Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Easy Chocolate Monster Cupcakes via forkknifeswoon.com | @forkknifeswoon

Easy Chocolate Monster Cupcakes


Ingredients

Scale

for the chocolate cupcakes

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup organic cane sugar
  • 1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp fine grain sea salt
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk, at room-temperature¹
  • 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg, at room-temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

for the easy buttercream frosting

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room-temperature
  • 34 cups confectioners (powdered) sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • food coloring, any color
  • candy eyes, for decorating

Instructions

for the chocolate cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners. Set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, until combined.
  3. Add the buttermilk, water, and oil. Whisk until well-combined. Stir in the egg and vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
  4. Use a cookie scoop to divide the batter between the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of each cupcake comes out with only a few crumbs.
  5. Remove from the oven, and let cool for at least 5 minutes in the pan, before transferring to a baking rack to cool completely. Be sure the cupcakes are at room-temperature before decorating.

for the easy buttercream frosting

  1. Using an standup mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or a hand-held electric mixer, cream the butter on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, a full 2 minutes.
  2. Turn the mixer down to low, add 2 cups sugar, the milk, and vanilla, and beat together until smooth and fluffy. Add more confectioners sugar until the frosting reaches your desired consistency, preferably that it’s stiff enough to easily hold its shape once piped onto the cupcakes.
  3. Add food coloring, as desired, and mix until the frosting reaches your preferred color(s).

frost the cupcakes

  1. Scoop the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star tip, and starting in the center of each (cooled) cupcake, and working in a loose spiral, pipe on the monster “fur.” Top with candy eyes. Best enjoyed the day of.

Notes

¹Make your own buttermilk: Stir together 1/2 cup whole milk with 1-1/2 tsp of white or apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes, before adding to the recipe.