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Spooky Halloween Cupcakes

These Halloween-themed cupcakes are baked using a simple batter of flour, cocoa powder, and butter, resulting in moist, rich treats with a dark, crackled appearance. Decorated with vibrant food coloring and playful candy toppings, they offer a fun, slightly chaotic baking experience with delightfully unpredictable results. Perfect for spooky gatherings, they combine a fudgy texture with quirky, eye-catching decorations.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour can substitute gluten-free flour
  • 1/2 cup dark cocoa powder Dutch-processed for richer color
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted and slightly cooled
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup milk whole or 2%
  • few drops gel food coloring orange or black for spooky vibe
  • 1 cup cream cheese frosting for decoration
  • handful gummy worms or eyes candy toppings for spooky decorations

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric hand mixer
  • Muffin tin
  • Paper liners
  • Cooling rack
  • Piping bags & tips

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a muffin tin with orange or black paper liners to set the spooky mood.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and sugar until well combined and slightly aerated.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract with an electric hand mixer until the mixture is smooth and slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Gradually pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, adding milk in parts while mixing on low speed until the batter is thick but pourable, with a glossy appearance.
  5. Add a few drops of gel food coloring into the batter, gently swirling to create a marbled or spooky color effect without fully mixing in the color.
  6. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin liners, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising and crackling.
  7. Bake the cupcakes for 18-20 minutes, until the tops crackle and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
  9. Once cooled, pipe or spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on each cupcake, creating a spooky, messy look.
  10. Add gummy worms, eyes, or candy confetti on top of the frosting for a playful, eerie touch.
  11. Enjoy your spooky cupcakes, perfect for Halloween parties or any dark-themed gathering. Their crackled tops and playful decorations make each bite delightfully mischievous!

Notes

For extra chaos, swirl in different food colors or add edible glitter. Chill decorated cupcakes for 10 minutes before serving to help frosting set.