Halloween Spider Cupcakes

5 from 1 vote

The cutest Halloween Spider Cupcakes! Chocolate cupcakes with orange colored vanilla buttercream and a chocolate truffle spider on top.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 25

Total Time 45

Servings cupcakes

Calories 427kcal

Author Lise Sullivan Ode

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

1 box chocolate cake mix prepared according to package instructions

For the frosting

1 cup unsalted butter softened
4 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops orange food coloring I used Wilton brand

For the chocolate spiders

1 ¼ cup chow mein noodles
2 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted I melted the chips in the microwave
⅓ cup milk
½ cup powdered sugar
1 cup crispy rice cereal

Instructions

For the cupcakes

Prepare cake mix according to package instructions and bake 12 cupcakes using cupcake liners. Follow baking time chart on cake mix box. Let cool

For the frosting

In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer until creamy, about 3 minutes. With mixer on low, alternate adding the sugar and cream gradually. Once combined, turn mixer up to medium and beat for 3 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of white frosting. Then add orange food coloring to achieve desired color. Pour orange frosting into a large pastry bag fitted with a 1M tip and pipe swirls of frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Or you can spread it on with a butter knife or offset spatula. Add orange sugar sprinkles, if desired.

For the chocolate spiders

First you need to melt your chocolate chips. Microwave them in a microwave safe dish on high for 1 minute. Stir well. Microwave for additional 30 seconds, if needed. Let cool slightly.
Reserve ½ cup of the chow mein noodles. Set aside. Add remaining ¾ cup of the chow mein noodles, crispy rice cereal and powdered sugar to a food processor. Pulse about 30 seconds or until the noodles and cereal turn into crumbs. Add melted chocolate chips and milk and process until a dough ball forms. Shape dough into 30 balls and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Place chow mein noodles into balls (3 on each side) to create the legs. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Assembling cupcakes

Place one spider on each cupcake. Pipe two white dots for eyes, then pipe two orange dots on top of the white onto each spider (even the extra ones). You will have more spiders than cupcakes which you can use on a separate serving tray for guest to eat.

Notes

Note about making the chocolate spiders: If you don't have a food processor, you can do it by hand. Crush the chow mein noodles and rice cereal in a large ziptop bag that's been sealed with all the air let out first. Pound with a rolling pin or can of soup until crushed. Then add to a large bowl. Stir in powdered sugar, melted chocolate chips and milk until a dough forms. Continue with the instructions above.

Nutrition