Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Monster Cupcakes

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I'm starting to see a trend lately.. gross looking food in preparation for Halloween. Now, my baby is getting a little too old to send to school with treats for his friends (I think they'd laugh at it now, in 7th grade) but it's never too late to share with y'all the fun I've had in the past. This was one of the most fun projects I had... and it was really both exciting and gross when I found the gummy goo filled bugs and spiders in the grocery store by work.. what better to decorate monster cupcakes with?

After letting the kid ask his classmates which kind of cupcake they wanted, vanilla or chocolate they voted for Vanilla and I went with my favorite Vanilla cupcake recipe

Easy One-Bowl Vanilla cupcakes

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar (can use 1-1/4 cup for a less sweeter taste)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup shortening (very soft but not melted, Crisco is best)
  • 3/4 cup half-and-half cream (or milk)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla (or use 1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract)
  • 2 large egg

Directions:

Set oven to 350 degrees F.
1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour with sugar, baking powder and salt until combined.
2. Add in the shortening cream or milk, vanilla and eggs; beat on medium speed of an electric mixer scraping the bowl constantly until just blended (the batter will be thick, if desired you may add in a few more tablespoons cream or milk).
3. Pour into paper-lined regular size muffin tins filling under just three-quarters full.
4. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the cupcakes test done (do not overbake as they will be dry).
5. Immediately remove from pans.
6. Cool completely before frosting.

I frosted them with a mixture of cream cheese and marshmallow fluff once they cooled. While the cupcakes were in the oven I melted some semi sweet chocolate chips and carefully dipped large marshmallows until fully coated and placed them on a sheet of parchment to dry. Once they were dry I piped on a teeny drop of icing and 'glued' on 2 kissables (red hots are good too, I use those for Spiders) and with a fork dipped lightly in frosting I added fangs. I iced the cupcakes, added the monster heads and gummy, goo filled bugs for a creepy effect and they went into the fridge until the next morning. It's always fun to bring goodies to school.. but I wish I would have been there to see the faces of these kids when they saw what P. had in the pan.. he told me all about it.. but to see it all first hand would have been a blast!



2 comments:

Vera said...

Ashley, maybe they are monstrous, but in a very cute way :)

Anonymous said...

Those are super-great cupcakes. I'm saving this to cook with my little sisters for Halloween. They'll adore it!