Description
These Easy Halloween Cupcakes are a perfect festive treat with a moist chocolate base and creamy buttercream frosting. This simple recipe yields 12 delicious cupcakes, decorated to suit your Halloween theme with optional food coloring for fun and spooky effects. Great for parties or a fun baking project with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcake Batter
- 1.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup Unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 0.5 cup Milk
Frosting
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups Powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature when you begin baking.
- Prepare muffin tin: Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening agents.
- Cream butter and sugar: In another bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar until fluffy and light in texture to create an airy base.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate eggs one at a time into the butter mixture, mixing well after each addition, then add vanilla extract for flavor.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with milk, to maintain a smooth batter without overmixing.
- Fill cupcake liners: Spoon the batter into the lined muffin tin, filling each liner about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake cupcakes: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool cupcakes: Allow cupcakes to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare frosting: Beat softened butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar while mixing.
- Add milk and vanilla: Mix in milk and vanilla extract until the frosting reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency.
- Decorate cupcakes: Frost the cooled cupcakes using a spatula or piping bag, then add optional food coloring or decorations to suit the Halloween theme.
Notes
- You can omit cocoa powder if you prefer vanilla cupcakes instead.
- For darker color and richer flavor, use Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
- Adjust food coloring quantity in frosting to achieve desired hues.
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
