Chocolate spider web cupcakes

Recipe by Rachel Zammit Cutajar

Photo by Rachel Zammit Cutajar

Halloween is just around the corner but trick or treating this year seems unsafe. No one wants to collect a COVID-19 trick this year. Why not create some new Halloween traditions this year by making your own Halloween treats with the kids. Though these look really fancy they’re so easy to make. The only specialist equipment you will need is a toothpick!

Chocolate spider web cupcakes

Ingredients

• 170g butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 small orange, finely grated zest only
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¾ cup plain flour
• ¾ cup cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Topping

• 150g dark chocolate
• 150g white chocolate

Method

1. Cream the butter and the sugar until pale and fluffly.
2. Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping the mixture down from the sides with every addition.
3. Add the vanilla extract and the orange zest.
4. Add half of the flour mixture and mix on low speed until incorporated.
5. Add the sour cream and mix, followed by the remaining flour and mix.
6. Add the chocolate chips and mix well.
7. Fill cupcake papers in a muffin tin to three quarters of the way up.
8. Bake for 20-25 mins until a skewer placed in the centre of the cupcake comes out clean. 
9. Allow to cool on a wire rack until completely cold. 
10. Melt the dark and white chocolate in two separate bowls.
11. Cover half the cupcakes in dark chocolate and half in white chocolate.
12. Put the remaining melted chocolate in piping bags and pipe three circles of dark chocolate on the white chocolate covered cupcakes in a target shape, starting with a dot in the middle and ending with a large circle close to the edge of the cupcake.
13. Repeat with white chocolate on the dark chocolate covered cupcakes.
14. Before the chocolate sets, drag a toothpick from the centre of the cupcake to the side. Repeat this process to around six points on the cupcake until you have the desired spider web effect.
15. Allow to cool until the chocolate is completely set.