Halloween Spooky Sweet & Salty Cupcakes

🎃 Spooky sweetness, anyone? 👻 These Halloween cupcakes are topped with Black Hawaiian Sea Salt & Himalayan Pink Salt for a delightful sweet-and-salty surprise! 🧁 Perfect for any Halloween gathering!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Yields: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

• 1 box favorite cake mix
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 stick butter
• 3 eggs (or as instructed on cake mix box)
• 24 cupcake liners

For the Buttercream Frosting:

• 3 sticks softened butter
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (plus extra for black cocoa frosting)
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 bag powdered sugar (2 lbs) plus 3 cups
• 1 tbsp caramel extract (optional)
• 1 to 1.5 cups black cocoa powder
• Orange food coloring
• Bolner’s Fiesta Brand Black Hawaiian-Style Sea Salt
• Bolner’s Fiesta Brand Himalayan Pink Salt
• Halloween or Fall-themed sprinkles, party favors, or toppers

Instructions

Prepare the Cupcakes:

Follow the instructions on the cake mix box, substituting milk for water and butter for oil. If the box requires different ingredient quantities, follow those. Bake according to box instructions and allow to cool completely.

Make the Buttercream Frosting:

1. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, whip the softened butter until smooth.
2. Slowly add the heavy whipping cream and vanilla extract, scraping down the sides as needed to fully incorporate.
3. Gradually add the powdered sugar on low speed until well blended. If a salted caramel flavor is desired, add the caramel extract at this time.

Color the Frosting:

1. If making both orange and black frosting, separate the buttercream into two portions.
2. In one portion, mix in orange food coloring until you reach the desired color.
3. For the other portion, add black cocoa powder in a stand mixer. Gradually add extra heavy whipping cream (approximately 1/2 cup) until the frosting reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency.

Frost the Cupcakes:

Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes using Wilton piping tips 4B and 2D for variation.

Decorate:

1. Decorate immediately after frosting, while the buttercream is still moist.
2. Sprinkle Bolner’s Fiesta Brand Black Hawaiian-Style Sea Salt over the orange-frosted cupcakes and Bolner’s Fiesta Brand Himalayan Pink Salt over the black-frosted ones.
3. Add Halloween or Fall-themed sprinkles, toppers, or party favors for a festive touch.