Description
Delight in these whimsical Groundhog Day Cupcakes, featuring moist chocolate cupcakes topped with creamy chocolate frosting and charming groundhog designs made from mini chocolate chips, orange fondant, pretzel sticks, and crushed graham crackers to mimic the earth. Perfect for celebrating Groundhog Day or any fun occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 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
- 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 Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well blended.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract together until smooth and combined.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix.
- Add Boiling Water: Gradually stir in the boiling water to the batter, mixing until smooth. The batter will be thin, which is normal.
- Fill Cupcake Liners: Pour the batter evenly into the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool Cupcakes: Remove cupcakes from oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare Frosting: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.
- Add Frosting Ingredients: Gradually add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt to the butter.
- Beat Frosting: Beat on high speed for 2-3 minutes until the frosting is light, smooth, and fluffy.
- Frost Cupcakes: Once cupcakes are fully cooled, frost each generously with the chocolate frosting.
- Create Ground Effect: Press crushed graham crackers around the edges of each frosted cupcake to simulate the ground.
- Build Groundhog Body: Make a small mound of frosting in the center of each cupcake for the groundhog’s body.
- Add Eyes and Nose: Use mini chocolate chips to create eyes and mold a small triangle of orange fondant or candy for the nose, placing it on the frosting mound.
- Add Paws: Attach 1-2 pretzel sticks on each side of the frosting mound to resemble the groundhog’s paws.
- Optional Details: Use extra frosting to form ears or a tail for additional decoration.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- The batter will be thin due to boiling water—this is normal and results in moist cupcakes.
- You can substitute heavy cream with milk in the frosting if desired.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour blends instead of all-purpose flour.
- Use orange-colored candy if fondant is not available for the groundhog’s nose.
- Store cupcakes in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
