Description
These Groundhog Day Cupcakes are a delightful chocolate treat perfect for celebrating the holiday. Moist cocoa cupcakes are topped with rich chocolate frosting and decorated with crushed graham crackers to resemble the ground, while mini chocolate chips, orange fondant, and pretzels create an adorable groundhog design. Fun to make and delicious to eat, these cupcakes are perfect for parties or seasonal celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcake Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup boiling water
Frosting Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp heavy cream (or milk)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Decorations
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (for eyes)
- 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers (for the ground)
- 1/2 cup orange fondant (or orange-colored candy) for the nose
- 1-2 pretzel sticks (for paws)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract together until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.
- Blend Batter: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Add Boiling Water: Gradually pour the boiling water into the batter while mixing. The batter will be thin, which is expected for moist cupcakes.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising.
- Bake Cupcakes: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Cool Cupcakes: Let the cupcakes cool in the pan for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring the frosting adheres properly later.
- Make Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter using an electric mixer on medium speed until it becomes creamy.
- Add Frosting Ingredients: Gradually add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the butter.
- Beat to Fluffiness: Continue to beat the frosting on high speed for 2-3 minutes until it is light and fluffy, perfect for spreading and decorating.
- Frost Cupcakes: Once the cupcakes are completely cool, spread a generous layer of chocolate frosting on each one.
- Create the Ground: Press crushed graham crackers gently into the frosting around the edges of each cupcake to mimic the ground.
- Form the Groundhog: Pipe or spoon a small mound of frosting in the center of the cupcake to build the groundhog’s body.
- Add Eyes and Nose: Place mini chocolate chips on the mound to create eyes, and shape a small piece of orange fondant or candy into a triangle for the nose.
- Attach Paws: Stick 1-2 pretzel sticks on each side of the frosting mound to resemble the groundhog’s paws.
- Optional Details: Use extra frosting to fashion ears or a tail if desired, giving your groundhog cupcakes extra character.
Notes
- Be sure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- The batter will be thin due to boiling water, which helps achieve moist cupcakes.
- You can substitute milk for heavy cream in the frosting for a lighter version.
- Orange fondant can be replaced with orange-colored candy or colored icing if unavailable.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
