Wicked Witch Cupcakes

***Wicked Witch Cupcakes***

Ingredients:

24 brown mini M&Ms, plus more for filling (optional)
Hershey's Chocolate Cupcakes
Dirty Green Simple Buttercream
12 chocolate sugar cones
1 pound(s) black licorice laces, cut into 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, and 2-inch lengths
12 candy corns

Directions:

Using a melon baller, scoop out the center of each cupcake, and fill with mini M&Ms, if desired.

Cover the tops of each cupcake with a generous mound (about 1/3 cup) of buttercream. Insert one candy corn into each cupcake to form a nose. Using brown mini M&Ms, insert two into each cupcake to form eyes.

Place two short lengths of licorice above the eyes to form eyebrows for the witch. Place the shorter licorice lengths above the eyebrows to form bangs. Place an inverted cone on top of bangs, pressing gently into buttercream to adhere. Place the longer licorice lengths under the cone hat to form the hair.


Hershey's Chocolate Cupcakes:

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
6 tablespoons Hershey's Cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk, room temperature
1 large egg, lightly beaten, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup boiling water

Directions:

Place rack in center of oven and heat to 350 degrees. Line cupcake tins with 12 paper liners; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine cocoa, sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add butter, milk, egg, and vanilla. Using a hand-held electric mixer on medium speed, beat for two minutes. Add boiling water and beat to combine (batter will be thin). Divide batter evenly between cupcake liners.

Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Dirty Green Simple Buttercream:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds (6 sticks) butter, softened
1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Red and green food coloring

Directions:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt. Begin beating on low speed, increasing to high for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Using food coloring, tint the icing dirty green.




Recipe from Martha