Description
Delightfully spooky Ghost Cupcakes featuring moist chocolate cupcakes topped with a fluffy, glossy meringue frosting shaped like ghosts, decorated with chocolate trees and sprinkles for a festive Halloween treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 1 chocolate cake mix (including eggs and other ingredients according to package directions)
Chocolate Trees
- 1/3 cup chocolate melting wafers (preferably Ghirardelli)
- Chocolate and colored sprinkles
Meringue Frosting
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup cold water
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Cupcakes: Begin by following the package directions to bake the chocolate cupcakes. Once baked, allow them to cool completely to avoid melting the frosting later.
- Make Chocolate Trees: Line a baking sheet with waxed paper for easy removal. Melt the chocolate wafers in a double boiler or microwave until smooth. Transfer the melted chocolate into a piping bag or plastic baggie and snip a small tip off the corner. Pipe tree shapes approximately 2 to 3 inches tall and thick enough to avoid breaking once hardened. Before the chocolate sets, decorate with chocolate and colored sprinkles to resemble leaves. Chill in the refrigerator until solid.
- Prepare Meringue Frosting: Using a double boiler, combine sugar, cold water, egg whites, and cream of tartar. Beat constantly with an electric mixer on high speed for 10 to 13 minutes, periodically scraping down the bowl to prevent sticking. Cook until the mixture reaches 160°F on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract, and continue beating for about one minute until the frosting is fluffy with soft to stiff peaks.
- Frost Cupcakes: Apply a base coat of meringue frosting on each cupcake to cover the surface evenly.
- Pipe Ghosts: Using a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe a mound of meringue frosting in the shape of a ghost on top of each cupcake. Add two dark-colored sprinkles to create eyes for each ghost.
- Assemble Decorations: Carefully peel the hardened chocolate trees off the waxed paper and press them into the cupcake behind each frosted ghost to complete the spooky scene.
Notes
- Chocolate cupcakes topped with meringue frosting shaped into ghosts create the perfect Halloween dessert centerpiece.
- Ensure the chocolate trees are thick enough for stability and chill properly before assembly.
- Meringue frosting needs careful temperature monitoring to reach the right consistency and safety.
- Use a candy thermometer to accurately measure the temperature during frosting preparation.
- Work quickly with the frosting as it can start to stiffen as it cools.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 189 kcal
- Sugar: 33 g
- Sodium: 158 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 0.4 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
