Halloween’s vanilla cupcakes

These Halloween cupcakes are moist, tasty and fun to make. They are decorated with delicious vanilla buttercream, coloured in Halloween vivid orange and black colours. Perfect for your next Halloween party with elegance.

Why you’ll love these Halloween vanilla cupcakes with velvety buttercream

Cupcakes are very versatile, so this recipe can be used for any occasion, you just play with the colours of the frosting. I decided to make Halloween themed cupcakes and orange and black coloured buttercream is the best way how to express spooky season. Look at these vivid colours of orange and black frosting. Aren’t they gorgeous?

In this guide, you will find how to achieve the best orange and black coloured buttercream. How easy it is to make these tasty vanilla cupcakes in Halloween colours. You can adapt the orange colour for pumpkin themes cupcakes and black colour for the more spooky Halloween characters.

I have started to enjoy Halloween, when I first had my kids. For me, it’s all the baking, spooky decorations and then of course this sweet trick or treat.  Who doesn’t want candies, right? My kids love Halloween as much as I do. We decorate, bake, cook everything in the theme of Halloween, we make so many spooky treats, like gelatin warms in Oreo crumbs mud. We dress up the whole week in different costumes.

And the pumpkin carving, yes this is actually the biggest competition in our family.  We buy at least 5 pumpkins and everybody carves. Big pumpkins, small pumpkins, any kind of pumpkins.  And I can’t wait to do so this weekend!

Back to these delicious and easy to make vanilla cupcakes. Even my 8-year-old kids are able to get together the cupcake batter. And the decoration, wow every year they get better and better, I think I know where the talent is coming from.

Ingredients

Vanilla cupcakes

• All-purpose flour: Is the base for the cupcake dough and provides structure, shape and texture of the cupcakes.
• Granulated sugar: Helps sweetens the cupcakes, making them more enjoyable to eat. It also makes the cupcakes moist and brown slightly the cupcakes during the baking.
• Baking soda: Is one of leaving agent, helps the cupcakes to rise and be light and fluffy.
• Baking powder: Help cupcakes to rise.
• Soft unsalted butter: Provides moisture and richness, altogether flavour and tenderness.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together. Adds structure and moisture to the cupcakes.
• Milk: Adds moisture and flavour. Use warm temperature milk.
• Vanilla extract: Enhance the taste.
• Salt: Balance the sweetness and other flavours.

Orange & black buttercream

• Soft unsalted butter: Forms the base for buttercream, having rich and creamy texture.
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the buttercream, allowing it to hold its shape.
• Whole milk: Helps the buttercream to have an ideal shape. Add more or less of milk, to have velvety buttercream.
• Vanilla extract: Infuses the buttercream with delightful vanilla flavour.
• Gel food colouring (orange & black): Ads vivid orange and black colour to the buttercream.

How to make vanilla cupcakes

1. Preheat oven to 177 C / 350 F, middle rack. Prepare muffins tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set the bowl aside.
3. In a bowl of a standing mixer, cream softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar, until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
5. With the mixer on a low speed, gradually add room temperature milk and sifted dry ingredients. Do not overmix.
6. Using a scoop, evenly distribute the batter among 12 paper liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
7. Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18- 20 minutes. Check the donness with inserted toothpick into the centre of a cupcake.
8. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the muffin tin for a few minutes. Then move them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

How to make vanilla buttercream in orange and black colour

When you say buttercream, you want fluffy and creamy texture, which smells like vanilla. I love buttercream, but prefer less sweetened, so this version of buttercream is less sweet, then any other recipe you will find on the internet. And, if it is still too sweet for you, then reduce the amount of sugar, as well as liquids.

1. In a standing mixer, cream the butter for about 8–10 minutes. This will help the butter to be fluffier and whiter.
2. Lower the speed to minimum and start adding half of the quantity of powdered sugar. Mix until the sugar is well incorporated. Then add the other half of the powdered sugar and continue to mix on low speed, until sugar is fully incorporated.
3. Add vanilla extract and slowly add one by one the four tablespoons of milk to thin a buttercream. Continue to mix until the milk is fully incorporated, and the mixture is light and fluffy. If the buttercream is too stiff, add an extra tablespoon of milk.

FAQ

How do I store vanilla cupcakes with orange buttercream frosting?

Store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, refrigerate them for up to a week, but bring them to room temperature before serving for the best taste and texture.

Can I freeze these cupcakes?

Yes, you can freeze cupcakes with orange buttercream frosting. Place them in an airtight container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then store in the freezer for up to 2–3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Can I make these cupcakes gluten-free or dairy-free?

Yes, you can adapt the recipe to be gluten-free or dairy-free by using suitable substitutes like gluten-free flour or dairy-free butter and milk. Be sure to check ingredient labels for allergen information.

Can I make mini cupcakes with this recipe?

Yes, you can make mini cupcakes by adjusting the baking time. Mini cupcakes will typically bake faster than regular-sized ones, so keep a close eye on them to prevent overbaking.

More Halloween recipes

• MARSHMALLOW FRANKENSTEINS
• WITCHES FINGERS FROM PIZZA DOUGH
• PUMPKIN PIE SPICE CHEESECAKE BARS
• PUMPKIN SPICE CHEESECAKE TART
• BLACK FOREST CUPCAKES

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