Spooky bat cupcakes

Make a special Halloween treat for your friends and family, show off your baking skills with these delicious spooky bat cupcakes, guaranteed to make everyone smile.

Makes 12 cupcakes

150g self-raising flour

200g golden caster sugar

100g unsalted butter, softened and cubed

100ml whole milk

50g cocoa powder

1 large egg

½ tsp vanilla extract

Bat wings

12 Oreos or similar sized biscuits

Chocolate buttons or small marshmallows for eyes

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and line a 12 hole muffin tin with muffin cases, or large cupcake cases.

2. In a bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, a pinch of salt and leave to one side.

3. Beat together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. In a jug combine the egg, whole milk, and vanilla together, add to the sugar and butter mixture and then gradually add the flour mixture.

4. Divide between the cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden on top. Remove from the oven and

Buttercream Icing

100g salted butter, softened and cubed

150g icing sugar, sifted

25g cocoa powder

2 tbsp whole milk

50g chocolate, melted (optional) leave in the tin for a couple of minutes, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

5. For the buttercream, slowly beat the softened butter with the icing sugar, add the cocoa powder and beat again, gradually add the milk and fully combine. On full speed with an electric mixer beat the buttercream for at least five minutes until fluffy and smooth. Working fast, beat in the melted chocolate, fill a star tipped large pipping bag with the mixture and pipe a swirl over each cupcake. Leave in the fridge to harden the icing if required.

6. Cut 12 Oreos, or similar sized biscuits, in half using a sharp serrated knife. Place an Oreo half on each side of the piped butter cream swirl, securing them by tucking them into the butter cream. In between the two Oreo wings, add buttons or small marshmallows for eyes.

If you don’t have time to ice your cakes, simply cut a bat or pumpkin stencil, place it over your cupcake and sprinkle over the icing sugar, then remove the stencil to reveal your design.