Here it is, summer is on the horizon and end-of-the-year parties are in full swing. What a perfect occasion for a fun and cheerful dessert to share with family and friends! Check out these yummy gummy worm cupcakes, and be sure to read on for tips on decorating them. It looks like little worms wriggling through the grass. Adorable!
Gummy Worm Cupcakes
This recipe makes 24 regular size cupcakes. Want to know a little secret? The cupcake recipe is from the back of an old unsweetened cocoa container from long ago. Seriously, you know that means it will be the best!
Dark Chocolate Cupcake
Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups boiling water
1 cup butter at room temperature (2 sticks)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 T chocolate syrup (optional)
To Make:
1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cocoa and boiling water. Stir until blended.
3. Let the cocoa mixture cool down completely.
4. With a mixer, beat butter until soft and creamy.
5. Add powdered sugar to butter gradually, and beat until well blended.
6. Add eggs, one at a time and blend well after each one.
7. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir.
8. Add half of the well-stirred dry ingredients to the butter mixture and beat on low speed.
9. Add half of the cocoa mixture to the butter and beat on low speed until blended.
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until well blended.
11. Add the chocolate syrup and blend.
12. Spray 24 cupcake liners with cooking spray and fill each cup about 2/3 full with batter.
13. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
14. Allow cupcakes to cool in their pan for 10 minutes and then transfer them to cooling racks to cool completely.
15. Frost with the green “grass” icing (see recipe below).
GREEN GRASS ICING
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 T vanilla extract
2 T cold milk
Green food gel
Gummy Worms (I used sour gummy worms)
Crushed Oreo cookies
To Make:
1. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter.
2. With an electric mixer on low, add half of the sugar until well blended.
3. Add the rest of the sugar and beat on medium speed until smooth.
4. Add food green gel until you reach your desired color of dark green grass.
5. NOTE: to thin icing, add 1 T milk and to thicken the icing, add 1 T powdered sugar.
How to Make Grass Icing on Cupcakes and Finish the Cupcakes
METHOD:
1. Fill 3/4 decorating bag with green icing and attach a Wilton #233 tip.
2. Hold the decorating bag straight up and squeeze to create a glass blade.
3. Immediately after squeezing, pull up and away when the icing strand is about 1/2 inch. Stop squeezing and pull the tip away.
4. Be sure to keep the strands together so none of the cupcake shows through.
5. NOTE: for a more natural grass look, you can pull the tip slightly to the left or right.
6. Visit Wilton’s Youtube channel HERE for a video tutorial, if needed.
7. Lay a gummy worm on top of each cupcake.
8. Lightly sprinkle crushed Oreo cookies on top of the gummy worm and cupcake to resemble “dirt.”
Don’t these look like so much fun? They’re sure to be a big hit among kids and grown ups, too! Pair it with a matching beverage by making this Gummy Worm Slushy Punch.
For more ideas for tasty desserts, check out these recipes for Sweet Celebration Cupcakes, Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes, and Chocolate Avocado Frosted Cupcakes.