Candy Corn Cupcakes and Lessons Learned

by megan on October 20, 2009

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I have seen versions of candy corn cupcakes in magazines and on several recipe sites. In my first attempt to make some candy corn cupcakes, I used a cake mix and poured the colored batters into a dark nonstick cupcake pan. Unfortunately, they baked faster than I expected, and they were a nice golden brown on the outside rather than yellow and orange. I didn’t feel like running back out to the store, but I was determined to make some candy corn cupcakes. I found a basic cupcake recipe on cooks.com, and started mixing up the ingredients. Then came the next roadblock…no vanilla extract. I did some research for vanilla extract substitutes, and decided to substitute an equal amount of maple syrup. Guess what? It worked, and gave the cupcakes a nice flavor. I also used cupcake liners the second time around, and no browning occurred…the candy corn colors were nice and bright. The time required in the kitchen to make these colorful cupcakes is not long, unless you are learning lessons along the way like I did!

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Candy Corn Cupcakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 box of white or yellow cake mix prepared according to directions on the box or your favorite basic cupcake recipe prepared
  • red food coloring
  • yellow food coloring
  • your favorite white icing recipe or store bought icing

Directions:

  1. Prepare cake mix.
  2. Divide cake mix evenly between two bowls.
  3. Add drops of yellow food coloring to one bowl of batter, and mix until desired shade of yellow is reached.
  4. Add red and yellow food coloring to the other bowl of batter, and mix until desired shade of orange is reached.
  5. Fill cupcake liners 1/4 full with yellow batter.
  6. Top yellow batter with orange batter, filling an additional 1/4 full.
  7. Bake cupcakes according to directions from the box or recipe.
  8. Cool, and then top with icing and desired candy or other Halloween decorations.

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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }

Phoebe @ Cents to Get Debt Free October 20, 2009 at 1:00 am

What a cute idea! I might just make these for the teacher’s Halloween “gifts.”

Shelby October 20, 2009 at 1:02 am

Very cute Megan!

Jessica @ How Sweet It Is October 20, 2009 at 1:24 am

So cute! I love them! I just made some regular cupcakes tonight and topped them with candy corn. I wish I would have seen this first!

Mandy October 20, 2009 at 1:45 am

These turned out super cute! good job! Thanks for the tips, too, we might try these later this week!

lk - healthy delicious October 20, 2009 at 1:49 am

so pretty!!!

Barbara October 20, 2009 at 1:55 am

Cute idea! I bet the kids loved them!

Estela @ Weekly Bite October 20, 2009 at 2:36 am

Those cupcakes look super cute! I can’t believe I’ve never seen Candy Corn Cupcakes before!

sue October 20, 2009 at 2:36 am

omg! these are too cute, and so easy to make! now i just need to learn how to pipe my icing so it doesn’t look like a big mess!

Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries October 20, 2009 at 2:36 am

Look delicious!!

donna October 20, 2009 at 3:03 am

These look perfect. Love the layers.

Julie @savvyeats October 20, 2009 at 3:10 am

These are adorable! :)

Alisa - Frugal Foodie October 20, 2009 at 4:06 am

Wow Megan, those really did turn out gorgeous!

Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) October 20, 2009 at 8:04 am

So cute!

Jennifer (Savor) October 20, 2009 at 1:03 pm

This is so cool Megan! I volunteered to make soemthing for a Halloween spooky walk/Fundraiser and these would be perfect!

stephchows October 20, 2009 at 2:08 pm

great advice, and super tasty looking cupcakes! I’m always up for learning from others :) That’s why I post about all my kitchen fails! hehe

Lynne October 21, 2009 at 3:37 am

These are adorable!

Runeatrepeat October 21, 2009 at 5:32 pm

This is the cutest recipe!! Love.

miss v October 22, 2009 at 12:11 pm

cute idea! i love the two-toned batter – these would be great with any halloween topping – fabulous!

Pumpkin October 22, 2009 at 1:28 pm

Adorable! Candy corn is my favorite halloween treat… but I do like cupcakes, and these are cupcakes topped with candy corn… so they may win. These would be so cute for a kid to take to school for a Halloween party. (Do they still have those?)

zestycook October 23, 2009 at 12:02 am

WOW – Great Idea Megan! Love them

Tammy October 23, 2009 at 3:01 pm

Fun! I love Candy Corn! Have you tried the Candy Corn Hershey Kisses? As much as I love Candy Corn, those sound gross…

Mimi (Damn the Freshman 15) October 24, 2009 at 6:29 am

Daaamn, tasty! Food just tastes better when it’s a crazy color.

Louise October 28, 2009 at 8:13 pm

Hi Megan,
I stumbled upon these adorable cupcakes while in search of recipes to celebrate National Candy Corn Day on Friday. (always the day before Halloween:) I must have been here before because, I found you in my custom search engine. Perhaps, it was in my “shy” days:)

Anyway, I would love to “grab” your link for my post (the picture would be wonderful too!) Do you mind if I do??? Your Candy Corn Cupcakes are simply irresistible.

Thank you so much for sharing…

Heather D October 11, 2010 at 4:29 pm

If you want to use a recipe involving vanilla, you can buy clear vanilla extract at a craft store (Michaels, JoAnns, etc.) or a local cake shop.

Looks like fun!

Gordon June 26, 2011 at 4:23 pm

wow, love your talent. Wish I was this creative.

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