Halloween calls for treats that are not only devilishly delicious but also fit the spooky theme of the holiday. With a dash of creativity and a sprinkle of walnuts, you can whip up a batch of these eerie yet irresistible devil's food cupcakes. Not too sweet with a nice nutritional boost from the nuts, you can leave them unfrosted or see the note at the end for a creamy chocolate frosting.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup hot water
For the Walnut Surprise:
- ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
Frosting/Decorations: optional - see note*
METHOD:
Prepare the Devil's Food Cupcakes:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cocoa powder.
Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In another large bowl, beat the sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is well combined
. - Stir in the buttermilk and vegetable oil
Add Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined
- Slowly stir in the hot water until the batter is smooth
Add the Walnut Surprise:
- Fold the finely chopped walnuts into the batter
Fill Cupcake Liners:
- Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full with the batter
Bake and Cool:
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean
- Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely
*NOTE: Creamy Chocolate Frosting (optional)
These cupcakes are rich and satisfying enough to enjoy unfrosted, however there's not much that can't be improved by a dollop of chocolate frosting!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
METHOD:
- In a bowl, sift the cocoa powder to remove any lumps.
- In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually add the sifted cocoa powder and confectioners' sugar to the butter.
- Mix in the milk and vanilla extract until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
Once the cupcakes are complete cooled, pipe or spread the frosting.
Spooky Decorations:
- For an extra Halloween touch, place plastic spiders or other spooky decorations on top of the cupcakes.