Chocolate Jack O’Lantern Cupcakes for Halloween

One of my favourite Halloween stories is about Jack and his lantern. But, the original Jack O’Lantern is not a pumpkin at all! This is an Irish legend and there are no pumpkins in Ireland. The ancient Celts used to carve turnips on All Hallow’s Eve, and placed an ember in them, to ward off evil spirits. The Irish brought the tradition of carving pumpkins into Jack O’Lantern to America, but who was Jack?

Origin of Jack O’Lanterns

Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who took pleasure in playing tricks on just about everyone. One day he met the Devil himself, but before he could take him, Jack tricked him into climbing up an apple tree. After the Satan climbed up, Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. Unable to touch a cross, the Devil was stuck in there. Jack asked the Prince of Darkness to promise him not to take his soul when he died. The Devil agreed and Stingy Jack removed the crosses, so he could climb down.

Many years later, Jack died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was mean and cruel, and had led a miserable, worthless life on earth. Stingy Jack was not allowed to enter Heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Satan. However, the Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. Jack had nowhere to go, but to wander about forever in the dark Netherworld between heaven and hell. He was scared and asked the Devil how he could leave, as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell, to help him light his way. The old drunkard had a turnip with him. It was one of his favourite foods, and he always carried one with him. Jack hollowed out the turnip, and placed the ember inside. From that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his “Jack O’Lantern”.

Most people don’t know or have forgotten the original legend, and pumpkins remain the most popular Halloween decoration. That is we could have not not make Jack O’Lantern Cupcakes. The decoration is super easy to make but eye-catching and cute! You’ll surely impress all your friends and family.

Ingredients for 12 Jack O’Lantern Cupcakes:

• 150 g all purpose flour
• 100 ml milk
• 75 g sugar
• 75 g butter, softened
• 50 g chocolate chips
• 25 g cocoa powder
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp salt

For the Jack O’Lantern Decoration:

• 100 g orange candy melt
• 20 g dark chocolate
• 12 big raisins or almonds for the pumpkin stem
• 6 green jelly beans (we used Haribo Troppifrutti)

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and place cupcake cases into the muffin baking tray.
2. In a big bowl, whisk together the softened butter and sugar.
3. Mix in the egg, milk and vanilla.
4. Add in the sifted flour, baking powder, cocoa, salt and chocolate chips and mix until well combined. 
5. Pour the mixture into the cupcake cases and fill until 3/4 full. Bake for about 30 minutes and place them onto a cooling rack until completely cool.

Jack O’Lantern Cupcakes Decoration:

1. Melt the orange candy melts in a double boiler.
2. Frost the cupcakes using a spoon or piping bag.
3. Place the raisins (or almonds) into the top front of each cupcake to make a pumpkin “stem”.
4. If you are using Haribo Tropicana jellies, take the green one that has the shape of a palm tree and cut it in half. Place a half (or a whole jelly bean) next to each stem to make a green leaf.
5. Melt the dark chocolate and pour into a piping bag with small nozzle attached. Draw eyes and mouth to make it look like Jack O’Lantern face.

Bon appetit and have a spooky Halloween!