Halloween Cupcakes

I love the Halloween season and one of the biggest reasons is because of these cupcakes. It's a recipe I remember having as a child and during October it was always fun to hear that there is a "ghost" inside the cupcake. Once you've taken your first bite - sure enough you found the "ghost" or cream cheese filling inside.

The best part of these cupcakes for a baker - they're easy to put together and you don't have to worry about making the frosting pretty.

For the cream cheese filling:
Mix together 8 ounces softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar one egg, 1 cup mini chocolate chips and a pinch of salt. Then set it aside.

For the Chocolate cupcakes:
Mix together 3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 4 tablespoons cocoa, 2 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt. Then slowly mix in 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3/4 cup vegetable oil and 2 cups water. Mix well together for 2 minutes.

Use cupcake liners in muffin tins and fill each one 1/2 full of batter, then put a dollop of filling and then cover with more batter. Each cup should be about 3/4 cup full.

Bake at 375 degrees for 18 minutes. Cupcakes are done when you can insert a toothpick into the center of cake and it comes up clean.

While the cupcakes are baking - make the frosting.
 You'll need to melt 6 ounces of unsweetened chocolate. I like to melt it in a glass bowl placed in a pot of warm water over a slightly warmed stove. It's the same idea as a double boiler, which I don't own so I improvise. You could also warm it in the microwave - just be very careful not to burn it. If it burns - you'll have to start over :(

Once your chocolate is melted scrape it into a blender. Add 1 cup + 2 tablespoons evaporated milk and 1 1/2 cup sugar. Turn the blender on. You will know the frosting is done when you hear the sound in the blender change.  Once it's done - give it a taste test just for fun - place it in the fridge for 30 minutes before frosting the cupcakes.

Decorations are what make this treat perfect for Halloween. Using black decorating frosting, Milano cookies and Brach's mellowcreme pumpkins you can make the perfect mini headstone setting. The cookies can be inserted into a cooled, frosted cupcake easily.

My favorite part is watching kids eat these. I told my nephews earlier about the "ghost" inside. They immediately pulled the cookie out and part of it broke off staying in the cupcake so they were able to look in and see the cupcake. It's that moment that makes the baking, frosting, and decorating 100% worth it and I can already promise you I'm making them again next weekend. Happy Halloween!