Halloween Cupcakes

Halloween Cupcakes fun and pretty.

Halloween cupcakes are just fun to make cupcakes and the kids will love to decorate them. There are so many different way to decorate them.  These are simple Devils Food Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting with a little orange coloring. I found that a trick I snagged on the Martha Stewart site is to add sour cream to the batter and it gives it a great moist texture and taste.

  

Ingredients

3/4 cup Cocoa Power
3/4 cup hot water
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
1 1/2 cups (3 stick) unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups white sugar
4 large eggs at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream at room temperature

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line your tin with cupcake liners.



 * There are so many cute ones you can pick up these days.

Whisk your cocoa and hot water until it is smooth.
In another bowl, sift together flour baking soda, baking powder and salt.





Melt butter with sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring to combine. Remove from heat, pour into a mixing bowl. Beat on Medium low speed until mixture is cooled. This takes 4 minutes or so. 

Now add you eggs one at a time (Never rush when baking) beat the eggs one at a time until each is incorporated. Scrape down the sides prior to each egg.

Add the vanilla, then the cocoa mixture, beat on medium until well combined. Now turn the mixer down to low slowly add the flour mixture in two batches with the sour cream. Do one part flour one part sour cream one part flour one part sour cream. Beat on low until it is just combined each time.

Divide batter evenly into the lined cupcake tin, filling three quarters full.


Bake and remember to rotate the tin halfway through baking this insures even cupcakes.  Insert a toothpick into the center of the cupcakes to insure that they are done it should come out clean. Transfer the tin to a wire rack and let them cool for about 15 minutes then turn them out onto the rack to cool completely.

Use the Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe to make your frosting and add some orange food coloring. It is red and yellow mixed if no orange is available.

Adapted from Martha Stewart Cupcake recipe