Halloween Cupcakes with Mascarpone Whipped Cream

Halloween Cupcakes with Mascarpone Whipped Cream

This cupcake recipe is a basic recipe that you can always use when you want to make chocolate cupcakes. It is creamy, airy, and has a delicious chocolate taste. And that basic recipe also applies to the mascarpone frosting.

Delicious on a vanilla cupcake, but also good to combine with chocolate. The Mascarpone frosting is very easy to make. And it has a creamy taste. Two basic recipes in one blog.

Mascarpone or cream cheese frosting, what is the difference?

When frosting is made, it is often based on cream cheese or mascarpone. But what is the difference, and can you replace them?
 
 The difference is mainly in taste. Mascarpone is a bit softer and less pronounced. There is also a difference in making the recipe. First, you mix cream cheese with butter and mix until it is lump free. Then, the mascarpone frosting is mixed with cream.

Recipe of cream cheese frosting

If you can't get any mascarpone, make a cream cheese frosting by mixing ½ stick (50 grams) of unsalted butter with four oz. (100 grams) of cream cheese, ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and 2 cups (250 grams) of confectioner's sugar. Mix everything well.

This frosting is sufficient for this recipe.

Chocolate cupcakes

• Cocoa - For the chocolate flavor in a cupcake.
• Hot water - To dissolve the cocoa.
• Self-rising flour - Self-rising flour is flour mixed with baking powder. You can also replace this by mixing 1 ¼ cups (150 grams) of flour and ½ teaspoon baking powder.
• Salt - A pinch of salt balances the flavor.
• Butter - Butter, unsalted. Remove the butter from the refrigerator half an hour before use, so it is at room temperature.
• Sugar - "Normal" sugar. Sometimes it is advised to use fine sugar. That dissolves better in the cupcakes. I've tried it, but it doesn't matter much for the result.
• Eggs - bind the batter when baking. Use eggs, size L.
• Vanilla Extract - If you can get it, use natural vanilla extract, which has a slightly deeper flavor than artificial vanilla extract. With this recipe, you can make vanilla extract (and indeed, if you bake a lot, it is highly recommended because you can use this for a reasonable amount of time).
• Sour Cream - Adding sour cream to the batter makes the cake creamy (not dry).

Mascarpone Whipped Cream

• Cream and Mascarpone - You get a mascarpone frosting by whipping the cream with the mascarpone. Make sure you buy a cream that can be whipped.
• Confectioner's sugar - Because the cream mixture stiffens quickly, use confectioner's sugar. It dissolves quickly and mixes well. Ordinary sugar would give crystals in the result.

Topping

• Cotton Candy (optional) - Cotton candy can be obtained from online candy stores and fairs.

How to prepare Chocolate Halloween Cupcakes with Mascarpone frosting

You can find a printable recipe with a step-by-step description at the bottom of this blog.

1. Melt the butter with the sugar. Place in a bowl and beat on medium speed for 5 minutes. Add the cocoa paste, eggs, and vanilla batter, and mix until smooth. Turn the mixer to low and mix in the self-raising flour and salt. Mix until just blended. Then add the sour cream and mix it in slowly.
2. Divide between the cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 °F (180 °C). Let stand for 5 minutes and release on a wire rack. Let cool to room temperature.
3. Put the cream in a bowl and mix until stiff. In a second bowl, combine the mascarpone with the icing sugar on a low setting until well blended. Spoon the whipped cream into the mascarpone and mix well.
4. Put the mascarpone frosting in the piping bag and make a swirl on the cooled chocolate cupcakes.

Serving - Do you want to make the cupcakes in Halloween style? Then drape some cotton candy on top of the mascarpone frosting just before you serve it (not before, otherwise, the sugar in the cotton candy will melt away).