These choc hazelnut witches’ cupcakes are a fun and spooky treat perfect for Halloween. With their rich chocolatey base, hint of hazelnut, and playful witch hat toppers, they’re just as much fun to make as they are to eat. A great recipe to whip up with kids or bring to a themed party.
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Alright I'll confess. I already have a bowl of lollies (candy) sitting on the kitchen bench ready for the trick-or-treaters.
I have my low-key decorations by the front door ready to hang first thing on Thursday but I still need to decide on an appropriate outfit to greet the trick-or-treaters in.
I'm anticipating that I'll have to be ready early as they tend to hit the streets before dinner time and before it gets dark. I'm a little bit excited can you tell?
If I knew my neighbours better - would you believe we've hardly met anyone yet? - I would probably offer home-baked goodies rather than store-bought rubbish. Maybe next year?
Wouldn't you rather be given an choc hazelnut witches cupcake rather than a Fantail? I certainly would. I've seen a cute way of packaging them up on Pinterest where you place a single cupcake in a clear plastic cup then wrap it up with cellophane. It looks adorable and stops them getting damaged.
They might even survive an hour in a bucket full of candy.
For some reason I associated hazelnut with witches. Could be form hearing witches hazel perhaps? Who knows how my brain works sometimes.
It really doesn't matter what sort of cupcake you hide below the pointy hats but I'd encourage you to make these.
They're so light and fluffy it's a bit like eating a ferrero rocher in cake form. I could eat the choc-hazelnut icing with a spoon (ok so maybe I did eat a little straight from the bowl, for research purposes only).
Don't feel restricted to Halloween either. Feel free to leave the hats right off and decorate as you like for choc hazelnut cupcakes suitable for any occasion. Enjoy!
What about you? Would you rather wrapped lollies or baked treats in your trick-or-treat basket?
Recipe
Choc hazelnut witches cupcakes
Ingredients
Cakes
- 100 g dark chocolate chopped
- ¾ cup water
- 100 g 3oz butter, softened
- 1 cup 220g firmly-packed brown sugar
- 3 free-range eggs
- ¼ cup 25g cocoa powder
- ¾ cup 110g self-raising flour
- ⅓ cup 35g hazelnut meal
Icing
- 2 tablespoon butter softened,
- 2 tablespoon choc-hazelnut spread
- 2 cups icing confectioner's sugar
- milk or water to thin the icing
- black cupcake cases for the witches hats
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 160C fan-forced and line two 12-hole muffin tins with cupcake liners (recipe makes about 18).
- In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate and water, stirring, over low heat until smooth.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy then add the eggs, one at a time.
- Take the bowl off the stand and fold in the sifted cooca and flour then the hazelnut meal and finally the melted chocolate mixture.
- Divide the batter between the cupcake liners filling them about ⅔ of the way.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Leave to rest in the tin for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- While the cakes are cooling, make the icing by beating the butter and hazelnut spread together with and electric mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Slowly add the icing sugar and when it is mixed in, add a little milk or water at a time until the icing is spreadable.
- Beat until fluffy.
- When the cakes are cool, pipe the icing over the top.
- To make the witches hats, flatten out the cupcake liners then fold them in half wrapping them like a cone shape. Use a staple to hold the two sides together then spread out the 'brim' of each hate and poke out the point.
- Place a hat on top of each cake.
Nutrition
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Such a fun idea for Halloween, I love chocolate hazelnut desserts!
Rachel says
Hi Claire, I am really enjoying your blog. We have just moved to Ascot (I think you may be near here or were near here) from the south of France (and before that London) and we are BIG foodies! I came across your blog when researching restaurants on Racecourse Rd :) We have only been here a few weeks and I am so missing the wonderful markets in our town Menton (and Ventimilgia)! I went to 2 markets in Menton every single morning for my produce! :( I liked your blog about birthday cakes. Funnily I have found Jocelyn's Provisions and have been there 5 times in 4 weeks (on the bus! as we can not decide on a car!). I am going to be out trick or treating tomorrow with my kiddies although I do not know what I am going to give the kiddies who come to our house. Anyway, I should be unpacking boxes as our container arrived a couple of days ago instead of trawling the internet!
Claire says
Hi Rachel! Welcome to the area! We are not far away so you might even knock on our door tonight. Just look for the big pregnant bellied-lady holding the pumpkin bucket. If you need any tips to do with the area for any reason feel free to send me an email [email protected] Have fun tonight!
Hotly Spiced says
I love the witches' hats. They look so cute. I do hope you get a lot of trick or treaters. I must go out and find Alfie a costume! xx
Claire says
Ooh what's he going to be? I'm sure you'll share his costume with us right?
Jennifer @ Delicieux says
Your cupcakes are adorable Claire! I hope you get a lot of trick or treaters. We don't have many in our neighbourhood, and most of the kids don't even bother dressing up, they just knock on the door in search of lollies.
Claire says
See I think I'll have to make a rule, no costume, no candy!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
Such a fun idea. I'd definitely rather have one of your fabulous cupcakes than packaged candies.
Claire says
I bet you get a lot of trick or treaters Barbara!
Glamorous Glutton says
These are very cute, clever witches hats. Trick or treating hasn't really been around in the UK long enough to have had home made treats it seems to be bought sweets all the way. Perhaps for fear of the same thing happening here as has happened in the US with adulterated baked goods. GG
Claire says
Isn't it sad? Oh well I guess I can save my home-baking for Birthday parties!
celia says
So cute, Claire! I hope you get lots of trick or treaters! :)
Claire says
Thanks Celia! Me too!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Aww they're so cute! I can't wait to go trick or treating!! :D
Claire says
I can't wait to hear about it!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
It's been many years since Americans gave homemade treats on Halloween. Too many horror stories of stupid people putting razor blades or bug poison - thinking they were being funny. Most parents won't allow kids to eat one piece of candy before they go through every single one to make sure it hasn't been tampered with. Scary. and they have guns. :)
Love your little cupcakes!
Claire says
That's so sad Maureen. So so sad! I did make sure that all my treats were individually wrapped for that reason. Why do people have to ruin it for everyone?!
Barb Bamber says
The days of home baked treats are in a distant past in Canada. It's a shame, because the ones someone has created are so much better than the boxes of mini-chocolates we all buy. I think the variety of treats dumped out on the floor at the end of the night must be disappointing these days! Love your little witches hats!!
Claire says
It's such a shame Barb! Luckily I have a big warehouse candy store nearby so I could get something a little different but still individually wrapped.