Broken glass mini cupcakes and sugar paste pumpkin-topped minis


How's your Halloween prep coming along ? We don't actually celebrate it here , some people just go to Lan Kwai Fong to party , that place is known for its Halloween street party . But some estates here especially the ones with lots of expats do celebrate it by trick or treating . Back home in the Philippines ,we celebrate the next day after Halloween and it's called All Soul's Day . We don't do trick or treating or donning a Halloween costume on the night of October 31st but in the past few years some people do it the American way . The food we usually prepare at home is valenciana , sort of like paella and suman , a sticky rice cake made of glutinous rice , sugar and coconut milk . Visiting the cemetery is a must , bringing candles , flowers and food . Nowadays , All Soul's Day , Filipino-style is a more festive atmosphere , sort of like picnic , in the cemetery .


I decided to make a Halloween-themed cupcakes when I discovered the already expired orange and green sugar paste . The first chocolate cupcake recipe that I tried turned out bland and since I overfilled the liners , the cupcakes look like a mushroom . I tried another recipe and was quiet happy with the utterly chocolaty taste and it's fudgy , too . Though some didn't quiet reach the lip of the liner so , I cheated a bit and cut some smaller cupcake in half and transfer it to some not-so quiet high cupcakes hah ! I bought a new sugar paste , the orange though is more like a neon orange as you can see and the pumpkin looks like a bell pepper *sigh* I like the broken glass cupcakes the most but my broken glass looks spotty and not quiet clear . Oh well , they don't look half-bad , right ?! lol

Are you sure you have enough candies for the trick or treaters ?!


For the cupcakes : 

Please check original recipe @ Taste.com.au 

125 grams unsalted butter , cut into small dices

185 ml water
1 1/2 tablespoons instant coffee powder
100 grams semi-sweet chocolate chips , chopped
75 grams all-purpose flour
75 grams self-raising flour
40 grams ( Valrhona ) dutch-processed cocoa powder
30 grams ground almonds
1 egg , lightly whisked

* Preheat oven to 160°C . Line mini muffin pans with liners . I used 18  2 1/4 x 1 1/4 x 1 1/2-inch mini muffin liners .

* Combine the butter , water , sugar , coffee powder and chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat . Cook , stirring from time to time , until mixture is smooth . Take off from heat and let cool slightly for 10 minutes . 

* Combine the 2 flours and cocoa powder and sift over the chocolate mixture , use a wire whisk and mix until just combined . Add the egg and stir to combine . Divide mixture into the prepared pan , ideal amount in each liner is three-quarters ( 3/4 ) full . 

* Bake for 20-22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out with some moist crumbs . Cool completely on a wire rack . 

 For the cream cheese frosting :

Recipe adapted from Jamie's America , page 38 

170 grams cream cheese , at room temperature
57 grams butter , at room temperature
1 cup icing sugar , I used scant 1 cup 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
zest and juice of 1 lemon  , I used half zest and juice 

* In a medium bowl , combine cream cheese , butter , vanilla and zest and lemon juice ; sift in the icing sugar . Use a whisk or electric beater and mix until smooth . Spoon or pipe onto cupcakes . 

For the " fake blood "

3 tablespoons ( or more if prefer )  raspberry jam , strained 
1/4 teaspoon strawberry paste 

* In a small saucepan , combine jam and paste , stir over medium heat for about 20 seconds . Transfer to a small saucer and let cool before using .

For the "broken glass " aka  clear caramel 

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart 

3/4 cup granulated sugar
6 tablespoons water 

* Prepare a lightly oiled rimmed baking sheet , set aside .

* In a small saucepan , combine sugar and water , cook over medium heat , don't stir , for 6 to 7 minutes ( depending how thick the saucepan and the stove your using ) or until mixtures starts to turn light gold around the edges . Take pan off heat , pour over clear caramel into the prepared baking sheet , tilt pan to spread caramel over the edges to make a thin layer . Let cool to harden . Break clear caramel into pieces . 

For the sugar paste pumpkin : 

 orange and green sugar paste 

* Roll a small amount of orange sugar paste into a ball , use a pairing knife or a scraper to make a shallow cut around to resemble a pumpkin . Make a small indentation on top and insert in a very small amount of green sugar paste . You can make as many as you like . 

Comments

  1. Hi Ann!
    I don't go all out for Halloween. It isn't one of my favorite holidays. When I was younger, we also celebrated All Soul's Day. Perhaps even more than Halloween.

    I do love the creativity people explore for Halloween cooking though. It's much like the costumes where anything goes which is sually fun. These cupcakes are a perfect example. A bit more effort but oh so worth it. They are a wonderful addition to a Halloween celebration!

    Thanks for sharing, Ann...

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  2. Hi Anne, I like your Halloween themed cupcakes..... especially the bloody one :)

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  3. Hi Anne, These cupcakes look so pretty with the broken glass on top. Look festive and yummy!

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  4. I love the decorations of the cupcakes, esp. the idea of broken glass - beatiful! It would also serve prefectly during cold winter for let's say Christmas cupcakes.
    we do not celebrate Haloween, we celebrate 1 November also the way you do - by going to cemeteries and churches, no special food is prepared. Well, if you meet with a family you prepare a dinner but with no obligatory menu.

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  5. Hi Anne,
    We don't actually celebrate Halloween over here, but for the past few years it has been gaining popularity.
    Your cupcakes looks wonderful and so perfect for Halloween theme!

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  6. 你们那里的万圣节肯定很热闹吧?
    我们这里的气氛是淡淡的,嘻嘻

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  7. Deliziosi e supergolosi!!!
    Buona serata

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  8. Hi Anne,
    How are you?
    Oh! I love your lovely cupcakes. The broken glass on the cupcakes looks awesome.
    mui

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  9. Anne, if you had not mentioned all the things that had gone wrong with your cupcakes, we would have never guessed them looking at your photos! :-) I don't also celebrate Halloween, but always up for some fun and good food :-)

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  10. Hi Annie, wow..your cupcake look so gorgeous and beautiful. Love the broken glass topping, look so good. I like your cute cute, dot dot cupcake liners. :))
    Excellent clicks.

    Best regards
    Amelia

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