*These super fun, black cocoa spider cupcakes are loaded with black cocoa powder in both the cupcake, and the chocolate frosting. Topped with a creepy spider with very long legs, these cupcakes make the most perfect Halloween treat!*
* 1 cup flour * 1 cup sugar * ¼ cup black cocoa powder * ¾ teaspoon baking soda * ⅛ teaspoon salt * ½ cup warm water * ¼ cup vegetable oil * 4 tablespoons butter, melted * 1 egg, room temperature * ¼ cup buttermilk * 1 teaspoon vanilla
**For the Spiders:**
* 5 ounces chocolate flavored melting wafers * 18 Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies * 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed and softened * 24 candy eyeballs * Black sanding sugar
**For the Frosting:**
* 1 cup unsalted butter, softened * 3 cups powdered sugar * ½ cup black cocoa powder * Pinch of salt * 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream * White sprinkles
​
**Instructions:**
**For the Cupcakes:**
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners. 2. Combine the flour, sugar, black cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir with a whisk to combine. 3. Add the water, vegetable oil and butter. Beat with a hand mixer on low speed until smooth. 4. Add the egg, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat on low until smooth. 5. Divide mixture among the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ full. 6. Bake in the 350°F oven for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
**For the Spiders:**
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Melt the chocolate wafers according to package instructions. Place melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle or pastry bag fitted with a small round piping tip. 3. Carefully pipe 36 “L” shapes and 36 backwards “L” shapes on the parchment paper. 4. Place the baking sheet with the spider legs in the freezer while you prepare spider bodies and frosting. 5. Place Oreos in a food processor and process on high until fine crumbs form. 6. Add the cream cheese and process on high until fully combined and mixture forms a ball. 7. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of Oreo mixture into your hand and roll into a ball. Repeat until you have 12 balls. 8. Place black sanding sugar in a shallow dish. Place two eyes on each ball and then roll each ball in the sanding sugar. Place them back on the baking sheet until you are ready to assemble the cupcakes.
**For the Frosting:**
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter and beat on medium speed for 4 minutes, or until pale in color. 2. Add the powdered sugar, black cocoa and salt. Beat on medium speed for 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy. 3. Add the whipping cream and beat for 2 more minutes, or until light and fluffy. 4. Working with one cupcake at a time, place about ¼ cup of frosting on the top. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting by placing the spatula in the center and twisting the cupcake to form a little indentation. 5. Sprinkle the top of each cupcake with the white sprinkles. Top each cupcake with a spider body. Carefully attach 6 legs to each body, gently pressing them into the top/side of the spider body.
Idontwannahangout
I love these!!!!! They’re so cute. I can’t wait to try the spider topping out
Wild_EVIL_WOMAN
It reminds me of the soot sprites from My Neighbor Totoro.
keenturtle19
Super cute 6 legged freaks 😉
CalliCosmos
Like Shaun the sheep in spider version!
KKori
They look adorable!
logan-8787
It’s Mr. Ball Legs
0PickleRick0
Pretzel sticks chocolate balls work well for spiders and less work 😉
Yup_Tyson
They remind me of the coal or soot from spirited away down in the boiler room
10 Comments
*These super fun, black cocoa spider cupcakes are loaded with black cocoa powder in both the cupcake, and the chocolate frosting. Topped with a creepy spider with very long legs, these cupcakes make the most perfect Halloween treat!*
**Yield:** 12 cupcakes
**Prep Time:** 45 minutes
**Bake Time:** 25 minutes
**Ingredients:**
**For the Cupcakes:**
* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup sugar
* ¼ cup black cocoa powder
* ¾ teaspoon baking soda
* ⅛ teaspoon salt
* ½ cup warm water
* ¼ cup vegetable oil
* 4 tablespoons butter, melted
* 1 egg, room temperature
* ¼ cup buttermilk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
**For the Spiders:**
* 5 ounces chocolate flavored melting wafers
* 18 Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
* 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed and softened
* 24 candy eyeballs
* Black sanding sugar
**For the Frosting:**
* 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
* 3 cups powdered sugar
* ½ cup black cocoa powder
* Pinch of salt
* 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
* White sprinkles
​
**Instructions:**
**For the Cupcakes:**
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.
2. Combine the flour, sugar, black cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir with a whisk to combine.
3. Add the water, vegetable oil and butter. Beat with a hand mixer on low speed until smooth.
4. Add the egg, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat on low until smooth.
5. Divide mixture among the 12 cupcake liners, filling each about ¾ full.
6. Bake in the 350°F oven for 23-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean. Let the cupcakes cool slightly in the pan before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
**For the Spiders:**
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the chocolate wafers according to package instructions. Place melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle or pastry bag fitted with a small round piping tip.
3. Carefully pipe 36 “L” shapes and 36 backwards “L” shapes on the parchment paper.
4. Place the baking sheet with the spider legs in the freezer while you prepare spider bodies and frosting.
5. Place Oreos in a food processor and process on high until fine crumbs form.
6. Add the cream cheese and process on high until fully combined and mixture forms a ball.
7. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of Oreo mixture into your hand and roll into a ball. Repeat until you have 12 balls.
8. Place black sanding sugar in a shallow dish. Place two eyes on each ball and then roll each ball in the sanding sugar. Place them back on the baking sheet until you are ready to assemble the cupcakes.
**For the Frosting:**
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter and beat on medium speed for 4 minutes, or until pale in color.
2. Add the powdered sugar, black cocoa and salt. Beat on medium speed for 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
3. Add the whipping cream and beat for 2 more minutes, or until light and fluffy.
4. Working with one cupcake at a time, place about ¼ cup of frosting on the top. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting by placing the spatula in the center and twisting the cupcake to form a little indentation.
5. Sprinkle the top of each cupcake with the white sprinkles. Top each cupcake with a spider body. Carefully attach 6 legs to each body, gently pressing them into the top/side of the spider body.
I love these!!!!! They’re so cute. I can’t wait to try the spider topping out
It reminds me of the soot sprites from My Neighbor Totoro.
Super cute 6 legged freaks 😉
Like Shaun the sheep in spider version!
They look adorable!
It’s Mr. Ball Legs
Pretzel sticks chocolate balls work well for spiders and less work 😉
They remind me of the coal or soot from spirited away down in the boiler room
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