Is there anything more thrilling than a batch of cupcakes that look like they’ve been woven by the finest Halloween spiders? These spiderweb cupcakes are my go-to treat when I want to impress the kids, and let’s be honest, myself too! They’re not only deliciously chocolatey but also so much fun to decorate. My little ones love helping out with the spooky designs, and it’s a great way to get into the Halloween spirit. And don’t you worry if your piping skills are a bit… ghostly (Couldn’t resist the wordplay! ), because even imperfect spiderwebs make these treats hauntingly adorable.
Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 4½oz plain flour
- 1oz cocoa powder
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 5oz caster sugar
- 5oz unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 8 tbsp milk
For the cream cheese icing:
- 2oz cream cheese
- 1oz butter, softened
- 4oz icing sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
For the chocolate icing:
- 1oz icing sugar
- 1.5 tbsp cocoa powder
Method
- Heat your oven to 350°F (Gas Mark 4). Prepare a muffin tin by placing 9 spooky-themed paper liners in the cups.
- The Cupcake. Mix the dry ingredients. Shake the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl. Add the sugar and butter, and beat them together until well blended.
- Mix in the egg and milk until the mixture is creamy and smooth. Then, pour it evenly into the paper cups.
- Place the cupcakes in the oven and let them bake for 20 to 25 minutes. They’re ready when they feel bouncy when pressed. To test for doneness, poke them with a skewer; if it comes out clean, they’re perfect!
- Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the cream cheese icing. Combine the cream cheese and softened butter in a bowl, Then, add the sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract.
- Once your cupcakes have cooled, dollop the frosting on top (making sure to leave a small gap around the sides).
- Make the chocolate icing. Whip up the chocolate icing by mixing icing sugar and cocoa powder in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of water to get it nice and creamy.
- Pop it in a piping bag (or DIY it with a plastic sandwich bag, snip the corner, and you’re good to go!).
- Design your spooky spiderwebs! Squeeze out three concentric circles on each cupcake. Using a toothpick, Make a line from the center to outwards at 1-inch intervals to create that haunting spiderweb look.
- Let them set for 20 minutes to let the icing firm up—and then enjoy your spook-tacular creations!
Recipe Tips:
- Don’t stress about perfect circles. Cobwebs are naturally a little wonky, right?
- Let the kids help with the piping—they’ll love the creepy creativity!
These cupcakes are sure to be a hit at any Halloween gathering, and if you’re anything like me, they’ll become an annual tradition!