Halloween is not celebrated widely in Australia, but as I have several friends who now live in Australia, but are originally from North America, it seemed a good idea to have some Halloween cupcakes to celebrate. The cupcake recipe can be used for any celebration or special occasion.

The recipe is taken from a magazine which I think was Delicious.

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups plain flour

1 cup castor sugar

½ cup good quality cocoa powder

1 large egg

1 cup buttermilk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

¾ teas baking powder

1 teas vanilla extract

2 tbls rum

Butter cream icing coloured orange and black fondant for Halloween shapes

1. Preheat oven to 180°C (less for a fan forced oven, 160°C) and place paper cupcake cases in a muffin tray.

2. Sift flour, sugar, cocoa and baking powder into a large bowl.
3. Combine the buttermilk, egg, oil, vanilla extract and rum in a jug and mix well.
4. Pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients and beat well to combine.
5. Divide the cake batter between 10 cupcake cases.
6. Cook, in the middle of the oven, for approximately 25 minutes.
7. Allow the cupcakes to cool on a wire rack.
8. Decorate with buttercream icing and Halloween shapes or a chocolate ganache for other occasions.