HALLOWEEN SPIDER WEB CUPCAKES

HALLOWEEN SPIDER WEB CUPCAKES

These cupcakes are fun to serve for a children's or adult Halloween party.

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened*

2 eggs

1 cup LAND O LAKES Sour Cream

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting

3 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened*

3 to 4 tablespoons milk

Glaze Ingredients

1 cup real semi-sweet chocolate chips

4 teaspoons shortening

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine sugar and 1/4 cup butter in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Add eggs; continue beating until creamy. Add sour cream, milk and vanilla. Continue beating until well mixed. Add all remaining cupcake ingredients. Reduce speed to low; beat until well mixed.
Fill each paper-lined muffin cup with about 2 tablespoons batter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.
Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in small bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency.
Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth (3 to 4 minutes). Place melted chocolate in small heavy-duty resealable plastic food bag; snip tip from one corner to make very small hole.
Frost 6 cupcakes at a time, using about 1 tablespoon frosting for each cupcake. (Decorate cupcakes before frosting hardens.) Place 3 concentric circles of melted chocolate on frosting. Starting at center, draw toothpick 5 or 6 times through chocolate circles to outside edge of frosting to make spider web design. Repeat with remaining cupcakes and frosting. Let stand until chocolate is firm.
*Substitute LAND O LAKES Soft Baking Butter with Canola Oil right from the refrigerator.
TIP: Microwave chocolate chips and shortening in small heavy-duty resealable plastic food bag on HIGH until chips are melted (30 to 60 seconds). Squeeze bag several times to combine melted chips and shortening. Yield: 2 dozen cupcakes