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Skeleton Cupcakes

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By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Oct 18, 2023
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These adorable skeleton cupcakes are so easy to decorate with just two ingredients–yogurt-covered pretzels and a can of Betty Crocker™ white icing. From our top-selling Betty Crocker Big Book of Cupcakes, this clever recipe is as fun to make as they are to eat!

Skeleton Cupcakes

  • Prep Time 60 min
  • Total 2 hr 0 min
  • Servings 24
  • Ingredients 16
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Ingredients

Cupcakes

  • 2 cups Gold Medal™ all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
  • 3/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3 oz unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons milk

Skeletons

  • 24 yogurt-covered or white chocolate-covered pretzel twists
  • Betty Crocker™ white decorating icing (from 6.4-oz can)
Make With
Gold Medal Flour

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups.
  • Step 
    2
    In medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; set aside. In small bowl, mix hot water and cocoa until dissolved; set aside.
  • Step 
    3
    In large bowl, beat shortening with electric mixer on medium speed 30 seconds. Gradually add granulated sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl occasionally. Beat 2 minutes longer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in 1 teaspoon vanilla. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about 1/3 of mixture at a time, and cocoa mixture, about 1/2 at a time, beating just until blended. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each with about 2/3 full.
  • Step 
    4
    Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans; place on cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
  • Step 
    5
    In large bowl, mix butter and chocolate. Stir in powdered sugar. Beat in 2 teaspoons vanilla and 3 tablespoons of the milk. Beat in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until smooth and spreadable. Frost cupcakes.
  • Step 
    6
    Place 1 pretzel in center of each cupcake for chest of skeleton. Use decorating icing to draw and fill in head, arms, legs and feet of skeleton. To create eye sockets and mouth openings, insert toothpick into white icing in head; move toothpick in tiny circular motions to move icing away so chocolate frosting shows through.

Nutrition

280 Calories
14g Total Fat
2g Protein
38g Total Carbohydrate
27g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cupcake
Calories
280
Calories from Fat
120
Total Fat
14g
21%
Saturated Fat
8g
41%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
60mg
19%
Sodium
220mg
9%
Potassium
50mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate
38g
13%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
27g
Protein
2g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
8%
8%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
4%
4%
Iron
4%
4%
Exchanges:
1 1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 2 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2 1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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