Description
Ghost Cupcakes are a spooky and delicious Halloween treat featuring moist chocolate cupcakes topped with fluffy meringue frosting shaped like ghosts, decorated with chocolate sprinkle eyes, and accompanied by chocolate trees adorned with colorful sprinkles for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcake Base
- 1 chocolate cake mix (including eggs and other ingredients listed on the package)
- 1/3 cup chocolate melting wafers (preferably Ghirardelli)
- Chocolate and colored sprinkles
Meringue Frosting
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup cold water
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Cupcakes: Begin by preparing your chocolate cupcakes according to the package directions, including all required ingredients such as eggs. Once baked, allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.
- Make Chocolate Trees: Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt the chocolate wafers in a double boiler or microwave until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate to a plastic piping bag or baggie, then snip a small corner. Pipe tree shapes about 2 to 3 inches tall onto the wax paper, making them thick enough to avoid breakage once hardened. Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle colored and chocolate sprinkles over the trees to mimic leaves. Refrigerate the sheet until the chocolate hardens.
- Prepare Meringue Frosting: In a double boiler, combine granulated sugar, cold water, egg whites, and cream of tartar. Cook the mixture, beating constantly with an electric mixer on high speed for 10 to 13 minutes, ensuring it reaches 160°F on a candy thermometer. Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract, then continue beating for about one more minute until the frosting is fluffy and holds soft to stiff peaks.
- Frost Cupcakes: Apply a base coat of the meringue frosting onto each cooled cupcake. Using a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe a single mound of frosting on top of each cupcake to resemble a ghost figure. Place two dark-colored sprinkles as eyes on each frosting ghost.
- Assemble Ghost Cupcakes: Carefully peel the chocolate trees off the waxed paper and press one tree into the cupcake behind each ghost-shaped frosting mound to complete the festive Halloween look.
Notes
- These cupcakes combine chocolate cake with a fluffy meringue frosting shaped like ghosts, making them perfect for a Halloween dessert.
- The chocolate trees add a fun decorative element and a festive crunch.
- Use a candy thermometer for precise frosting cooking to achieve the perfect meringue texture.
- Ensure cupcakes are fully cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Can substitute chocolate melting wafers with high-quality chocolate chips if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 189 kcal
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 158 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
