Kitty Cat Halloween Cupcakes

My latest creation for our Vegkins Annual Halloween Party. I wanted to do something simple, but festive. The head of the cat was made using a 1M frosting tip, but you could replicate it by using a large sandwich bag and cutting a large hole in the corner utilizing a 'homemade'  frosting bag.

To make the eyes, I used vegan "M & Ms," but Skittles would work well too. The pupils were drawn on using an edible ink marker (Wilton makes these). The nose is simply lightly dyed pink vanilla frosting. The ears are chocolate wafer disks cut into quarters*. These were from Trader Joe's. Lastly, the whiskers and nose were made using vanilla frosting.

*Tip: In glass measuring cup boil water in the microwave. Put the knife in it for a few seconds before quartering the chocolate.

Chocolate Wacky Cake Recipe

3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups cool water
2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. vinegar
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together dry ingredients. Mix in wet ingredients, being careful to scrape the sides of the bowl. Only mix until well combined. Fill lined muffin/cupcake pan with liners and fill them 1/2 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely until frosting.

Makes 3 dozen cupcakes

Fluffy Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Sticks
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 tsp. vanilla
4-6 Tbsp. non-dairy milk
2/3 cup cocoa powder
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Cream together the margarine, vanilla and shortening. Slowly mix in powdered sugar, cocoa powder and non-dairy milk, alternating between the two. Once mixed well, beat for about ten minutes until frosting is nice and fluffy. Add more powdered sugar or soy milk to obtained desired texture.