Description
These Halloween Cupcakes are a festive treat featuring moist strawberry cupcakes topped with a luscious strawberry buttercream frosting. The frosting is piped to resemble spooky zombie brains and finished with a drizzle of strawberry syrup for a blood-like effect, perfect for any Halloween celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (15.25 ounces) plus oil, water, and eggs as per package instructions
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup)
- ½ cup strawberry jam
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch kosher salt
Topping
- ¼ cup strawberry syrup for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare Cupcakes: Use the strawberry cake mix to prepare 24 cupcakes according to the package instructions. Once baked, let them cool completely before decorating to ensure the frosting does not melt.
- Make Strawberry Buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the unsalted butter on medium speed until fluffy and smooth. Add the strawberry jam and continue mixing on medium speed until fully incorporated.
- Add Powdered Sugar: While beating on medium-low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until all is incorporated, creating a smooth and thick buttercream.
- Flavor and Season: Add vanilla extract and a pinch of kosher salt to the frosting. Mix on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and evenly combined.
- Frost Cupcakes: Using an offset spatula, frost the top of each cupcake thinly with the strawberry buttercream. This thin layer serves as the base for the zombie brain design and doesn’t need to be perfect.
- Pipe the Zombie Brain Design: Transfer the remaining buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a small round frosting tip. Pipe a curved line down the center of each cupcake like an ‘L’ shape, then add swirls and squiggles extending from that curve, covering half the cupcake to create the brain effect. Repeat on the other half of the cupcake.
- Add the Finishing Touch: Place the cupcakes on a rimmed serving tray and drizzle lightly with strawberry syrup to simulate blood. For best results, drizzle just before serving.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Use a small round piping tip for detailed zombie brain designs.
- Store frosted cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Drizzle strawberry syrup right before serving to maintain its fresh appearance.
- If desired, substitute strawberry jam with raspberry jam for a different berry flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
