Dirt and Worm Cupcakes

A friend from college said that one of her best childhood memories was a birthday party that her mom had planned for her. In place of cake, her mom served dirt and worm cups out of a pot that had a flowers growing in the middle. I imagine it looked something like this.

This week's baking challenge, "candy decorations", left room for lots of creativity. As soon as I thought of gummy worms paired with oreo crumbs and chocolate, I couldn't think of anything else I'd rather make.

Instead of pudding, these worms call chocolate frosted chocolate cupcakes their home. Unfortunately, this wasn't good enough for the dirt cup enthusiast in my life, so the worms found themselves in a totally unique (read: diabetes-inducing) environment.


Here, the cupcake is more of an island, surrounded by the pudding-loving worms. It's a dirt bowl! The best of both worlds.

Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
slightly adapted from G.R.

these quantities makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup and 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  
• 3/4 cup and 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup and skim milk
• 1 tablespoon light sour cream
  

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin pan with 12 baking cups.

In a medium bowl, beat the sugar and butter together until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla, mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture, alternating with the milk and the sour cream. Stir until just blended.

Scoop the batter into the prepared cup liners, dividing the batter evenly.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or when toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan set on a wire rack. Frost and serve.


Rich Chocolate Frosting
By Amy Via

These quantities make enough for a dozen cupcakes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter, cut into cubes, softened
• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup and 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk

Directions
In a medium mixing bowl, cream butter. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, cocoa and vanilla. Add enough milk until frosting reaches spreading consistency.

For Dirt & Worm Topping:
1 row of Oreos, crushed.
1 package of gummy worms

Place Oreo crumbs into a small bowl. Frost cupcakes.

Using a pairing knife, cut a small triangle portion from the top of the cupcake. Stuff half of a gummy worm into the little triangle space. Fill remaining space with more chocolate frosting. Dip cupcake tops into the bowl of crushed Oreos, making sure to lift the worm and covering entire surface.