Pioneer Woman Ghost Cupcakes Recipe

This Pioneer Woman Ghost Cupcakes Recipe is a chocolatey and spooky recipe, which is made with devil’s food cake mix and brewed coffee. It’s the perfect Halloween treat, ready in about 40 minutes plus cooling time.

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Pioneer Woman Ghost Cupcakes Recipe Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 (15.25 oz.) box devil’s food cake mix
• 1 1/4 cups brewed coffee, cooled
• 1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

For the Frosting:

• 1 lb. salted butter, slightly softened
• 7 cups powdered sugar (1 lb. 12 oz.)
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp. heavy cream
• Mini chocolate chips, for decorating

How To Make Pioneer Woman Ghost Cupcakes

1. Prep the oven and make the batter: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, cooled coffee, melted butter, and eggs. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes until smooth. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.
2. Bake the cupcakes: Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin cups, filling each about halfway. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Make the frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with a mixer at medium speed for about 2 minutes, until creamy. With the mixer on low, gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Beat in the vanilla. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 more minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Finish the frosting: With the mixer on low speed, gradually beat in the heavy cream. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 more minute until the frosting is fluffy.
5. Decorate the ghosts: Spoon the frosting into a large pastry bag fitted with a large, round piping tip (about 1/2-inch). To create the ghost shape, pipe three stacked, flat dollops on top of each cupcake, making each dollop smaller than the one below it. Place two mini chocolate chips on the top dollop for the ghost’s eyes.

Recipe Tips

• How do I get the richest chocolate flavor? The secret is using brewed coffee instead of water in the cake mix. The coffee deepens and enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cupcakes taste like coffee.
• How do I get the fluffiest frosting? Be sure to beat the butter until it’s creamy before adding the sugar. After adding the sugar, beating the frosting on medium speed for the full 2 minutes incorporates air, making it light and fluffy. The final whip after adding the cream is also key.
• How do I make the ghost shape without a piping bag? If you don’t have a piping bag, you can use a large zip-top bag. Spoon the frosting into the bag, press it into one corner, and then snip off the corner to create a makeshift piping tip.
• Why do my cupcakes need to be completely cool before frosting? This is a crucial step. If you try to frost warm cupcakes, the heat will melt the butter in the frosting, causing it to become a runny, soupy mess.

What To Serve With Ghost Cupcakes

These fun and festive cupcakes are the star of any Halloween party dessert table. They are perfect with:

• A cold glass of milk
• A scoop of orange-colored vanilla ice cream
• A platter of other spooky treats and Halloween candy

How To Store Ghost Cupcakes

Store: Store the frosted cupcakes in a cool place in a single layer in a tall, airtight container. They can be refrigerated for up to 24 hours; just be sure to let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving for the best texture.

Ghost Cupcakes Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 380 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 65g
• Protein: 3g
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Sodium: 350mg

Nutrition information is estimated per cupcake and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Gumdrops Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Flour Frosting Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Banana Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe