Whimsical Halloween Cupcakes Inspired By Friend's Gift
A dear friend surprised me in early September with two packages of Halloween baking cups. One features orange pumpkins with friendly smiles; the others are black with shiny silver ghosts. My friend said she thought of me the moment she saw them and simply couldn't resist. Well, I couldn't resist sharing them with you! These darling baking cups became the inspiration for Ghostly Pumpkin Cupcakes – individual pumpkin and spice cakes decorated for ghosts and goblins of all ages.
I love these whimsical little sweet treats. The cake is incredibly moist and so light it almost melts in the mouth, and their five-ounce size is the perfect serving to satisfy both kids and adults. Each is garnished with a cream cheese frosting "ghost" decorated with candy eyes, but they would be equally charming with a simple swirl of frosting and Halloween sprinkles.
Don’t save this recipe just for Halloween, though! Baking cups are available in many themes, so as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near, these pumpkin and spice cakes would be darling gifts from your kitchen when decorated for the season.
-Christy
Ghostly Pumpkin Cupcakes
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin filling)
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 3 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons Saigon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 package 5-ounce Halloween baking cups
- 1 package candy eyeballs
Adjust the oven rack to the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Add pumpkin, mix briefly, then add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. Gradually beat the flour mixture, alternately with the milk, into the creamed mixture.
Fill baking cups 2/3 full and rap each cup on the counter several times to settle the batter. Place baking cups on a cookie sheet and bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the center of the cupcakes comes out clean. Transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 6 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
- 3 to 4 tablespoons milk
- dash of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until they are well blended. Gradually add the confectioners' sugar, alternately with the milk, and the salt, beating until the frosting is thick and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla.
Divide frosting into three decorator bags – one with a large fluted tube, one with a large plain tube, and one with a small plain tube. Pipe a fluted border around the perimeter of each cupcake, leaving the center open. Using a large plain tube, pipe a mound of frosting in the center to form a ghost. Add arms using the small plain tube and garnish with candy eyes.
Yield: 16 cupcakes