Homemade Sno Balls-ummmmm!

My husband has never eaten a Hostess Sno Ball. I know, shocking! I, on the other hand, have had my fair share. With the news that Hostess has filed for bankruptcy, I'm sure there are people fretting over where they will get their cakey, cellophane-wrapped snacks. Worry no more! Homemade sno balls coming right up! Homemade Sno Balls Cake: ½ c plus 1 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder 1 ½ c cake flour ½ tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp baking powder 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 ½ c sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature ½ c brewed coffee ½ c milk Marshmallow coating: 1 lb sweetened, shredded coconut Pink gel food coloring (if desired) 1 ½ packets of unflavored powder gelatin (about 9 grams) ¼ c cold water 1 c sugar ⅓ c corn syrup 2 Tbs water ¼ tsp salt ½ tsp vanilla Creme filling: ½ tsp warm water Dash of salt Half of a 7 oz. jar of marshmallow fluff ¼ c shortening 2 Tbs powdered sugar ¼ tsp vanilla extract For the cake: Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and flour the wells of 2 mini-rounded cake pans. Sift the cocoa powder, cake flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder together. Set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time and beat until well combined. In a separate bowl, combine the coffee and milk. Stir half the dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Stir in the coffee/milk mixture. Add the remaining dry ingredients and stir to blend. Pour batter into prepared cake pans until ⅔ full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean, about 18 minutes. Let cakes cool completely before turning the pan over to remove them. For the marshmallow coating: Pour coconut into a bowl. Mix with a teeny bit of food coloring. Mix well to evenly tint the coconut. Set aside. Place the ¼ c of cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water, and let set. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, and 2 Tbs water. Bring to a rolling boil. Fit the whisk attachment to the stand mixer, and turn to low to break up the gelatin. Pour the corn syrup mixture into the stand mixer with the gelatin and beat on high for 4 minutes. Stop the mixer and add the salt and vanilla. Continue beating on high for another 6-8 minutes. Remove bowl from mixer. Using a spoon or an off-set spatula, dip the rounded side of the cakes into the marshmallow. Quickly roll the marshmallow-coated cake in the coconut, making sure to cover the entire marshmallow surface. Place uncoated side down on a sheet to set. For the creme filling: Combine salt and water in a small bowl. With a mixer, combine fluff, shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Beat until fluffy. Add the salt mixture, and beat until combined. Using a large plain decorator’s tip, pipe the filling into the center of each cake, from the bottom.