Jack O Lantern Cupcakes With Flat Top Frosting
Jack O Lantern Cupcakes With Flat Top Frosting- Get into the spooky spirit with these Halloween cupcakes featuring perfectly flat top frosting—ideal for creating adorable and eerie pumpkin faces!
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It’s time to add some spooky fun to your baking with these Jack-o’-Lantern Cupcakes! With smooth, flat top frosting, they’re the perfect canvas for transforming your cupcakes into cute and creepy pumpkin faces. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just want a festive treat, these cupcakes are as fun to decorate as they are to eat. Grab your frosting, food coloring, and get ready to turn your kitchen into a pumpkin patch of deliciousness!
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Jack O Lantern Cupcakes With Flat Top Frosting
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I used the following Vegan chocolate cupcake and buttercream recipe, but any recipe will do.
Ingredients for the vegan chocolate cupcakes:
1/2 cup almond milk
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
For the vegan buttercream:
1 cup Vegan butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and add cupcake liners to a muffin tray.
In a small bowl, whisk together the almond milk and the apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the all-purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together.
Add the almond milk/apple cider vinegar to the flour mixture along with the vegetable oil and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
How to Make Flat Top Frosting on Cupcakes
To create a smooth, flat top buttercream frosting on cupcakes, follow these steps for a professional finish that’s perfect for decorating:
1. Frost the Cupcake
- Start with a fully cooled cupcake.
- Apply a generous dollop of frosting (buttercream, cream cheese, or another frosting) on top of the cupcake. It should be slightly higher than you want the final surface to be.
- I used a large coupler with no tip
2. Cut Parchment Paper Squares
- Cut small squares of parchment paper, about 3×3 inches or large enough to cover the top of the cupcake.
3. Press the Cupcake on to the Parchment Paper
- Place a square of parchment paper on a flat surface.
- Gently press down the cupcake on to the paper.
5. Refrigerate or Freeze
- Place the cupcakes in the fridge with the parchment paper still on top for 10-15 minutes to allow the frosting to firm up.
- If placing in the freezer, do so for 5 minutes
6. Remove the Parchment Paper
- Once the frosting is set, carefully peel off the parchment paper. The frosting will remain flat and smooth on top. If the parchment paper doesn’t easily peel off, cool for longer.
7. Add the Faces
- If any edges are rough, you can gently smooth them with a spatula or knife. You can now add sprinkles, drizzle, or decorations!
This method is perfect for achieving sharp, flat tops on your cupcakes, ideal for intricate designs or a clean, modern look!
Jack O Lantern Cupcakes With Flat Top Frosting
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 tsp Pure vanilla extract
For the Vegan Buttercream
- 1 cup Vegan butter, room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp Pure vanilla extract
Instructions
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and add cupcake liners to a muffin tray.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the almond milk and the apple cider vinegar. Set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add the all-purpose flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk together.
- Add the almond milk/apple cider vinegar to the flour mixture along with the vegetable oil and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
- Fill the liners until they are slightly more than 1/2 full. Bake for 22-24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place them on a cooling rack.
For the Vegan Buttercream
- Make sure the cupcakes are throughly before decorating. While the cupcake are cooling, prepare the vegan buttercream frosting. Add the room-temperature butter to a stand mixer bowl (or use a mixing bowl and hand mixer). Beat until smooth (about 2 minutes).
- Add the powdered sugar and and mix until it is incorporated. Add the pure vanilla extract and mix until combined.
- If your icing is too thick, you can add 1 tbsp of almond milk at a time. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar.
Looking for more easy recipes like this Jack O Lantern Cupcakes With Flat Top Frosting?
Vegan Caramel Apple Upside Down Cake
Vegan Apple Spice Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting
Amazing Vegan Hot Chocolate Cookies
I love seeing your finished recipes! If you enjoyed making this Jack O Lantern Cupcakes With Flat Top Frosting or any of my other plant-based recipes, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, just tag me @ginamicheleny. Happy baking!
