- May 19, 2024
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With the holiday season approaching, there are so many opportunities for fun decorative sweets.
Halloween is one of my favorites because you get to transform into something different, something from a dream or fantasy world. But people are not the only ones that get to dress up. You can dress up your cupcakes to represent something sinister as well.
Last week I was enlisted to bake for a costume party, and I knew my cupcakes needed to be in costume also.
My first thought was to do something with eyeballs or brains, but when I thought about the time constraints associated with that baking day, I decided I better go with something quicker.
I decided on to put a twist on one of my childhood favorites: Dirt cupcakes, which are chocolate cupcakes and chocolate frosting topped with Oreo crumbles and gummy worms.
WARNING: This is a rich treat and a messy decorating process.
(If you are short on time, you can skip the baking from scratch and use a box cake mix and box frosting. Skip down to the decorating instructions if this is what you choose.)
Chocolate cupcakes
What you need:
2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
What to do:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two regular size cupcake pans with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on low speed, combine the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the eggs, half-and-half, oil and vanilla and beat on medium speed for two minutes. Stir in the boiling water until fully combined.
Fill the cupcake liners three-quarters full with batter and bake until the cupcakes spring back when touched with your finger, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the pans for a few minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Chocolate frosting
What you need:
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
3 tablespoons butter
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 to 8 tablespoons milk
What to do:
In a double boiler over hot water melt chocolate with the butter. Remove from heat and allow to cool for five minutes.
In an electric mixer add chocolate mixture and confectioners' sugar. Beat until mixture resembles chalky beads. Add vanilla and milk one tablespoon at a time until a spreadable consistency is reached.
Beat until fluffy, adding more milk if necessary.
Dirt/worm decorations
What you need:
1 box Oreo cookies
1-2 bags of gummy worms
What to do:
Place two rows of Oreo’s in a large sealable bag. Crush cookies and transfer to a small bowl.
Dip frosted cupcakes, frosting down, into the bowl of crushed cookies, pressing hard enough for the cookies to stick.
Top each cupcake with one gummy worm, working it into the frosting so it sticks.
