Halloween Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup buttermilk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup hot water
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2-3 tablespoons milk
• Orange gel food coloring
• Black gel icing (in a tube or piping bag)
• Green gel food coloring
• ¼ cup powdered sugar (for green icing base)
• 1-2 teaspoons milk (for green icing base)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
3. In another bowl, whisk buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix into dry ingredients along with hot water until smooth.
4. Fill liners two-thirds full and bake for 18-22 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
5. Cool cupcakes completely on a wire rack before frosting.
6. Beat softened butter and gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and orange gel coloring to make the frosting.
7. Frost cooled cupcakes; use black gel icing for faces and prepare green icing for stems by mixing powdered sugar with milk and green food coloring.