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Perfect Black Velvet Cupcakes with Easy Orange Buttercream

black velvet halloween cupcakes - featured image
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These spooky black velvet cupcakes are incredibly moist and tender, topped with a bright and zesty orange buttercream. They look like a gothic masterpiece but taste like pure comfort, making them the perfect Halloween treat.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (188g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon (5g) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup (120ml) vegetable oil
  • ½ cup (120ml) buttermilk, room temperature
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons black gel food coloring
  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3–4 cups (360-480g) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest
  • 2–3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • Halloween sprinkles (optional)
  • Orange sanding sugar (optional)
  • Black licorice strings (optional)
  • Candy eyeballs (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together vegetable oil, buttermilk, egg, vanilla extract, and white vinegar until smooth.
  4. Add 1 tablespoon of black gel food coloring to the wet ingredients and whisk vigorously. Add more if desired for a deeper color.
  5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together with a rubber spatula until just combined (about 20-30 seconds). Do not overmix.
  6. Divide the batter evenly among the 12 prepared liners, filling each about ⅔ to ¾ full.
  7. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  8. Let cupcakes cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. While cupcakes cool, make the buttercream: In a large bowl, beat softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
  10. Add sifted powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating on low speed after each addition.
  11. Add orange zest, 2 tablespoons orange juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until light and airy. Add more orange juice if too thick, or more powdered sugar if too thin.
  12. Once cupcakes are completely cool, pipe the orange buttercream onto each cupcake using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
  13. Decorate with Halloween sprinkles, sanding sugar, or other decorations as desired.

Notes

Use gel food coloring, not liquid, for the best black color. Room temperature ingredients are key for a tender crumb. The color deepens as the cupcakes cool. For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. For a dairy-free version, use plant-based buttermilk and dairy-free butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: black velvet cupcakes, Halloween cupcakes, orange buttercream, spooky cupcakes, black cupcakes, fall dessert, easy cupcake recipe

Find it online: https://cravemila.com/perfect-black-velvet-cupcakes-with-easy-orange-buttercream/