Monster Eye Cupcakes or Googly Eyed Monster Cupcakes

Directions

1. Set your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2. In a bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, kosher salt, and Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
3. In another medium bowl, combine vegetable oil and packed light brown sugar. Stir in vanilla extract and melted dark chocolate until well blended.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir gently until just combined. Do not overmix. Then stir in buttermilk until the batter is smooth.
5. Using an ice cream scoop or spoon, divide the batter among the lined muffin cups. Bake for 20–21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack.
6. In a medium bowl, whip the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. (Optional: add sugar to taste; I didn’t add any.) Divide the whipped cream evenly into three smaller bowls.
7. In separate small bowls, melt the orange, green, and black candy melts in the oven (or microwave) at 30-second intervals, stirring between each. Gently fold each melted color into one bowl of whipped cream, so you have three colored frostings: orange, green, and black.
8. Transfer each colored frosting into its own piping bag fitted with a nozzle of your choice.
9. Pipe the frosting onto the cooled cupcakes in any pattern you like. Place candy eyeballs randomly on top. Your Monster Eye Cupcakes are ready to serve!