One of my most favorite finds in my hunt for gluten-free vegan Halloween candy was the black licorice rope. I sat there for a few moments looking at the ingredients over and over again to ensure that I was reading it correctly. Once the shock wore off, I was so jazzed (like, the kind where you start tap dancing like a crazy woman*) because I have so been wanting to make these Black Widow Spider Cupcakes for, well, ever. Okay, that’s a little bit of an exaggeration.
*Please note that I have never taken a tap dance class.
Eeek, these little boogers make me so happy I just want to pinch the chocolate sprinkles off of them! I think I even caught one of them crawling on my arm… This is one insect that I would actually love eating.
Black Widow Spider Cupcakes
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 18 mins
- Total Time: 38 mins
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 c. Cara’s All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 c. cocoa powder
- 3/4 c. granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 3/4 tsp. xanthan gum
- 1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 c. nondairy milk (I use unsweetened almond)
- 1/3 c. mild-flavored oil
- 1 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
For the frosting:
- 1/2 c. non-hydrogenated shortening
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 1/2 c. cocoa powder
Extras:
- 2 packs gluten-free vegan black licorice rope
- 24 homemade vegan googly eyes
- gluten-free vegan chocolate sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line a muffin tin.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl and mix wooden spoon until just combined.
- Pour evenly into the muffin tin.
- Bake 16-18 minutes or until the tops of the cupcakes spring back after they are gently pressed down on. Remove from the pan and allow to fully cool on a wire rack.
- Beat the frosting ingredients with an electric mixer until fluffy. Coat each cupcake with a thin layer.
- Top with chocolate sprinkles, vegan googly eyes, and place the licorice legs in.
haha, cute spider! BTW – I found the perfect Vegan wine to pair with the Halloween’s sweets -the Deccolio Prosecco, I bought it in Whole Foods Market (it’s in their top 10)!!
Cara, I think I may have just pinned all of your Halloween-themed recipes on here. These cupcakes are melting my hear (even if they look like spiders, which I’m usually scared of).
Haha, that is great! I am beyond ecstatic that you are enjoying my Halloween schtuff 🙂
I love doing fun things with my cupcakes on Halloween, and these are so adorable!! 😀
These are so adorable!
And so are you!
So creative! I am loving your Halloween-themed posts — I am such a shambles when it comes to themed food that it’s great to have your blog as a resource for the holidays 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I’m so happy that you are enjoying it, Kate. This is one time of the year that I get the biggest kick out of what I do and I honestly think the majority of why I do a Halloween theme is just for me. haha. So glad someone else gets it and likes it as well 🙂 xo
Do you know what I hate? The fact that you have NEVER taken a dance class in your life…yet you can still dance better than me. I challenge you to a tap off. Winner bakes the loser these deliciously eery looking cupcakes!
Sure, I have. I spent many a night on the sidelines watching your dance classes. I picked up a thing or two 😉 Now just get me two empty Coke cans to put on my shoes and you got yourself a tap off!
You have taken my greatest fear and my least favorite licorice and turned it into one of the cutest and delicious sounding cupcakes ever. Now, this is one spider I could handle! However, I’d have to remove the legs before taking a bite. HA! How non-vegan does that sound?
HAHA! Love it Amanda. If you and I were to go to the movies together and share a bag of black and red licorice, I’d be one happy girl because I would have the black all to myself. Let’s go!
These are just too cute! I would love to make these for the kids at my office. Thanks for the idea! 🙂
I love it when kids are surprised with delight. Aw heck, it delights the inner child within 🙂 Hope they like them! xo
Where did you find the sprinkles?
Check this out Jeana: http://store.veganessentials.com/organic-sprinkelz-p949.aspx
Well done, Grasshopper. Do you think they can get to me up here on the chandelier (which I don’t own)? They’re creepy, they’re crawly and there is malice aforethought in those great big eyes. I think I just fainted.
I just like imagining a glass chandelier, hovering above your bed to delight you with tons of sparkles and dancing light for those moments you might need a good smile…