Spooky Bone Chocolate Cupcakes

Oh how I love this time of year! Fall is my absolute favorite. Though, here in LA we don't get much of that colorful season change. Most of us enjoy the beach up until the middle of November. However, I still strive for that pumpkin flavor and scarf wearing. This time of year also marks the start of 'baking season' and the quest to indulge on festive sweets ... until we make our vows to be heathy around New Year. With that said, I wanted to kick off this spooky time of year with some fun cupcakes your little ones will love.

There is something special about chocolate cake from scratch. It truly is one of the best cake batters. My simple go-to recipe for chocolate cake is a fudge-y take on this iconic flavor. You can also ramp up the chocolate flavor by adding a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips into the batter prior to baking! A little secret if you are daring. Don't let 'from scratch' scare you, it really is quite easy!

If you celebrate Halloween, try making these really simple white chocolate bone candies. I showed how I made these on my IG stories last week. I bought the mold at the craft store. Melt 1 1/2 cups of white chocolate and fill the mold. Tap the mold on the counter to release any air bubbles. Let the chocolate firm up for a few hours then pop the chocolate candies out! I love decorating the tops of cupcakes and cookies with these easy morsels. Also, the craft store has a million mold options ... You will soon be making chocolate candies for every occasion. *Tip, when melting your white chocolate do so slowly. Try melting in the microwave for 30 second intervals until it is smooth. Or place 2 cups of water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Place your white chocolate into a glass bowl that fits nestled on top your sauce pan. Once the water is boiling, turn to low and place the glass bowl on top of the sauce pan. The steam from the boiling water will slowly melt your white chocolate to perfection.

You all know how much I adore bringing children into the kitchen to help out while cooking. Having your little ones help bake these cupcakes is such a fun activity! Try pulling out all the ingredients prior to bringing them into the kitchen. Have them try their hands at measuring, scooping, stirring and of course cracking eggs. Be patient and expect a few messes. Take photos of the action and of them enjoying their creation! I promise it will be the cutest memory, and hopefully a fun festive tradition. Enjoy!

What You Need

Chocolate Cake

2 cups flour

1 1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 baking powder

1 cup hot water

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 softened butter

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

pinch of salt

Buttercream Frosting

6 cups powdered sugar

2/3 cup softened butter

4 tablespoons whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla

What You Do

-Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

-Sift together your flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. Set aside.

-In another bowl whisk together your softened butter and sugar until well incorporated. Be sure to have your sugar fully dissolved before moving on. To be sure of that, pinch a bit between your finger tips. If you feel sugar granules keep whisking. Once the sugar is fully mixed add your eggs one at a time. Then your vanilla. 

-Warm your water and whisk in your cocoa powder until the cocoa is fully mixed in. 

-Add your cocoa mixture to your sugar and egg mixture. 

-Add in your flour mixture to your wet ingredients a little bit at a time. Use a rubber spatula to fold in your dry ingredients and try not to over mix your batter. Not over mixing will ensure a fluffy cake texture. 

-Use a 1/4 cup to divide your batter into cupcake liners and bake for about 25 minutes or until risen and fully cooked. Use a tooth pick to check if your cupcakes are done. Poke the middle of your cupcake, if the toothpick comes out clean the cupcakes are done. If the toothpick comes out with batter, then they need to bake a bit more. 

-While the cupcakes cool, whip together your frosting. Whip your butter, cream and vanilla. Add a cup of powdered sugar at a time. Whip until fluffy. You may have to add a bit more cream to get a frosting texture. If you add too much cream, add a bit more powdered sugar until you get the frosting texture you know and love. Add a few festive drops of food color too! 

-Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, frost your cupcakes. You can use a piping bag or butter knife. Top your cupcakes with the spooky bone chocolates and enjoy them while dressed up in costume or with friends!