These brownie cupcakes are a colourful, easy Halloween bake
While scouring the internet for Halloween baking inspiration, I came across the idea for these brownie and sponge cupcakes at two sisters. They manage to get a much stronger orange colour in their sponge – they must have better food colouring! I used my own recipes for the brownies and sponge and included a green variation.
Ingredients (these amounts will make 12 Halloween brownie cupcakes)
For the brownie layer
- 50 g / 2 oz butter or baking margarine
- 1.5 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 egg
- 115 g / 4 oz caster sugar
- 50 g / 2 oz self-raising flour
For the sponge layer
- 50 g / 2 oz butter or baking margarine
- 50 g / 2 oz caster sugar
- 1 egg
- 50 g / 2 oz self-raising flour
- Orange and/or green gel food colouring(s)
- Optional: peppermint essence, grated orange rind or artificial orange flavouring
A note: my coloured sponge layer came out quite thin, as you can see from the photos. If you’d like a thicker sponge layer in your Halloween brownie cupcakes or are using muffin cases, double up the sponge layer ingredient amounts given here.
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C (160 fan) / Gas Mark 4 / 350 degrees F. Put your cupcake cases into your tin.
Make the brownie layer first. Melt the butter either in a heatproof bowl over a pan of hot water or in the microwave. If you’re using the microwave you’ll only need 20-30 seconds to melt the butter. Add the cocoa powder to the melted butter and stir until combined and smooth.
In another bowl, beat together the egg and sugar. Add the chocolate mixture and finally stir in the flour until you have an even brownie mixture.
Spoon approximately one dessertspoonful of the brownie mixture into each of the cupcake cases. You should put enough in each case to fully cover the bottom.
Now make the sponge mixture.
You can use the all-in-one method, putting the butter, sugar, egg and flour into the mixer or bowl at the same time and stirring until you get a smooth mixture. I prefer to beat the butter for 3-4 minutes until it becomes whiter in colour (of course this is simple when you have a mixer or electric hand beaters. If you only have elbow grease to rely on, do your best!). Add the sugar and beat for another 3-4 minutes until the mixture is smooth and light.
Add the egg and beat the mixture. Add the flour and stir in gently. If you’re using a mixer, you might want to fold the flour in by hand.
If you want to use more than one colour in your sponge, this is when you split the basic sponge mixture into two bowls. Add the colouring into the sponge mixture and stir until the colour is evenly distributed. Keep adding colour until you get the shade you want. If you’d like to add flavouring to your sponge, this is the moment to do so. If you’re using peppermint essence, you’ll only need 1-2 drops.
Drop a spoonful of the sponge mixture into each of the cases on top of the brownie mixture. Use the back of a teaspoon to spread the sponge mixture evenly over the brownie base.
Bake the Halloween brownie cupcakes for about 15 minutes until they’ve risen and browned slightly.
Leave the Halloween brownie cupcakes in the tin for 15 minutes until they’re cool enough to remove from the tin using your hands but still warm. I advise removing the paper cases while the cupcakes are still warm to prevent sticking. Peel down the edges of the each case gently, removing the bottom of the cupcake last.
Once out of their cases, leave the cupcakes on a wire rack to finish cooling.
Decoration
While your Halloween brownie cupcakes are cooling, make the buttercream icing. To ice 12 cupcakes you’ll need approx. 4 oz / 115 g of butter and 7 oz / 200 g of icing sugar. If you have an electric mixer, beat the butter for at least 5 minutes until it has lost most of its yellow colour, then add the icing sugar. Blend your butter and icing sugar together (remember to go slowly to avoid creating an icing sugar cloud!) until you get a smooth buttercream.
If your buttercream is too stiff, add a little milk to loosen it. Spoon your buttercream icing into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe a swirl of buttercream onto each of your cupcakes and add some Halloween sprinkles (I got mine at the local supermarket).
Here’s what they look like when you cut them open:
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Best eaten as soon as possible after baking and within 3 days.
A simple, yummy Halloween treat!
And if you’re looking for more easy Halloween baking recipes, try:
Chocolate fudge muffins with Halloween chocolate webs.
Mint millionaire’s shortbread.
And remember, you can see a list of all the recipes on my blog by visiting my recipe index.
Claire Huston / Art and Soul
Yummy!
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They were very nice. Next time I’ll add some flavouring to the sponge layer to make them a bit more interesting, but they still all vanished in less than 48 hours and I rate that as a success!! 🙂
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They look lovely.
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Thank you! I was really pleased with how they turned out. I’ve just been asked to make another batch for tomorrow! 🙂
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I must say, Claire, these look delightful.
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Thank you! I was very pleased with how they turned out. I was a bit worried they’d stick to the cases but they came out easily and then we’re just as easy to eat! 🙂
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These look both adorable and yummy!
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Thank you! Will definitely make the green ones mint next time – I love mint chocolate 🙂
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Ooo… My daughter would love that.
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And they’re much easier to make than they look! 🙂
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Orange is Yumolicious! 🍃🍊
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I will definitely add some orange zest next time. I love the choc – orange flavour combination 🙂
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They look fabulous!
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Thank you! I was really pleased with them. I’m glad I took photos because they vanished very quickly!! 🙂
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I can imagine 😁
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holy crap these look insane!! Definitely going to give these a go!
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Thank you! They look and taste great and are surprisingly easy to make.
I hope yours turn out well 🙂
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Yum x infinity
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They were very nice – even if I do say so myself! 🙂
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These look awesome!! X
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Thank you! I’d have liked the orange ones to be a bit more orange, but I guess you’d need professional colouring for that… Maybe next time! 🙂
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These look great!
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Thank you! I was very pleased with them 🙂
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oooooo yum! look so good x
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Thank you! They were yummy – almost too easy to eat! 🙂
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Will definitely have to try before the 31st ☺️
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I hope they turn out really well for you too 🙂
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So cute and very festive! I like the two layers so nice.
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Thank you! 🙂 And a very happy halloween to you and your family x
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Xo
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These look delicious! I like the color combination actually.
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They’re a really cheerful treat for Halloween! I’ll definitely add a bit of flavouring next time though… just to make them a bit more exciting 🙂
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These are so cute!! I love the look of them, and the combination of brownie and sponge sounds just delicious ❤
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They were very nice. Although next time I’ll definitely add mint to the green ones. I love the mint chocolate flavour combination 🙂
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Ooh, that’s a good one! I love that combination too 🙂
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