Description
These Monster Cupcakes are a fun and spooky treat perfect for Halloween or any themed party. Rich chocolate cupcakes are topped with creamy orange-tinted buttercream frosting and decorated with playful candy eyes to create adorable monster faces.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk
Frosting
- 1 cup butter (softened)
- 3-4 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pinch salt
- 2-3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- Orange food dye
- Large and small candy eyes (for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the cupcakes.
- Prepare Muffin Pan: Line your muffin pan with themed cupcake liners to prevent sticking and make clean-up easier.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In another large bowl, cream the softened butter and white sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes, to incorporate air for a tender crumb.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Alternately add the sifted dry ingredients and milk to the creamed mixture, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat well after each addition to create a smooth batter.
- Fill Cups and Bake: Spoon the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat the softened butter in a bowl and gradually add 2 cups of icing sugar. Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and vanilla extract, then continue adding the remaining icing sugar 1/2 cup at a time until the frosting reaches your desired consistency.
- Add Color: Mix in orange food dye to the frosting until you achieve the desired vibrant color perfect for the monster theme.
- Decorate Cupcakes: Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 2D tip. Swirl the frosting over the cooled cupcakes, starting in the center and moving outward, then back in and up to create a textured effect.
- Add Candy Eyes: Garnish each cupcake with large and small candy eyes to give them a fun monster appearance.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- You can substitute milk with buttermilk for a richer flavor.
- If you don’t have a piping bag, use a zip-top bag with a small corner cut off to pipe frosting.
- Use different colors of food dye to create a variety of monster cupcake designs.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
