Description
Cookies & Scream Spider Cupcakes are a spooky and fun Halloween dessert. These chocolate cupcakes are topped with creamy frosting, a chocolate cookie ‘body’, and licorice legs to create adorable edible spiders. They’re perfect for Halloween parties and are sure to be a hit with both kids and adults.
Ingredients
Scale
- Cupcakes:
- 1 3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour (for structure)
- 2 cups Granulated Sugar (to sweeten)
- 3/4 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (for richness)
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda (for leavening)
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder (for lightness)
- 1 teaspoon Salt (to enhance flavor)
- 2 Large Eggs (room temperature)
- 1 cup Buttermilk (for moisture)
- 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil (adds richness)
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract (flavor booster)
- 1 cup Hot Brewed Coffee or Hot Water (deepens chocolate flavor)
- Frosting:
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened (for a creamy base)
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese, softened (for tangy sweetness)
- 4 cups Powdered Sugar, sifted (for sweetness and texture)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (for flavor)
- Decoration:
- 15 Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, finely crushed (to blend into frosting)
- 12 Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, whole (for spider bodies)
- Black Decorating Icing or Melted Chocolate (for legs)
- 24 Candy Eyes (for that playful touch)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare chocolate cupcake batter according to package instructions. Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full with batter. Bake according to package directions until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
- Cut the black licorice into 3-inch pieces. You will need 8 pieces per spider.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes with chocolate frosting using a knife or piping bag.
- Gently press one chocolate sandwich cookie into the frosting on top of each cupcake to form the spider’s body.
- Insert 8 licorice pieces into the frosting around the cookie to create the spider’s legs, four on each side.
- Use a small dab of frosting to attach two candy eyeballs to the front of each cookie.
- For an extra spooky effect, add orange sprinkles around the spider or use black frosting.
Notes
- For a homemade touch, make your favorite chocolate cupcake and frosting recipe from scratch.
- If licorice is too stiff, microwave it for 5-10 seconds to make it more pliable for inserting.
- For a non-edible decorative option, black pipe cleaners can be used for legs instead of licorice (remember to remove before eating).
- Cupcakes can be baked a day in advance and stored in an airtight container before frosting and decorating.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-22 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 32g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 25mg