WHAT YOU NEED
For the cupcakes:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup applesauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- Black sprinkles for decoration
For the buttercream frosting:
- 1 cup Miyoko's European Style Butter, Salted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon vegan milk
- 3 cups powdered sugar
WHAT YOU DO
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cupcake pan with liners.
- For the cupcakes, in a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. In another larger bowl, combine sugars, vanilla, oil, applesauce, and apple cider vinegar. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix until combined.
- Into prepared cupcake pan, scoop batter. Bake for 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
- For the buttercream frosting, using a hand or stand mixer, beat butter, vanilla, and milk until creamy. Slowly add powdered sugar and beat until smooth and fluffy.
- Using a pastry bag fitted with a large round tip, pipe frosting on top of each cupcake into the shape of a ghost. Add sprinkles for eyes and a mouth, and any other fun decorations you’d like.
Makes 12 cupcakes
Tips:
Don’t have sprinkles? Use chocolate chips for the ghost eyes and mouth.
For a stronger vanilla flavor, swap the vanilla extract for ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
To pipe the perfect cupcake, hold piping bag perpendicular to the cupcake and pipe a circle around the outside edge. After completing a full circle, move inward to create the next circular layer. Do it one more time, and you’ll have a swirl of delicious buttercream!
For a stronger vanilla flavor, swap the vanilla extract for ¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
To pipe the perfect cupcake, hold piping bag perpendicular to the cupcake and pipe a circle around the outside edge. After completing a full circle, move inward to create the next circular layer. Do it one more time, and you’ll have a swirl of delicious buttercream!
