Bloody Eyeball Cupcakes
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Recipe type: Cakes/Cupcakes
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 16
 
These gory cupcakes take creepy to a whole new level! Moist red velvet cake is filled with a squishy surprise cherry pie "eyeball" filling and is topped with a luscious swirl of cream cheese icing, drippy red "blood" and an eyeball gumball for a true horrifically delicious cupcake!
Ingredients
  • 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
  • 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
  • ½ stick butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tbsp cream or milk
  • 4-5 cups powdered sugar
  • Red sparkle food gel
  • Eyeball gumballs (or another eyeball candy)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 muffin tins with about 16 liners and set aside. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, prepare the cake mix according to package directions until smooth and combined. Stir in the pudding mix until incorporated.
  2. Evenly portion the batter among the muffin tins, filling about ¾ of the way full. Bake for approx. 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean or with light moist crumbs. Cool completely, then core the cupcake's centers out. For this, I use a small paring knife, insert the knife into the cupcake, and gently remove the center of it. Discard the center pieces.
  3. Using a small spoon, fill the cupcake cavities with the cherry pie filling, trying to get at least 2 cherries in the center of each cupcake. Set the cupcakes aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla and cream with the paddle attachment for about 1-2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time, until frosting is light and fluffy. Pour the frosting into a piping bag attached with a large open-circle tip.
  5. Pipe the frosting high onto the cooled & filled cupcakes, ensuring you completely cover the center cavity. Repeat with remaining cupcakes. Take your red sparkle gel and begin drawing squiggly lines up and down the sides of the cupcake, centering from the top point of the cupcake. Place an eyeball gumball onto the tippy top of the cupcake and serve!
Recipe by The Domestic Rebel at https://thedomesticrebel.com/2014/10/04/bloody-eyeball-cupcakes/