Spiced Spider Cupcakes Food

SPICED SPIDER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cupcake pans with paper liners.
• Combine flour, white sugar, baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in bowl; whisk to mix. In separate bowl, mix water, canola oil, vinegar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Pour liquids into dry mixture and stir until smooth. The batter will be very thin.
• Transfer batter into a measuring cup or pitcher; pour batter into prepared cupcake pans.
• Bake in preheated oven until tops spring back when gently pressed with a fingertip and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
• Beat cream cheese, butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually mix in confectioners' sugar until frosting is creamy and spreadable. Frost the cooled cupcakes.
• To decorate cupcakes, use black decorating gel to draw a small circle in the center of each cupcake. Draw a larger circle around the first, and continue making larger circles until the last circle is about 1/4 inch from the edge. There should be about 5 rings on each cupcake. Use a toothpick to draw about 8 lines radiating from the center of the cupcake to the edge, like spokes on a wheel, to make webs.
• Cut the licorice strings into pieces about 1 1/4 inch long for legs. Poke four licorice legs into both sides of each gumdrop. Use decorating gel to make eyes and a smiley mouth on each gumdrop. Place a gumdrop spider onto each cupcake in the center of the webs.

SPIDER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Prepare cupcakes according to package directions. Let cool completely.
• Cut licorice into 3 inch sections. Working with one or two cupcakes at a time, so the frosting doesn't set before decorating, frost the cupcakes with the white frosting. Insert licorice pieces into the outer edges of the cupcakes to make the legs of the spider, 3 legs on each side (4 takes up too much space). Place two pieces of candy corn on the front of the cupcake for fangs and use two red hots as eyes. Sprinkle with decorator sugar. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.

COOL SPIDER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Frost tops and sides of cupcakes with whipped topping. Decorate with chocolate sprinkles.
• Cut each piece of licorice into 8 pieces. Insert 8 pieces licorice into top of teach cupcake to create "spider legs." Top with 2 candies for "eyes." Store leftover cupcakes in refrigerator.

SPIDER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Prepare cake mix batter according to package directions. , Fill 24 paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 21-26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. , Cool to 110°. Transfer to a large bowl. Beat until thickened and mixture begins to lose its gloss, about 8 minutes. , Cut large marshmallows in half crosswise; place a half on each cupcake. Frost marshmallow and top of cupcake. Dip cupcakes in sprinkles. Place a dab of frosting on each miniature marshmallow and press on to cupcakes. Place a dab of frosting on each M&M and press on to marshmallows for eyes. , For spider legs, use a metal or wooden skewer to poke four holes on opposite sides of cupcakes; insert a piece of licorice into each hole.

SPIDER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Sift together the flour and baking soda and set aside. In a mixer fitted with a whip attachment, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Then add both sugars and continue mixing to cream them together. Add the eggs gradually and let them thoroughly mix in. Add the melted unsweetened chocolate and mix in well. Add the vanilla and 1/3 of the yogurt and mix, then add half the dry ingredients, and mix in well. Repeat alternating wet and dry, ending with wet.
• Pour batter into a muffin tins, lined with cupcake papers, filling them 3/4 full. Bake until firm to the touch on the cap of the cupcakes, about 20 minutes. Let cool in the pan, then decorate.
• To make the cupcakes into spiders, frost with your favorite chocolate frosting glue 2 flat chocolate buttons on the top of the cupcake as eyes. Pipe a large white dot on lower half of each button then stick on the chocolate chips, then pipe a tiny white dot on the tip of the chip. In red, pipe a smile and to make them tarantulas, pipe a red hourglass shape on its back. Cut black liquorice into 3-inch long pieces and tuck 8 of them into the rim of the cupcake cap to make legs.
• To serve the cupcakes, with black frosting pipe a spider web onto a middle of a large white plate and place the spiders around the edge.

CHOCOLATE SPIDER WEB CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins with black paper liners.
• Whisk together the cake flour, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk together the buttermilk, coffee, oil, eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl.
• Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and beat on low speed just until combined. Scrape down the bowl then add the remaining wet ingredients and beat to combine. Scrape down the bowl and paddle. Increase the speed to medium and beat for a full minute.
• Fill the prepared cupcake tins 2/3 of the way full. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of each comes out clean and the top springs back when lightly pressed, 15 to 18 minutes.
• For the frosting: Microwave the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, beat the butter and salt in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the speed to low, then gradually add the confectioners' sugar until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat, scrapping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the cocoa powder, milk and vanilla, then beat until smooth. Add the room temperature melted chocolate, then increase the speed to medium-high and beat until very light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes more.
• Transfer the frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a large round tip. Decoratively pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes in a circular, upward motion. Refrigerate until slightly firm, about 10 minutes.
• For the marshmallow web: beat the marshmallows in a large bowl with a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on low speed until the marshmallows break up, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until glossy and smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, and beat again until very thick and smooth, about 1 more minute. Using two forks, pull out about 1 tablespoon of marshmallow at a time, stretch into thin strands and drape over the top and around each cupcake to create a web.
• Stick one gummy spider candy on each, then let the marshmallow set, about 15 minutes.

