Black Chocolate Halloween Cupcakes

Although Halloween may look a little different this year, try these festive cupcakes to keep the Halloween spirit alive in your home - with or without your usual celebrations!

BLACK CHOCOLATE HALLOWEEN CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened black cocoa powder*

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup water

1 cinnamon stick

Directions:

1- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2- Place 1 1/2 cup water and 1 cinnamon stick in small sauce pan. Simmer over medium heat.

3- In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix together and set aside.

4- In large liquid measuring cup, measure milk and oil, then add eggs and vanilla. Beat well with hand mixer then slowly add 1 cup hot cinnamon/water while mixing with hand mixer.

6- Add wet ingredients to flour mixture and stir until smooth.

7- Place cupcake liners in cupcake pans. Using cookie scoop or spoon, pour batter into cupcake liners evenly. (Makes about 48 mini-cupcakes, 24 cupcakes.)

8- Bake for 12-25 minutes, until top centers bounce back when gently touched. Let cool.

TO FROST:

Use frosting recipes below, decorate as stated below:

Spider Web Cupcake

1- Frost top of cupcake with Black Chocolate Frosting (recipe below).

2- Place White Vanilla Frosting in disposable piping bag or ziplock bag. Cut small tip off piping bag or one corner of a ziplock bag.

3- Pipe a pinwheel of white frosting on top of the black frosting. Using a toothpick, start from the center and pull the frosting out to the edges in the shape of an asterisks. Place plastic spider on top, and voila…Halloween Festive is ready to enjoy!

Ghost Cupcake

Using plain circle piping tip, pipe White Vanilla Frosting on top of cupcakes in the shape of a ghost. Use mini chocolate chips or chocolate frosting for eyes.

BLACK CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Ingredients:

3-4 oz Dark Chocolate, melted

1 stick butter, room temperature

1 lb powdered sugar

½ cup Black cocoa powder*

¼ tsp Black food coloring gel

½ tsp vanilla extract

¼ - ½ cup cream (the liquid quantity is based on consistency)

Directions:

1- Melt chocolate in microwavable bowl in microwave: Start with 1 minute, and continue to warm in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring after each. Stop when most of the chocolate is melted but there are still a few small solid pieces of chocolate in the melted chocolate. Mix vigurously until all chocolate is melted and smooth. Let sit and come to room temperature for a few minutes.

2- Add butter and beat until combined.

3- Beat in powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream. Add cream a little at a time until desired consistency. Beat for 3 minutes until frosting is fluffy and delicious.

WHITE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Ingredients:

1 stick butter, room temperature

1 lb powdered sugar

½ tsp vanilla

¼ - ½ cup cream (the liquid quantity is based on consistency)

Directions:

1- Combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream in a bowl with a hand mixer. Add cream a little at a time until desired consistency. Beat for 3 minutes until frosting is fluffy and delicious.

*Black Cocoa Powder can be ordered on Amazon.

Lisa Boyd – Baker Boyd’s Batch

Cooking Classes – Recipes – Baked Goods

Follow on Instagram: @BakerBoydsBatch

Latest info and classes: www.bakerboydsbatch.com

Contact: bakerboydsbatch@gmail.com