoas. And with good reason. Crunchy cookies drizzled in chocolate and toasted coconut and caramel – I mean what’s not to love? That famous cookie inspired today’s recipe. I present to you The Best Samoa Cupcakes for you to try if you are obsessed with Samoa cookies.

THE BEST SAMOA CUPCAKES

What makes these cupcakes the best? Well first of all, you’ll love how they start out with a base of cake mix and pudding mix. Then there are some unexpected ingredients thrown into the chocolate cupcake, which just serve to really deepen the flavor. And of course each cupcake is topped with a Samoa cookie. So you better find a local Girl Scout and stock up on those cookies.

I’ll let you in on a little secret though. If you’re reading this and Girl Scout cookie season is over, you can still make these cupcakes with a similar cookie. Now they are not quite as amazing as Samoas, but if you’re looking for a good replica that tastes pretty great, might I suggest Keebler Coconut Dreams. You can find them at your local grocery store, and if you can’t, I’ve included a link here where you can purchase Coconut Dreams.

INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED FOR SAMOA CUPCAKES

• Devil’s food cake mix
• Instant chocolate pudding mix
• Sour cream
• Vegetable oil
• Eggs
• Coconut Extract
• Instant espresso granules
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Unsalted butter
• Cream cheese
• Powdered sugar
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• Brewed hot coffee
• Chocolate syrup
• Samoa Cookies (or Coconut Dreams)

HOW TO MAKE SAMOA COOKIE CUPCAKES

Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tins with 24 cupcake liners.

Set up your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. You can buy my favorite stand mixer here.  Beat together the cake mix and pudding mix, sour cream, oil, eggs, coconut extract, and espresso water mixture.

Beat for about two minutes on medium speed, until well combined.

Distribute the batter evenly into 24 muffin cups. I find the easiest way to do this is to use an ice cream scoop. It’s good for more than just ice cream!

Place cupcakes in the oven and bake them for 18-22 minutes. Then remove them from the oven and allow them to cool inside the muffin tins for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to fully cool on a wire rack.

As the cupcakes cool you can prepare your frosting.

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

To make the frosting, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. This process should take you  about 1  1/2 minutes.

Place room temperature butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer, starting on low, then increasing speed to medium-high. Cream them together until they are a light and fluffy pale yellow.

In a separate bowl, add 4 tablespoons of hot coffee to cocoa and stir. If the mixture is still very thick, you can add 1 more tablespoon of hot coffee.

Add the cooled chocolate and cocoa/coffee mixture to the stand mixer with the creamed butter and cream cheese.
Turn the mixer on to the lowest setting and add gradually add in confectioners sugar, 1 cup at a time. Once the sugar has become incorporated, turn the mixer on high for 1-2 minutes.

You will want to make sure the cupcakes are cool before your frost them. I used a piping bag and tips to frost my cupcakes.

Drizzle some chocolate syrup over the frosted cupcake and top with a Samoa cookie.

Hope you enjoy one of our favorite desserts!

5 from 4 votes

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The Best Samoa Cupcakes

If you are obsessed with Girl Scout Samoa cookies, you must try the The Best Samoa Cupcakes ever! All the flavor you love in Samoas. Plus, I have a swap if you can't find Samoas.

Course Cupcakes, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword cupcake recipe, samoa cupcakes

Prep Time 12 minutes

Cook Time 22 minutes

Servings 24

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1 18.25 oz package devil’s food cake mix
• 1 3.4 oz package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs lightly beaten, room temp
• 1 tsp pure coconut extract
• 1 tbsp instant espresso granules dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water

CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
• 8 oz cream cheese room temperature
• 2 cups powder sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tbsp brewed hot coffee
• Chocolate fudge drizzle
• 24 Samoa Cookies

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Line muffin tin with 24 cupcake liners.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the cake mix and pudding mix, sour cream, oil, eggs, coconut extract, and espresso water mixture.

4. Beat for about two minutes on medium speed until well combined.

5. Distribute the batter evenly into 24 muffin cups.

6. Bake for 18-22 minutes.
7. Allow cupcakes to cool inside muffin tins for 10 minutes.

8. Remove cupcakes from muffin tins and allow to fully cool on a wire rack.

9. As the cupcakes are cooling, prepare your frosting.

10. In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds. (should be about 1 1/2 minutes total)

11. Place room temperature butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer, starting on low, then increasing speed to medium-high. Cream them together until they are a light and fluffy pale yellow.

12. In a separate bowl, add 4 tablespoons of hot coffee to cocoa and stir. If the mixture is still very thick, you can add 1 more tablespoon of hot coffee.

13. Add the cooled chocolate and cocoa/coffee mixture to the stand mixer with the creamed butter and cream cheese.Turn the mixer on to the lowest setting and add gradually add in confectioners sugar, 1 cup at a time. Once the sugar has become incorporated, turn the mixer on high for 1-2 minutes.

14. Make sure cupcakes are cool before frosting.

15. Frost using a piping bag and tip and top each cupcake with one Samoa cookie.

EAT AT HOME MEAL PLANS

Have you heard about Eat At Home Meal Plans? If the cost of eating out or the decision of what to make for dinner each night is stressing you out, then you must try these. When you sign up, you get access to four separate meal plans each month (Traditional, Wholesome Traditional, Slow Cooker, and No Flour/No Sugar). All you do is print the plans, color-coded grocery lists, and recipes you want for that month. Don’t worry, there are lots of options, so even picky eaters will find something they like.

Then when it is time for dinner, make that night’s recipe (choices include make-ahead, freezer meals, slow-cooker recipes, and other time-saving strategies).

That’s it! Dinner is on the table and you can enjoy a home cooked meal with the family – without the stress!

If you liked the best Samoa cupcakes ever, you’ll also enjoy:

Oreo Cupcakes Recipe

Bomb Pop Patriotic Cupcakes