Chocolate Halloween Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
These chocolate Halloween cupcakes pair a tender cocoa crumb with bright orange cream cheese frosting for a festive treat that is easy to decorate and share.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature
- 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk as needed
- 1 teaspoon orange gel food coloring
Instructions
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
- Beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla.
- Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Add the dry mixture to the butter mixture in three additions, alternating with the buttermilk, and mix just until combined.
- Divide the batter among the liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tops spring back and a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool the cupcakes in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
- Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla, adding milk only if needed for a spreadable texture. Tint the frosting orange.
- Pipe or spread the frosting over the cooled cupcakes and decorate as desired.