Spider Web Cupcakes
Soft chocolate cupcakes topped with black glaze, white chocolate spider webs, and gummy spiders. These easy Halloween cupcakes make a fun party dessert and are great to decorate with kids.
Equipment
- 12-cup muffin pan
- Fine-mesh sieve or sifter
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Stand Mixer optional
- Ice cream scoop optional
Ingredients
For the chocolate cupcakes
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour plain flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
- 1 cup coffee warm but not hot
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 medium egg at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
For the black glaze icing
- 1⅞ cups powdered icing sugar
- 2-3 drops black food coloring
- 1 tablespoon water warm
For the spider web
- 4½ oz white chocolate
- 12 gummy spiders candy
Instructions
Make the Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 340°F (170°C). Line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set out two mixing bowls, one for the dry ingredients and one for the wet ingredients.
- In one bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix well, breaking up any large lumps of cocoa powder.1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 5 tablespoons cocoa powder
- In the second bowl, whisk together the warm coffee, white distilled vinegar, olive oil, vanilla extract, and egg until combined.1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar, 1 cup coffee, ⅓ cup olive oil, 1 medium egg, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined. The batter will be fairly thin; don't overmix.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. An ice cream scoop works well for even portions.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Test one cupcake by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the cupcakes are done. If wet batter remains on the toothpick, bake for a few more minutes and check again.
- Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before decorating.
Make the Black Glaze and White Chocolate
- Sift the powdered sugar into a mixing bowl and add the black food coloring. Gradually stir in the warm water until the glaze is thick but fluid enough to coat the back of a teaspoon. If needed, add a little more water one drop at a time until you reach the right consistency.1⅞ cups powdered icing sugar, 2-3 drops black food coloring, 1 tablespoon water
- Place the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each interval, until completely melted and smooth.4½ oz white chocolate
Decorate the Spider Web Cupcakes
- Spoon about 1 teaspoon of black glaze over each completely cooled cupcake, spreading it so the top is covered.
- Dip a toothpick into the melted white chocolate and make circles across the black glaze, beginning near the center of the cupcake and working toward the outside edge.
- Starting at the smallest inner circle, drag the toothpick outward through the white chocolate circles to the edge of the cupcake. Repeat around the cupcake to create a spiderweb pattern.12 gummy spiders
- Place one gummy spider on each finished web and serve.
Notes
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before decorating. If they are still warm, the glaze and white chocolate can soften and run.
- Add any extra water to the black glaze one drop at a time, as the consistency can change quickly.
- Gel black food coloring is useful when you want a deep color without adding too much extra liquid.
- Don't overmix the cupcake batter once the wet and dry ingredients have been combined.
- Melt the white chocolate gradually, stirring every 30 seconds to prevent overheating.
Nutrition
Calories: 324kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 162mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
