Do you ever feel like you can’t see the forest for the tree’s?
I’m so sorry. I couldn’t resist.
There’s all sorts of fantastic news and gossip to catch you up on, like how at exactly 4:44 today my entire house was clean for a single, perfect second. And how I totally lived this moment while playing chaperone at my son’s 7th grade dance last Friday. And how I picked up a handful of rainbow colored leaves while on a midafternoon jog, then tossed them in the air because I couldn’t smile big enough over the sheer wonder that is autumn.
But, how could we possibly waste a moment of breath on gossip when there are Black Velvet Cupcakes to gawk? I want so much to say something…anything about these cupcakes. But, I think they are so utterly clever and adorable, I can think of only one thing to do with them.
Bake ‘em. Share ‘em. Eat ‘em up.
Happy Cupcake-o-ween!

Black Velvet Cupcakes With Haunted
Ingredients
FOR THE CUPCAKES:
- 2 cups canola oil
- 2¼ cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1¼ cup buttermilk
- 1/2 teaspoon black gel food coloring
- 3½ cups flour
- ½ cup cocoa powder I used Hershey's Special Dark
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
- 1 8 oz. box cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons shortening
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- orange gel food coloring
Instructions
FOR THE CUPCAKES:
- In a large bowl, beat together oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla, buttermilk, and gel food coloring. In a second, medium bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder.
- Slowly start to beat the dry ingredients into the wet just until they are all fully incorporated. In a small bowl, mix together the baking soda and vinegar.
- Beat into the batter until incorporated then spoon into muffin tins lined with cupcake wrappers.
- Bake in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or just until the center of the cupcakes bounce back when touched lightly.
- Cool completely before frosting.
FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
- In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter and shortening.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla, then beat until light and fluffy.
- Color with food coloring, if desired.
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