Description
These Bloody Eyeball Cupcakes are a spooky and delicious treat perfect for Halloween or any creepy celebration. Featuring moist red velvet cake with a surprise cherry pie filling center, topped with creamy cheesecake frosting and a realistic eyeball candy, these cupcakes are sure to impress and delight your guests with their eerie appearance and delightful flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients on back of box
- 1 small box cheesecake instant pudding mix
Filling
- About 1 cup cherry pie filling
Frosting
- 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 stick butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 Tbsp cream or milk
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
Decoration
- Red sparkle food gel
- Eyeball gumballs (or another eyeball candy)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two muffin tins with about 16 cupcake liners and set aside.
- Make cake batter: In a large bowl, prepare the red velvet cake mix according to the package instructions until smooth and combined. Stir in the cheesecake instant pudding mix until fully incorporated.
- Bake cupcakes: Evenly portion the batter into the prepared muffin tins, filling each liner about 3/4 full. Bake for approximately 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with light moist crumbs. Remove from oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely.
- Core cupcakes: Using a small paring knife, gently cut out the center of each cooled cupcake to create a cavity. Discard the removed cake pieces.
- Fill cupcakes: Spoon cherry pie filling into each cupcake cavity, ensuring you get at least two cherries into the center of each one. Set aside filled cupcakes.
- Make frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla extract, and cream or milk for 1-2 minutes until creamy and smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar one cup at a time, mixing until the frosting becomes light, fluffy, and pipeable.
- Frost cupcakes: Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large open-circle tip. Pipe frosting high onto each cupcake, completely covering the cherry filling and cavity.
- Decorate: Using red sparkle food gel, draw squiggly lines up and down the sides of each frosted cupcake starting from the top center point to create a bloody effect. Top each cupcake with an eyeball gumball.
- Serve: Arrange and serve your spooky Bloody Eyeball Cupcakes immediately or store in refrigerator until ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before coring and filling to prevent melting frosting.
- If cherry pie filling is too thick, warm slightly for easier spooning into cupcake centers.
- For a sharper blood effect, allow the red sparkle gel to set slightly before serving.
- These cupcakes are best consumed within 2 days when stored in an airtight container refrigerated.
- You can substitute eyeball gumballs with other spooky themed candies if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
