🎃 Halloween Cupcakes!

Halloween is one of our favourite times of year here at Egg & Soldiers! It’s the perfect excuse to get creative in the kitchen — and our students have been doing exactly that.

One of our DofE students recently baked these amazing Spider Cupcakes 🕷️, chocolatey, spooky, and full of personality! They’re a brilliant example of how you can make your DofE Skills Section both fun and delicious.

 Spider Cupcakes by our DofE cookery student

Feeling inspired? You can make your own at home! The Vanilla Cupcake recipe below is the perfect base for your Halloween decorations, just add spooky buttercream and a little creativity for a frightfully fun bake.

🧁 Vanilla Cupcakes

Makes: 12

Preparation time: 40 minutes

Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

For the cupcakes:

• 3 eggs

• 150g margarine (such as Flora)

• 150g caster sugar

• 150g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

• 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional – helps give an extra rise)

• Cupcake cases

For the vanilla butter icing:

• 150g unsalted butter, room temperature

• 250g icing sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tsp hot water

• To decorate: Smarties, mini marshmallows, mini eggs, sprinkles, or any Halloween decorations of your choice

  
  

Directions

1. Preheat the oven:Preheat to 180°C / 165°C FAN / 350°F / Gas 4. Line a 12-section bun tin with cupcake cases.

2. Mix the cake batter:Weigh all the cake ingredients into a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric whisk for 1–2 minutes until light and creamy.If you don’t have an electric whisk, use a wooden spoon and beat continuously for 5–10 minutes until fluffy.

3. Bake:Divide the mixture evenly among the cupcake cases. Bake for 18–20 minutes until risen. To test if they’re cooked, insert a sharp knife or toothpick, if it comes out clean, they’re ready!

4. Cool:When cool enough to handle, transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack. Leave for at least 30 minutes before decorating.

Make the Vanilla Butter Icing

1. Mix the icing:Weigh all the icing ingredients into a bowl and beat with an electric whisk or wooden spoon until smooth and creamy.💡 Top Tip: Make sure your butter is soft (room temperature) — this helps it blend smoothly with the icing sugar.

2. Decorate:Spread (or pipe) a generous amount of icing on each cooled cupcake. Decorate with sweets, sprinkles, or your spooky Halloween designs!

Top Tip

Easy cupcake measuring trick:Weigh your unbroken eggs first — then use that exact same weight for the margarine, sugar, and flour.Don’t forget to add your teaspoon of baking powder. This simple method makes perfectly balanced cupcakes every time!

These cupcakes are simple to make, taste delicious, and are perfect for your DofE Skills Section bake. Add spider legs made from chocolate sticks or black liquorice and finish with edible eyes for a fun Halloween twist! 🎃

🕸️ Join the Fun

If you’re working towards your DofE Skills Section, you can complete the whole thing online with Egg & Soldiers. Our flexible cookery courses make it easy to:

• Learn to cook for your DofE from home.

• Get full DofE Assessor sign-off.

• Build skills that last well beyond your Award.

  
  

🎓 Ready to start your DofE online cookery course?👉 Join Egg & Soldiers today and earn your Skills Section with confidence — and maybe a few sprinkles!