Description
These spooky and fun chocolate cupcakes are decorated like spiders with candy eyes and licorice legs—perfect for Halloween parties.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (plus more for frosting)
- 1/2 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Black food coloring
- Candy eyes
- Black licorice strings or pretzel sticks (for legs)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
- In another bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.
- Gradually combine wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.
- Stir in hot water until batter is smooth and slightly thin.
- Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Let cupcakes cool completely before decorating.
- To make frosting: beat butter until creamy, gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in black food coloring and vanilla extract.
- Frost cupcakes generously and decorate with candy eyes and 8 licorice or pretzel legs per cupcake.
Notes
- Use red or green candy eyes for variety.
- Chocolate ganache can replace buttercream for a richer topping.
- Add cinnamon or pumpkin spice for a fall twist.
- Mini marshmallows or frosting dots can replace candy eyes.
- Mini cupcakes make great bite-sized treats.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg