Halloween Cupcakes for Parties or School
Recipes for Frightfully Easy and Delicious Cupcake Treats
Oct 19, 2009
Halloween will soon be here. In fact, it’s looming on the horizon, and the closer Halloween gets, the more moms, as well as a few dads, begin wondering what to serve at parties, give to trick-or-treaters, or provide for their children’s holiday school festivities. Jack-o-Lantern and Coconut Owl cupcakes are the answer. Moreover, not only are these desserts good to eat, they’re also fun to make, so the kids will enjoy helping Mom (or Dad) in the kitchen.
Recipe for Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- Water as per package directions
- 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Frosting Ingredients:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 4 ounces softened cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons softened butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons half-and-half (fat-free may be substituted)
- Food coloring (orange or red and yellow)
Decoration Ingredients:
- Black decorator gel or icing
- 24 small green gumdrops
Cupcake Preparation:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place paper baking cups in 24-count muffin tin or two 12-count muffin tins.
- Combine all ingredients in large bowl.
- Beat according to package directions.
- Fill muffin cups two-thirds full.
- Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool approximately 5 minutes then remove from muffin tin.
Frosting Preparation:
- Combine powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter or margarine, and half-and-half.
- Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy
- Tint mixture with either orange food coloring or by combining red and yellow to make orange.
- Beat until well mixed.
Directions for Decorating Cupcakes:
- Frost each cupcake.
- Use black decorator gel or icing to draw Jack-o-lantern face on each cupcake (create different expressions, for example, some smiling, some frowning, etc).
- Place green gumdrop on the top of each cupcake to create the pumpkin’s stem.
- Store in refrigerator in covered container.
Recipe for Halloween Coconut Owl Cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients:
- 1 box yellow or white cake mix
- 3 egg whites
- 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon almond flavoring
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
Frosting Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon milk
Decoration Ingredients:
- 48 butter-rum-flavored hard candies with center holes (yellow or orange round candies with center holes can also be used)
- Milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate pieces
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 24 whole cashews
Cupcake Preparation:
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine all cupcake ingredients, except coconut, in a large bowl.
- Beat according to cake-package directions.
- Slowly stir in coconut.
- Fill paper-lined muffin tins two-thirds full of mixture.
- Bake 19 to approximately 22 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool before icing.
Frosting Preparation:
- Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
- Beat at medium speed until creamy (Scrape bowl as needed).
- Frost cupcakes.
Directions for Decorating Cupcakes:
- Place two butter-rum candies on each cupcake to form the owl’s eyes.
- Dip bottom of a chocolate chip into frosting then place in the center of the candy to from the center (iris) of the eye.
- Arrange almonds above the eye to create feathers.
- Use a cashew to create the owl’s beak.
- Store in refrigerator in a sealed container.
Tips for Ease in Handling Cupcakes
If the crumbs stick to the frosting while decorating the cupcakes, spread a thin layer of frosting over the cupcake, let stand until set then continue frosting.
These cupcakes will be an instant hit at any Halloween party or school event and enjoyed by ghosts, goblins, and ghouls of all ages. Just set them out on a table and watch these yummy treats mysteriously vanish.
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Reference:
Recipes adapted and modified from Land O’ Lakes recipes, retrieved October 18, 2009 from landolakes.com
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