Spooky Halloween Cupcakes

So today my mum asked me if I would mind making some cupcakes for her to take into work tomorrow, and of course I happily agreed. Now most Halloween cupcakes I see are gorgeous to look at but I personally wouldn't want to eat, due to the vast quantity of fondant icing used. So I decided to go for a simple yet chic take on the Halloween cupcake. 

Ingredients:

4oz/125g butter

4oz/125g caster sugar

3oz/100g self raising flour

1oz/25g cocoa

2 medium eggs 

1tsp vanilla extract

Buttercream:

5oz/125g unsalted butter

10oz/250g icing sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

Orange gel food colouring
Piping Nozzle
Piping Bag

Optional:

Popping Candy

Halloween Cupcake Decoration Kit

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 160° C fan , 180°C , 350°F/ gas mark 4.

Put 12 muffin cases into a muffin tray.

Cream together the butter and sugar, then gradually add the eggs, about a tablespoon at a time and beat after each addition.

Mix in the vanilla extract. 

Using a large metal sieve sift the flour and cocoa into the bowl then gently fold the flour and cocoa into the mixture until thoroughly mixed.

Carefully spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases, filling them to about two thirds full.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the cupcakes are golden and slightly raised.

To check they are cooked insert a skewer into the centre of one of the cakes – it should come out clean. If the mixture is stuck to the skewer return the cakes to the oven and cook for a further 5 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and leave in the tins to cool for approx 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Whilst the cakes are cooling make the buttercream, place butter in a large mixing bowl, and beat until soft. Gradually sift in the icing sugar mixing well after each addition.

Then add the food colouring a little at a time to the buttercream until you get the colour you desire.

Then place the buttercream into a piping bag and pipe your preferred design onto your cupcakes.

For the final touches add some popping candy to leave a little surprise for the cupcake eater, and use halloween decorations if you wish.

And there you have some spooky halloween cupcakes! 

I am tempted to make some different ones with fondant icing just to practice the technique of using that particular icing. Have you made any baked goodies for Halloween this year? If so I'd love to hear what you've made in the comments below.

Hope you have a ghoul filled Halloween!

Chloe xo