Description
Delight in these whimsical Groundhog Day Cupcakes featuring moist chocolate cupcakes topped with rich cocoa frosting and decorated with adorable groundhog faces made from cookies, candies, and frosting—perfect for a fun holiday treat or kids’ activity.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (plus eggs, oil, and water as directed) or your favorite homemade chocolate cupcake recipe
For the Frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For Decoration (to make the “groundhog”):
- Mini Nilla Wafers or round chocolate cookies (for the groundhog’s face)
- Mini marshmallows or white chocolate chips (for teeth)
- Chocolate chips or candy eyes (for eyes)
- Brown M&Ms or peanut butter chips (for ears and nose)
- Chocolate frosting (for attaching pieces and piping details)
- Crushed chocolate cookies or brownies (for “dirt”)
Instructions
- Bake the Cupcakes: Prepare cupcakes according to package or your favorite homemade recipe instructions, including eggs, oil, and water as needed. Bake for about 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter and unsweetened cocoa powder together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well. Then add milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost the Cupcakes: Using a spatula or knife, spread the chocolate frosting evenly over cooled cupcakes. Sprinkle crushed chocolate cookies or brownie crumbs on top to simulate ‘dirt’ around the groundhog.
- Create the Groundhog Faces: Press a mini cookie upright in the frosting to serve as the groundhog’s face. Use chocolate frosting as edible glue to attach candy eyes or mini chocolate chips for eyes. Add mini marshmallow halves or white chocolate chips for teeth. Press brown M&Ms or peanut butter chips for ears and nose.
- Add Details: Optionally, use a small piping tip to pipe extra frosting to add smile details, whiskers, or other facial features on the groundhog.
Notes
- Let kids decorate their own cupcakes for a fun and interactive Groundhog Day activity.
- You can prepare the groundhog faces ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to assemble on cupcakes.
- Use either store-bought cake mix or your favorite homemade chocolate cupcake recipe.
- Adjust frosting consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar as needed for easy spreading and piping.
