Halloween Spider Cupcakes Recipe

Spider Cupcakes Recipe
The cupcake batter and frosting contain orange flavors to give them a refreshing, from-scratch taste. Janis Plourde, Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario

Ingredients of Spider Cupcakes Recipe
* 6 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 teaspoon grated orange peel
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 cup chopped pecans

FROSTING of Spider Cupcakes Recipe:
* 1/4 cup butter, softened
* 2 cups confectioners' sugar
* 1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel
* Orange paste food coloring
* 2 to 4 teaspoons orange juice
* 1/2 cup chocolate frosting
* Black shoestring licorice
* 12 black gumdrops

Directions for Spider Cupcakes Recipe
1. In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat well. Beat in the applesauce, vanilla and orange peel. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in pecans.
2. Fill paper-lined muffin cups half full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. For frosting, in a small bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar. Add orange peel, food coloring and enough orange juice to achieve spreading consistency. Set aside 1/4 cup orange frosting. Frost cupcakes.
4. Transfer chocolate frosting to a heavy-duty resealable bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Pipe a circle of chocolate in center of each cupcake. Pipe evenly spaced thin concentric circles about 1/4 in. apart. Beginning with the center circle, gently pull a toothpick through circles toward outer edge. Wipe toothpick clean. Repeat to complete web pattern.
5. Cut licorice into 2-in. pieces; press eight pieces into each gumdrop for legs. Place reserved orange frosting in a heavy-duty resealable bag; cut a small hole in a corner of the bag. Pipe eyes on each spider gumdrop. Position on cupcakes. Yield: 1 dozen.

Spider Cupcakes Recipe Preparation time: 20 min. Bake:
20 min. + cooling

Category: Halloween recipes