Spooktacular cupcakes

Halloween Cupcakes

One of the best times of year to get creative is Halloween, and these cupcakes are an easy way to get into the spooky season. You do not have to be a skilled baker to decorate these Halloween treats either — you'll be surprised how easy these cupcakes are to whip up.

The lemon provides a citrusy tang, while the ooey gooey blueberries, surrounded by fluffy cake, are more treat than trick.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp baking soda

⅓ cup oil (sunflower or canola)

⅔ cup yoghurt

2 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp lemon zest

½ cup sugar

¼ cup blueberries

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

Sieve together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, add yoghurt and sugar. Whisk well until sugar is completely dissolved.

To this mixture add oil, lemon juice and lemon zest (you can use ¼ teaspoon lemon essence if you don't want to use zest). Whisk well once again.

Now add the dry ingredients in two batches. Fold in gently.

Add fresh blueberries to the batter.

Place muffin liners in muffin tray. Fill each liner ⅔ of the way up. Add a couple of blueberries on top. (This recipe will make six to eight muffins).

Bake for 25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

After baking a batch of these cupcakes, it is time to use your creativity and decorate them to look devilishly delicious.

Whether you choose monsters, mummies, or some other spooky creature, Halloween cupcakes are sure to please every witch and goblin in sight.

Decoration ideas

200g cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

100g butter

2 cups icing sugar

Mix until light and fluffy.

To half of the cream cheese icing I added orange food colouring to give it a pumpkin look.

Spread the icing on the cupcakes. Then take some mini oreo biscuits and smarties or M&Ms and decorate the cupcake to give a spooky ghoul look.

Melt some dark compound chocolate and use a piping bag to make a creepy spider's web on top of the cupcake. You can also design it like a scary skull.

I also used some royal icing figurines (easily available in supermarkets or The Warehouse) to adorn my cupcakes with bats and ghosts.

You can also use sprinkles and gummies to add some extra fun to your Halloween cupcakes.