Spider Web Cupcakes for Halloween

Spider Web Cupcakes are an easy way to add a creepy-cute touch to your Halloween dessert table. With dark chocolate or black frosting and a dramatic spun sugar web on top, they look impressive and a little spooky in the best way.

Start with your favorite cupcake flavor, then top each one with a swirl of dark frosting. The spun sugar web is made by melting sugar until golden and using a fork to fling threads of it over parchment paper to cool, then placing the delicate web over each cupcake. Add a candy spider or a chocolate dot for a simple finishing touch.

Helpful Tips

• Be careful when making spun sugar—melted sugar is extremely hot and should be handled with caution.
• Make the spun sugar webs just before serving to prevent them from dissolving in humidity.
• Use a greased fork or whisk to create the sugar threads quickly before the sugar sets.

You Might Also Like

• Spider Web Rice Krispies Treats
• Blackberry Skull Cupcakes
• Nutter Butter Mummies

Spider Web Cupcakes

Spider Web Cupcakes are an easy way to add a creepy-cute touch to your Halloween dessert table.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 12 cupcakes

Calories 524 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

For the cupcakes:

• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 large large eggs at room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup buttermilk at room temperature

For the frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• 3 cups confectioners sugar
• 1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 4-6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4-8 drops black food coloring optional

For the spider webs:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

 

For the cupcakes:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a cupcake pan with 6 liners. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla.
• Pour half of the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, along with half the buttermilk. Whisk for a few seconds. Repeat with the remaining wet ingredients and buttermilk. Stir just until combined; avoid overmixing.
• Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners to 1/2 full.
• Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.

For the frosting:

• With a handheld mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat butter on high speed for about 3 minutes or until creamy and lightened in color, scraping down the bowl as needed.
• Add confectioners sugar, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of heavy cream, vanilla extract, salt and black food coloring.
• Beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated. Increase speed and beat for 3 minutes, scraping the bowl several times. Add another tablespoon of heavy cream if needed to thin the frosting.
• Frost the cupcakes once cooled, using a butter knife.

For the spider webs:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepan, mix together corn syrup, sugar, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Once boiling, stop stirring and boil until the mixture reaches 300°F. This is “hard-crack” stage where the candy will be hard when cooled. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, boil for 10 minutes, then pour a tiny amount into cold water and see if it immediately hardens.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Working fast, dip the end of a whisk into the pan, then drizzle the sugar to create small round webs on the parchment paper.
• Let cool.
• Carefully peel the webs from the paper and stand them up on each cupcake.
• Place spiders carefully on each web.

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcalCarbohydrates: 74gProtein: 4gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 191mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 3gSugar: 64gVitamin A: 608IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Halloween

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!