SPICED GINGERBREAD MINI CUPCAKES

Steps:

• For the spiced gingerbread cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray.
• Stir together the flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
• Whisk the melted butter, granulated sugar, molasses, sour cream and egg in a large bowl until smooth. Add the flour mixture and whisk just to combine. Divide the mixture among the muffin cups.
• Bake until puffed and a tester in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 13 to 15 minutes. Cool in the tin for about 10 minutes, then use an offset spatula to ease them out and completely cool.
• For the lemon cream cheese frosting. Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl. Beat until smooth and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the lemon zest and vanilla. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth, then beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.
• Split the cooled cupcakes in half crosswise. Spread or pipe a little filling on the cut side of each cupcake bottom. Top with the cupcake tops. Spread or pipe the remaining frosting on top of the cupcakes and decorate as desired.

SPOOKY SPIDER CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Beat in the applesauce, vanilla and orange zest. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture until well combined. Stir in pecans., Fill paper-lined muffin cups half full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely., For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Add the orange zest, food coloring and enough orange juice to achieve spreading consistency. Set aside 1/4 cup orange frosting. Frost cupcakes., Transfer chocolate frosting to a heavy-duty resealable bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Pipe a circle of chocolate in center of each cupcake. Pipe evenly spaced thin concentric circles about 1/4 in. apart. Beginning with the center circle, gently pull a toothpick through circles toward outer edge. Wipe toothpick clean. Repeat to complete web pattern., Cut licorice into 2-in. pieces; press eight pieces into each gumdrop for legs. Place reserved orange frosting in a heavy-duty resealable bag; cut a small hole in a corner of the bag. Pipe eyes on each spider gumdrop. Position on cupcakes.

SPOOKY SPIDER CUPCAKES/MUFFINS FOR A HOWLING HALLOWEEN!

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 180C/360°F.
• This is a VERY easy all in one mix; simply put the softened butter into a large mixing bowl with the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, beaten eggs and vanilla extract. Mix on slow with a hand mixer, incorporating all the dry ingredients gradually into the butter and eggs. Increase the speed to medium and then to high. Stop and add the milk, tablespoon-by-tablespoon, whisking in between each spoon until you have a smooth, silky mixture with no lumps. Add the chocolate chips or chocolate pieces and mix well.
• Spoon the mixture into well-greased muffin tins, or tins lined with muffin cases - I do not use cases as a rule!
• Bake in the pre-heated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until well risen - check with a wooden cocktail stick by pushing it in the middle of the cake, if it comes out clean, the cakes are ready.
• Leave to cool for 5 minutes and then gently run a knife around the sides to release the cakes - or take the cakes out if they are in muffin cases. Put them on a wire rack and allow to cool completely before decorating.
• Whilst the cakes are cooling, make the butter cream icing. Put the softened butter and icing sugar into a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly by hand with a fork. Add the vanilla extract and mix again before adding the cocoa powder - mix all the ingredients together and then add the milk if you need to loosen the mixture for spreading. The butter cream icing should be soft and silky - but should still hold its shape.
• When you are ready to decorate the spider cakes, cut the liquorice Catherine wheels into "legs" that just dangle over the edge of the cake - mine were about 2" in length. Take the liquorice allsorts sweets/candy that have a white inside and a liquorice exterior - see photos - gently make a hole in the centre with a cocktail stick and push in a small sliver of liquorice to make the eyes. Choose a red or orange liquorice allsorts sweet/candy, which is layered - see photo - and cut each sweet/candy into 4 pieces for the mouth.
• Gently push the legs into the top of the cake at intervals - the icing will go over the top to keep them in place later, so do not worry how they look! You need 8 legs per spider - of course! Spoon on some chocolate butter cream icing to cover the legs and come within 1/2" of the edge - make it look "hairy" by stippling with a fork. Then place two eyes in the top, finishing off with a mouth! Continue to decorate all the cakes in this way, place them all on a plate with some extra sweets/candy scattered around them, and watch the looks of delight on the children's faces when they see them!

