SPOOKY CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

Spooky Chocolate Cupcakes image

These special cupcakes, decorated with bats, black cats, webs and ghosts, disappeared fast!-Barb Schlafer, Appleton, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 50m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup baking cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
FROSTING:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
4-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
Black paste food coloring
Orange and black M&M's
Tart 'n' Tiny candies

Steps:

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Combine the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened., Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks., In a bowl, cream the shortening, butter and confectioners' sugar. Stir in water and extracts. Remove 1/2 cup frosting to a small bowl; tint with black food coloring. Frost cupcakes with remaining white frosting., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag. Insert a small round #5 tip; fill bag with black frosting. Decorate cupcakes with black frosting and candies as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 360 calories, Fat 17g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 242mg sodium, Carbohydrate 51g carbohydrate (36g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.