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Creepy Black Cupcakes

These spooky cupcakes are made using a simple vanilla batter infused with black food coloring, baked until golden with crackly tops. Once cooled, they are decorated with ghostly faces and edible decorations to create a fun, eerie treat perfect for parties or year-round creepy baking adventures. Their moist, tender crumb and playful designs make them a hit with kids and adults alike.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 37 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: baking
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 100 g butter softened
  • 100 g sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsp black food coloring gel preferred for intensity
  • 125 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 60 ml milk dairy or plant-based

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer
  • Muffin tin & liners
  • Cooling rack
  • Piping bags & tips

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a muffin tin with spooky-themed cupcake liners to set the stage for your creepy treats.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is fluffy, pale, and fragrant—about 3-4 minutes.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. The batter will look smooth and slightly thickened.
  4. Stir in the vanilla extract and black food coloring, mixing until the color is evenly distributed and the batter turns a deep, spooky black hue.
  5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently to combine without deflating the batter.
  6. Pour in the milk and fold everything together until the batter is smooth, glossy, and slightly pourable—like thick cake batter.
  7. Using a spoon or piping bag, fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full with the batter. This ensures space for rising and creates a nice crackly top.
  8. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes, or until the tops are cracked and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Your cupcakes will smell sweet and look beautifully risen with a slight crack on top.
  9. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and transfer them to a cooling rack. Let them cool completely for at least 15 minutes before decorating to prevent smudging your spooky faces.
  10. Once cooled, pipe ghostly faces or spooky details onto the cupcakes with icing or edible decorations. Use black icing for eyes and mouth, and add tiny edible spiders or other creepy accents for extra fun.
  11. Enjoy your creepy, fun cupcakes—perfect for parties or any time you want a little spooky sweetness in your life!

Notes

For extra spooky effect, use black icing pens or edible markers to draw faces. Make sure decorations are dry before serving to keep your creepy faces intact.