Purple Velvet Spiderweb Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Today is our Haunted Luau Housewarming Party! No matter the occasion, I can’t resist putting a theme on it! I put together dark purple velvet cupcakes with a spiderweb detail on the frosting to add an extra twist! They’re decadent, rich, and perfect for Halloween.. or whatever the occasion might be! 🙂

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(makes 12 cupcakes)

Ingredients:

¾ cup sugar

¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1 egg

2 ½ Tbs unsweetened cocoa

2 Tbs purple food coloring (each container is 1 Tbs, so pick up 2 packs!)

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

½ cup buttermilk*

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp distilled white vinegar

*For the buttermilk you’ll want to use a ½ cup liquid buttermilk OR 2 Tbs of powdered buttermilk blend and a ½ cup of water.

For cream cheese frosting:

4 oz cream cheese (half of a package), softened

½ cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, softened

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ – 3 cups powdered sugar

Black icing

Cupcakes toppers – Find the ones I used from Gypsies Crafts & Treats!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.

(1.) In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy, (2.) then beat in the egg. (3.) In a separate bowl, mix together cocoa powder, food coloring, and vanilla extract until it’s a smooth paste. (4.) Add to the batter and mix well.

(5.) Slowly add in buttermilk and flour and mix for another 1-2 minutes. (6.) Add baking soda, salt, and vinegar and mix until all dry ingredients are combined and batter is smooth. (7.) Distribute batter evenly into cupcake liners and place them in the oven. (8.) Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and let pan cool for 5-10 minutes. Pop the cupcakes out and let them finish cooling for 10-15 minutes on a cooling rack. While you’re waiting for the cupcakes to cool down you can make the frosting.

In a medium bowl, cream together softened cream cheese and butter until creamy. Stir in vanilla extract.

Slowly add powdered sugar in and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy, scraping down the sides as needed. Use right away or store in the refrigerator to use later. Remember to remove from the refrigerator and set out at room temperature about 20 minutes before use.

Once cupcakes have cooled, use the back of a spoon to spread frosting on top of cupcakes.

(12.) Add black icing to a piping back with a fine point tip. (13.) Make an ‘X’ over the top of the cupcake. (14.) Add another ‘X’ making an asterisk basically! (15.) Make circles spreading out from the center and you’re done with your web!