Spiderweb Cupcakes | Oct31st.org

Yields: 2 Dozen

40 Min Prep Time | 1:30 Min Total Time

Cupcake Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
2 Land O Lakes® All-Natural Eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
3 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
3 to 4 tablespoons milk (or Half & Half or Fat Free Half & Half/Milk)

Glaze:
1 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips
4 teaspoons shortening

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cups into 24 muffin pan cups; set aside.

2. Combine sugar and 1/4 cup butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Add eggs; continue beating until creamy. Add sour cream, milk and vanilla. Continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add all remaining cupcake ingredients. Beat until well mixed.

3. Fill each paper-lined muffin cup with about 2 tablespoons batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

4. Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency.

5. Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth (3 to 4 minutes). Place melted chocolate in small heavy-duty resealable plastic food bag; snip tip from one corner to make very small hole.

6. Frost 6 cupcakes, using about 1 tablespoon frosting for each cupcake. Immediately pipe 3 concentric circles of melted chocolate onto each frosted cupcake. Starting at center, draw toothpick 5 or 6 times through chocolate circles to outside edge of frosting to make spider web design. Repeat with remaining cupcakes and frosting. Let stand until chocolate is firm.

7. For Glaze. Place chocolate chips and shortening in small heavy-duty resealable plastic food bag. Microwave on HIGH (100% power) until chips are melted (30 to 60 seconds). Squeeze bag several times to combine melted chips and shortening.