Description
These Non-Spooky Black Cat Cupcakes are a fun and festive dessert perfect for Halloween or cat lovers any time of year. Rich chocolate cupcakes are topped with luscious black cocoa frosting and decorated with playful candy eyes, ears, noses, and whiskers to resemble adorable black cats. Easy to make and sure to delight both kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
Scale
For the chocolate cupcakes:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup hot water or coffee (to enhance chocolate flavor)
For the black frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3 to 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Black gel food coloring
For decorations:
- Chocolate sandwich cookies (halved for ears)
- Candy eyes or white chocolate chips
- Pink candies or frosting for noses
- Black licorice or piped black icing for whiskers
Instructions
- Prepare the cupcake batter: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt to combine the dry ingredients evenly.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat the vegetable oil and granulated sugar together until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Then stir in the buttermilk and vanilla extract to create a smooth mixture.
- Combine dry and wet mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the hot water or coffee. Mix gently but thoroughly until the batter is smooth and uniform.
- Bake the cupcakes: Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full with batter. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
- Make the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the unsweetened cocoa powder and powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and heavy cream or milk, and continue to beat the frosting until it becomes fluffy and spreadable.
- Color the frosting: Add black gel food coloring a little at a time, mixing thoroughly until a deep, rich black color is achieved.
- Decorate the cupcakes: Spread or pipe the black frosting generously over each cooled cupcake. Insert halved chocolate sandwich cookies at the top to represent cat ears. Add candy eyes or white chocolate chips for the eyes, use pink candies or frosting to create the nose, and finish by placing black licorice strips or piping thin lines of black icing to form whiskers, completing the cat face look.
Notes
- These cupcakes are perfect for Halloween parties or for cat enthusiasts looking for a themed treat year-round.
- For a lower sugar option, omit the candy decorations and use a stencil to dust a black cat shape on the frosting with powdered sugar or cocoa powder.
- Using coffee instead of water in the batter enhances the chocolate flavor without adding coffee taste.
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
