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owl cupcakes
cookingwithmykids

Owl cupcakes

5 from 1 vote
These cute owl cupcakes are really easy to make and a huge hit with kids! Simply use some chocolate buttons to decorate your favourite chocolate cupcakes!
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Decorating time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Afternoon tea
Cuisine: American, British
Calories: 453
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 4 tbsp water boiling
  • 40 g (1/3 cup) cocoa powder
  • 3 eggs large
  • 175 g (3/4cups) butter unsalted
  • 165 g (¾ cups) golden caster sugar
  • 115 g (1 cup) self raising flour*
  • 1 tsp baking powder
For the chocolate buttercream
  • 60 g (0.25 cups) butter unsalted
  • 60 g (1/2 cup) cocoa powder
  • 250 g icing/confectioners sugar
  • 3 tbsp milk
To decorate
  • 1 x 120g pack Giant chocolate buttons
  • 2 x 70g pack chocolate buttons
  • 1 x 70g pack white chocolate buttons
  • 24 small chocolate balls
  • 12 red smarties

Method
 

Preheat your oven to 180C / 170C Fan / 350F and get your kids to line a muffin tin with paper cases
    Make a chocolate paste
    1. Measure the cocoa powder into a small bowl. Add the boiling water and mix together until you have a chocolate paste. Set it aside for now.
    Mix the eggs and sugar.
    1. Measure the sugar and butter and add them to a large bowl or freestanding mixer. Using a hand held mixer or the k paddle of your mixer to beat them together until it has turned light and fluffy.
    Add the eggs
    1. Crack the eggs into a small bowl and then add them to your mixture.  Mix the eggs into your mixture until it is well combined.
    Add the flour and baking powder
    1. Measure the flour and baking powder out and add them to your mixing bowl. Then give it another mix until it has all come together.
    Add the chocolate paste
    1. Finally, add the chocolate paste you made at the start and mix everything together one final time, so that there are no lumps or bits. If you need to, use a spatula to scrape down the sides, to make sure nothing is stuck at the bottom.
    Bake your chocolate cupcakes
    1. Spoon the cupcake batter into each of your cupcakes cases so they are about ¾ full.
    2. Bake the cupcakes in the oven for around 12-15 minutes. They are ready when  they have risen a little, made a slight crust on top and a skewer poked in the middle should come out clean.
    3. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for a few minutes, then pop on a wire rack to cool completely.
    Ice the owl cupcakes
    1. To decorate the cupcakes, first you need to make the chocolate buttercream. Measure the butter and cocoa powder and add it to a mixer. Beat them together until it's nice and smooth.
    2. Add the icing sugar and start to beat it in really slowly. Add the 3 tbps of milk so your mixture is less dry and comes together into a smooth buttercream.
    Decorate the owl cupcakes
    1. To make the owls, spread the buttercream on the cupcake with a palette or butter knife.
    2. Arrange the small chocolate buttons over one half of the cupcake to look like the owl's feathers starting at one edge and overlapping the next line on top.
    3. Add the owl's eyes – we used a little of the chocolate buttercream to stick a white chocolate button on to a giant one, and then stuck a chocolate ball on top. Then add them to your owl.
    4. Finally, turn a Smartie on it's side and push it down into your cupcake for the owls' beak.