SPICED APPLE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• First, make the decorations. Roll out the green fondant on a surface dusted with the sugar to a ½cm thickness. Cut out 12 small 'leaves' using a cutter or knife. Set aside on some baking parchment. Roll the brown fondant into 12 x 1cm 'stalks'. Set aside with the leaves.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line six holes of a 12-hole cupcake tin with red cases, and the other six with green. For the cake batter, beat the butter and both sugars with an electric whisk until light and fluffy. Slowly mix in the eggs, then fold in the flour, baking powder, grated apple and spices until fully incorporated.
• Fill the cases three-quarters full and bake for 30-35 mins, or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool completely in the tin. Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter until light and creamy, then add the sugar and vanilla, and beat for 5 mins more until fluffy and pale.
• Spoon the icing into a piping bag fitted with a large round nozzle. Working from the outside towards the centre, pipe the icing in a swirl over the cupcakes, applying a good amount of pressure to the bag. Use a small palette knife to smooth the icing into neat domes, then chill the cupcakes for 30 mins to firm up.
• Tip the red and green sanding sugars into separate bowls. Dip the tops of the cupcakes with the red cases into the red sugar, and those with green cases into the green sugar, turning to fully coat the icing.
• Make little indentations in the top of the icing for the fondant stalks, and add the leaves around them.

WINTER SPICED CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Place a case into a cupcake or bun tin.
• Soften 150g until it is soft and squidgy.
• Using an electric whisk or wooden spoon, beat the softened butter and the dark brown sugar together in a mixing bowl.
• Fold in the self-raising flour and mixed spices until it is evenly combined.
• Beat in the eggs, zest and juice of an orange. Stir in the mixed fruit with the mixture.
• Divide the cupcake mixture between the paper cases and bake in the centre of a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes until risen and golden brown.
• Leave the cupcakes to cool on the tin for 15 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
• Soften the remaining 100g of butter until it is soft and squidgy in a large bowl.
• Gradually beat in the the icing sugar. When mixed and smooth add in the water, brandy or lemon juice and beat again until light and creamy.
• Using a round bladed knife or a pallet knife spread the icing on top of the cupcakes so they are all even.
• Serve as they are or decorate with silver balls (optional) or a decoration of your choice.

SPICED APPLESAUCE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt until very well combined; set aside.
• In a mixer, beat butter and sugar until creamy; add egg and beat until fluffy.
• Stir in applesauce.
• Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended; stir in nuts.
• Spoon batter into paper-lined or well-greased 2 1/2-inch muffin pans, filling each about 2/3 full.
• Bake in a 350°oven until tops spring back when lightly touched (20-25 min).
• let cool in pans on wire racks for about 5 minutes.
• Prepare Apple Glaze, carefully remove cupcakes, place on racks and brush with glaze.
• Apple Glaze: mix powdered sugar and apple juice until smoothly blended and of a good brushing consistency.

TROPICAL SPICE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place 18 cupcake liners in muffin tins.
• In a medium bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk the mixture lightly until there are no clumps, and the spices are mixed throughout. Set aside.
• Cream the butter with a mixer for a few minutes until soft and fluffy.
• Add the sugars and eggs to the butter, and beat until light in color and fluffy in texture (about 5 minutes).
• Next, add the Grand Marnier and beat until incorporated.
• Add 1/4 cup juice from the freshly squeezed orange and 1/3 of the flour mixture, and beat until incorporated, scraping the batter down into the bowl as necessary. Add the coconut milk and 1/2 the remaining flour mixture, and beat until blended. Add the buttermilk and the rest of the flour mixture and again beat until incorporated, scraping the bowl as necessary.
• Measure 2 - 3 tbsp orange zest from the freshly zested orange, and add to the mixture; also add the coconut and mix until blended.
• Using an ice cream scoop, fill the cupcake liners with one scoop of batter each (filling the liners about 3/4 full).
• Bake 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
• Remove from the oven and let rest in the muffin pan for 15 minutes.
• Remove the cupcakes from the muffin tin, and place on a rack to cool thoroughly before frosting.
• Make frosting: Beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl until creamy.
• Measure 2 tbsp juice from the freshly squeezed orange and add to the cream cheese.
• Measure 1 cup of confectioner's sugar and add to the cream cheese mixture. Beat until the ingredients are smooth.
• Add the coconut milk, the Grand Marnier, and another cup of confectioner's sugar. Beat until smooth.
• Add another cup of confectioner's sugar and beat until smooth.
• Add 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar and beat until smooth.
• At this point, check the consistency. If it is firm enough to spread on the cupcake, it's finished. Add a little more confectioner's sugar (a few tablespoons at a time) if it needs to be firmer.
• Spread the frosting on the cooled cupcakes.