Description
Delight in these festive Halloween strawberry cupcakes topped with a smooth strawberry buttercream and drizzled with strawberry syrup for a spooky, delicious treat perfect for your Halloween celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 box strawberry cake mix (15.25 ounces) plus oil, water, and eggs necessary to prepare the cupcakes
Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
- 2 sticks unsalted butter (1 cup)
- ½ cup strawberry jam
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch kosher salt
Decoration
- ¼ cup strawberry syrup for drizzling
Instructions
- Prepare Cupcakes: Use the strawberry cake mix according to the package instructions to prepare 24 cupcakes. Bake and then allow them to cool completely before decorating.
- Make Buttercream: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the unsalted butter on medium speed until fluffy and smooth. Add the strawberry jam and continue mixing on medium speed until fully combined.
- Add Powdered Sugar: While mixing on medium-low speed, gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time until all is incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
- Flavor and Season: Add vanilla extract and a pinch of kosher salt, then mix on medium speed until the buttercream is smooth and fully incorporated.
- Base Frosting: Using an offset spatula, thinly frost the top of each cooled cupcake with the prepared strawberry buttercream. The finish does not need to be perfect as it serves as a base for additional decoration.
- Pipe Frosting Details: Transfer remaining buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a small round frosting tip. Pipe a line down the center of each cupcake with a curve at the end resembling an ‘L’ shape. Then pipe swirls and squiggles extending from the curve to cover half of the cupcake. Repeat on the opposite side to create a decorative pattern.
- Final Touch: Place cupcakes on a rimmed serving tray and lightly drizzle with strawberry syrup just before serving to mimic a spooky ‘blood’ effect.
Notes
- Use fresh strawberries for homemade jam if preferred for a fresher taste.
- For best results, drizzle the strawberry syrup just before serving to prevent cupcakes from becoming soggy.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- The piping technique creates a zombie brain effect, perfect for Halloween parties.
- If you don’t have a piping tip, use a small plastic bag with a corner snipped off to pipe the buttercream.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
