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Dracula Cupcakes with Bloody Strawberry Filling

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These Dracula cupcakes are the ultimate Halloween treat—rich chocolate cupcakes with a creepy-cool strawberry ‘blood’ center, topped with fluffy marshmallow frosting and a chocolate crumb Dracula hairline. Perfect for spooky parties or festive baking fun!

  • Author: Julia
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Yield: 12 cupcakes
  • Category: Dessert, Halloween
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp instant espresso powder
  • 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup strawberry jelly
  • Red gel food coloring
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups Marshmallow Fluff
  • 2 cups (230 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup crushed chocolate graham crackers or chocolate wafer cookies (about 8 sheets)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners. Mix espresso powder with 1/2 cup hot water and let cool.
  2. Sift dry ingredients (flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt) in a large bowl.
  3. In a stand mixer, beat wet ingredients (egg, milk, oil, vanilla). Add sugar and cooled espresso; mix until combined.
  4. Slowly add dry ingredients, mixing until batter is glossy and runny. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full.
  5. Bake 18–20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
  6. Scoop out centers of cooled cupcakes using a melon baller (about 3/4″ deep). Mix strawberry jelly with red gel food coloring and fill each cupcake hole with ~1 tsp of jelly. Refrigerate remaining jelly.
  7. For frosting, beat butter until smooth. Add Marshmallow Fluff, mix in powdered sugar gradually, then beat in vanilla and salt until fluffy.
  8. Add a dollop of frosting over the jelly, smoothing carefully. Chill cupcakes for 20 minutes.
  9. Cut a heart-shaped parchment stencil. After frosting flat layers, press into chocolate crumbs using stencil to form Dracula’s hairline.
  10. Use a toothpick or squeeze bottle to add “bloody fangs” with leftover jelly mixture.

Notes

  • For more intense flavor, try raspberry or cherry jelly.
  • Chocolate chips can be added to the batter for extra texture.
  • Skip espresso by using plain hot water if preferred.
  • Vanilla frosting works great for a kid-friendly version.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameals.com/dracula-cupcakes-with-bloody-strawberry-filling/