Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes are made with basic baking ingredients, buttermilk, vinegar, a bit of food coloring and some cocoa powder with a buttercream frosting, sprinkles and a candy bat on top filled with a cherry preserve surprise.
It seems to be the week for Halloween recipes. Everyone’s fun decorations, visiting the pumpkin patch and picking out costumes for the kids has me inspired. I wanted to create a dark dessert that can fit into any Halloween party decor as part of a kid-friendly gathering and these delicious Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes #nailedit !
You may also enjoy this Black as your Soul Halloween Cocktail for the adults!
Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes
Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes are really soft and fluffy with a hint of chocolate and smooth buttercream frosting. A gummy bat and black sprinkles add just a touch of sparkle with this all black dessert. A sweet cherry filling adds a nice surprise and although optional, brings a great balance to this dessert.
What Is Black Velvet?
So, what is black velvet? Black velvet is like red velvet but with black food coloring instead of red. The cake is given a more unique flavor with buttermilk, vinegar and a little cocoa powder giving it a slight acidic taste. Red velvet is typically paired with a cream cheese frosting but a simple buttercream is used for this recipe with some cocoa powder mixed in.
Tips & Tricks
Food Coloring
The biggest tip I can give you is this. Use a gel food coloring instead of a traditional fluid food coloring. The gel will allow you to use way less food coloring making it easier to achieve a dark color since it is a more concentrated mix. Do you have to use gel food coloring? The answer is no, a liquid color will also work.
Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 2 3/4 cups cake flour
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons dark baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 eggs, large
- black food color gel
- non-stick cooking spray
Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 2/4 cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1 Tablespoon whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- black food color gel
Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes
- cherry preserves, optional
- black sprinkles
- gummy bats
Instructions
Cupcakes
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Sift cake flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt into a large mixing bowl. Whisk ingredients together.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together wet ingredients : vegetable oil, buttermilk, vinegar, vanilla extract and eggs. Add to the large mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Whisk again.
- Add in desired amount of black food coloring and whisk. The batter is thinner than the average but it will cook perfectly.
- Spray a cupcake pan with non-stick spray and add a cupcake liners.
- Pour the cupcake batter into each liner filling 3/4 full.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Place on a cool rack.
Frosting
- In a mixing bowl, add the softened butter and cocoa. Use a hand or stand mixer to beat the ingredients until smooth.
- In increments, add in the confectioners sugar and beat.
- Add vanilla extract, milk and desired amount of food coloring. Beat until smooth. If you feel the frosting is too thin, add in some more confectioner sugar. Too thick? Add just a tiny bit more milk.
Black Velvet Halloween Cupcakes
- Once the cupcakes are completely cooled, take a knife and cut an 1 inch plug at the top center of each cupcake. You can toss or eat the plug you cut out.
- Place cherry preserve into the hole made.
- Use a large tip in a pastry bag and frost each cupcake.
- Add sprinkles and a bat on each cupcake.
Living with a three year old consists of a lot of dolls, talk about rainbows, unicorns, stuffed animals and loving anything super colorful. These OREO Funfetti Cookies are a big hit for the little one and tasty enough for the rest of the family to enjoy!
