Description
Chocolate cupcakes transformed into a miniature graveyard with cookie tombstones and edible dirt. These playful Halloween treats combine rich chocolate flavors with creepy-cute decorations perfect for parties.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cupcakes:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour (210 grams)
- Use high-quality flour for the best structure.
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (25 grams)
- Dutch-processed cocoa gives a rich flavour.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder (4 grams)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (3 grams)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (226 grams, room temperature/2 sticks)
- Room temperature butter ensures proper creaming.
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (170 grams)
- 1 cup brown sugar (200 grams)
- 2 large eggs (100 grams, room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (4 grams)
- ½ cup buttermilk (114 grams, room temperature)
- The acidity adds moisture; room temp is key.
For the Ganache:
- 1 cup 33% fat heavy cream (227 grams, room temperature)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (170 grams)
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup (20 grams)
- Helps with shine and texture.
For the Frosting:
- 3 cups powdered sugar (360 grams)
- 1 cup unsalted butter (226 grams, slightly melted/2 sticks)
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (50 grams)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (4 grams)
For Decorating:
- 1 ounce Baker’s white chocolate (grams)
- 20 chocolate-coated graham crackers (such as Keebler Deluxe Grahams)
- These serve as the gravestones in your graveyard!
Instructions
- Make cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line muffin tin with black or brown liners.
- Whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, salt).
- Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Alternately add dry ingredients with milk, then stir in sour cream.
- Fill liners 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes. Cool completely.
- Decorate: Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting.
- Press cookie crumbs onto frosting to create ‘dirt’.
- Pipe ‘RIP’ or names on cookies with white gel for tombstones.
- Insert cookies into cupcakes at angles. Add gummy worms crawling out.
- Pipe green frosting grass around tombstones if desired.
Notes
- Time-saver: Use boxed cake mix and canned frosting
- Make ahead: Undecorated cupcakes freeze well for 1 month
- For gluten-free: Use GF cookies and flour blend
- Kid-friendly: Let children decorate their own tombstones
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
