Spooky Halloween Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, shaken, at room temperature
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons hot water
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Icing
- 12 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 6 tbsp milk
- 1 teaspoon
- 1 tbsp extract
- 1 pinch salt
- Orange gel food colouring (about 6 drops)
- Orange and yellow SMARTIES or SCARIES
- Mini KIT KAT
Directions
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and 2 sugars on high speed until fluffy, approximately 4 minutes.
Lower the speed to medium, add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, yogurt, and water. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
On low speed, add the buttermilk mixture and the flour mixture alternately in thirds to the mixer bowl, beginning with the buttermilk mixture and ending with the flour mixture. Mix only until blended. Fold the batter with a rubber spatula to be sure it’s completely blended.
Divide the batter among the cupcake pans (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes, remove from the pans, and allow to cool completely before frosting.
Icing
In a small bowl, beat together butter, sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt until light and fluffy, and add orange gel food colouring until incorporated. Top cupcakes with icing, and decorate with your favourite Nestlé minis.