Description
These Bloody Eyeball Cupcakes combine moist red velvet cake with a cherry pie filling center and creamy cheesecake frosting, decorated with red gel and eyeball gumballs for a spooky Halloween treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 box red velvet cake mix, plus ingredients on back of box
- 1 small box cheesecake instant pudding mix
- About 1 cup cherry pie filling
Frosting
- 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 stick butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons 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 your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line 2 muffin tins with about 16 cupcake liners and set aside.
- Mix Cake Batter: In a large bowl, prepare the red velvet cake mix according to package directions until smooth. Stir in the cheesecake instant pudding mix until fully incorporated.
- Bake Cupcakes: Divide the batter evenly among the lined muffin tins, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with light moist crumbs. Let cupcakes cool completely.
- Core Cupcakes: Using a small paring knife, carefully cut out the center of each cupcake, removing and discarding the middle pieces to create a cavity for filling.
- Fill Cupcakes: Spoon cherry pie filling into each cupcake cavity, aiming to get at least two cherries inside each for a juicy center. Set aside.
- Make Frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat cream cheese, softened butter, vanilla extract, and cream together for 1-2 minutes until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, about one cup at a time, until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Pipe Frosting: Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large open-circle tip. Pipe frosting high onto each cupcake, ensuring the filling is completely covered.
- Decorate: Use red sparkle food gel to draw squiggly lines up and down the sides of the frosting from the top center point of each cupcake. Top each cupcake with an eyeball gumball candy.
- Serve: Serve these spooky, delicious cupcakes at your Halloween party or any fun occasion!
Notes
- Use full-fat cream cheese and butter for the creamiest frosting texture.
- Make sure cupcakes are completely cooled before coring and frosting to prevent melting.
- Cherry pie filling can be substituted with raspberry or strawberry preserves for a different fruity flavor.
- If eyeball gumballs are not available, use white chocolate balls decorated with edible markers or candy eyes.
- Red sparkle food gel can be found at specialty baking stores or replaced with red piping gel.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg
