Easy Smarties Cupcakes

Name: Easy Smarties Cupcakes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 190 g Butter, softened; 190 g Caster sugar; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract; 4 Medium Eggs; 150 g Self-raising flour; 40 g Cocoa powder; 300 g Milk chocolate; 12 Smarties

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These chocolate Smarties cupcakes are a nostalgic classic that both kids and adults will love. They're easy to make with simple ingredients and they take just 20 minutes of prep time!

pile of nestle smarties cupcakes with chocolate on top

Calling all '90s babies! Who remembers these iconic Nestle Smarties cupcakes?!

I'm on a bit of a cupcake roll right now and it only felt right to include a Smartie version since they were one of my favourite treats as a child. Smartie cupcakes are essentially just basic chocolate cupcakes with milk chocolate and a Smartie on top.

If I remember correctly, the original Nestle ones that were sold back in the day were a mini version, but I thought I'd just go crazy and make mine full-sized. I hope you like them!

For any beginner bakers reading this, I've written detailed ingredient notes, step-by-step instructions and top tips to help you achieve success on the first try. If you're more experienced in the kitchen and just want the basic recipe, you can jump straight to the recipe card at the end of the post. Enjoy!

Ingredients

Butter: Softened butter is best for baking- you can use salted or unsalted, depending on what you prefer. Cut it into cubes then let it sit out at room temperature for 60 minutes before you begin making the cupcakes. Baking spread and margarine would also work well in this recipe.
Sugar: I like to use caster sugar in my cupcakes because of the finer texture but you can also use granulated white sugar if you like. Caster sugar is also known as superfine sugar in the USA.
Vanilla extract: To enhance the chocolate flavour. You can also add 1 teaspoon of cold coffee to help enhance the chocolate flavour.
Eggs: I used 3 medium eggs.
Self-raising flour: If you're not familiar with self-raising flour, it's just plain/all-purpose flour with baking powder already added to it. It's also known as self-rising flour. If you don't have any to hand, just use regular flour and add 1+½ teaspoons of baking powder to the recipe separately.
Cocoa powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder is best for a true chocolate flavour.
Milk chocolate: For topping the cupcakes with. You'll need 250g-300g, depending how thick you want the chocolate layer to be.
Smarties: We couldn't have Smartie cupcakes without these now, could we?! You'll need 1 for each cupcake (12 in total) so a small tube will do just fine.

Equipment

Food scale: I don't include cup measurements for most of my recipes because they're not super accurate for baking. Always use a digital food scale for reliable results.
Mixing bowls: A medium bowl for mixing and a small heatproof bowl to melt the chocolate in.
Utensils: You'll need a wooden spoon for mixing plus a couple of smaller spoons or an ice cream scoop to transfer the cake mix into the cases.
Cupcake tin and cases: A 12-hole cupcake tin or two 6-hole tins, and 12 paper cases.
Piping bag: For piping the chocolate on top of the cupcakes. This is not totally necessary, and you can spread it on with a spoon if you prefer, but the piping bag will make it easier and neater.

How to make Smarties cupcakes step by step

Step 1: Preheat your oven 160°C (or 140°C if you're using a fan oven). Line a cupcake tin with 12 paper cases.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, mix together 190g of softened butter and 190g of caster sugar until soft and fluffy. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Step 3: Add 4 medium eggs to the bowl along with 150g of self-raising flour and 40g of cocoa powder. Mix well until you have a smooth but thick cake batter.

Step 4: Divide the cake mix evenly between the 12 cupcake cases and bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Step 5: Baking these cupcakes at the lower temperature will help them to rise slowly and evenly but if they do develop a dome, you can gently press on them while they're still warm to make them flat. After 5 minutes or so, transfer them to a wire rack to cool.

Step 6: Once the cupcakes have cooled, melt 300g of milk chocolate for the topping. Let it cool for a few minutes.

Step 7: Transfer the milk chocolate to a piping bag and squeeze some onto each cupcake. Gently shake the cakes to help spread the chocolate out evenly.

Step 8: Top each cake with a Smartie while the chocolate is still wet.

pressing smarties into the melted chocolate

Step 9: Let the cupcakes sit at room temperature for an hour or two until the chocolate has hardened then enjoy!

Top tips

Make sure to bake at 160°C as this will help them to bake with flatter tops. If they've domed, you can gently press down on the tops while they're still warm out of the oven. This will give them that authentic Nestle Smartie cupcake look!
Use a piping bag to top the cupcakes with the milk chocolate. This will make it easier and neater.
If you find your cake mix is a little dry, you can add a small splash of milk to help loosen it. If it's curdled, add more flour to help it come together again.

FAQs

Are Smarties cupcakes discontinued?

Yes, the original Nestle cupcakes were discontinued back in the day. I couldn't find out the exact year they stopped being sold but I haven't seen them in supermarkets for many, many years now. This homemade version is the best replacement and is sure to bring back lots of nostalgic feelings!

How do I make the chocolate layer flat?

Having a flat chocolate layer relies on having flat-topped cupcakes. Bake them very low and slow as per the recipe, and/or gently press on the cupcakes while they're still warm. Make sure to keep the cupcake case on when you add the chocolate topping, as it will help to hold the shape.

How long do Smarties cupcakes last?

They'll taste best if eaten within 3 days. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place such as a kitchen cupboard.

Can I freeze them?

Yes! These cupcakes are perfect for freezing. You can pop them into airtight containers and freeze for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat them, transfer them to a wire rack or plate and let them sit out at room temperature for an hour or two. Once thawed, do not refreeze.

More Smarties desserts:

I hope you like these chocolate Smarties cupcakes. If you make them at home, please let me know how you get on by leaving a comment or rating below. Enjoy!