Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to a perfect pull-apart cupcake cake?

The secret is to fill in all the gaps between the round cupcakes to create an even surface for your frosting. The brilliant and delicious trick in this recipe is to use large, soft marshmallows to fill in those gaps. They are the perfect size and shape, and they taste delicious!

Q2: What is marzipan, and is there a good substitute if I can't find it?

Marzipan is a sweet, pliable paste that is made from finely ground almonds, sugar, and a binder like corn syrup or egg whites. It is like a delicious, all-natural, and wonderfully flavorful modeling clay that is perfect for creating edible decorations. If you can't find it, you can use a similar amount of a white, rolled fondant instead.

Q3: Can I make this Halloween cake ahead of time for a party?

Yes, this is a perfect make-ahead centerpiece! The best method is to prepare all the individual components ahead of time (bake the cupcakes, make the frosting, and craft your decorations). Then, on the day of your party, the final, fun assembly will take just a few minutes.

Q4: Can I use a shortcut cake mix and frosting?

Of course! To make this recipe even easier, you can use your favorite box cake mix (a vanilla, yellow, or even a spice cake would be fantastic!) and a few tubs of your favorite store-bought buttercream frosting . You can simply stir some crushed cookies into the frosting to create the "dirt."

Q5: What is the best way to get the purple swirl in the cupcakes?

The key is to not overmix ! After you have separated your two batters, simply alternate dropping spoonfuls of the plain batter and the purple, grape jelly batter into your cupcake liners. You can then use a toothpick to give it one, quick swirl before you bake it to create a beautiful, marbled effect.

Pull-Apart Graveyard Cake (The Perfect Halloween Dessert!)

An elaborate and creative ‘Pull-Apart Graveyard Cupcake’ cake, perfect as a showstopper for a Halloween party. This dessert is constructed from 24 individual vanilla and grape-flavored cupcakes arranged in a rectangle. The gaps are filled with marshmallows, and the entire surface is frosted with a ‘dirty’ cookies-and-cream buttercream to resemble a single cake. The spooky graveyard scene is then built on top using various edible decorations, including ‘tombstones’ made from decorated cookies, marzipan ‘ghosts’ and ‘pumpkins,’ and a ‘fence’ made from black licorice.

Author: Grace

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup grape jelly
1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup milk
For the Frosting:
10 ounces (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons milk
10 chocolate sandwich cookies, coarsely crushed
For the Decorations:
15 large white marshmallows
1/4 cup finely crushed chocolate sandwich cookies
1 tablespoon black or dark green decorating sugar
Black and green decorating icing with tips
5 oval-shaped vanilla and chocolate sandwich cookies
One 7-ounce tube marzipan
3 round lollipops, wrapped
1/4 cup orange decorating sugar
Seven 8-inch pieces black licorice

Instructions

Make the Cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two 12-cup muffin tins.
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the sugar and eggs until foamy. Gradually pour in the melted butter and vanilla.
On low speed, alternate adding the dry ingredients and the milk to the egg mixture.
Remove 2 cups of the batter and stir in the warmed grape jelly. Fill the cupcake liners about two-thirds full, alternating dollops of the plain and grape batters.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the Frosting: Beat the butter and salt until fluffy. Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar, then the milk, until the frosting is a spreadable consistency. Stir in the crushed cookies.
Assemble and Decorate the Graveyard: Arrange the cooled cupcakes in 4 rows on a large platter. Fill the gaps between the cupcakes with marshmallows.
Spread the frosting over the entire surface of cupcakes and marshmallows to create a single ‘cake.’ Sprinkle with the finely crushed cookie crumbs and black decorating sugar to look like dirt.
Use black icing to write ‘RIP’ on the oval cookies and stick them into the cupcakes as ‘tombstones.’
Roll out marzipan, cut it into circles, and drape them over the lollipops to create ‘ghosts.’ Use black icing to dot on faces.
Roll remaining marzipan into balls, coat them in orange sugar to make ‘pumpkins,’ and place them around the graveyard.
Use green icing to pipe ‘grass’ and black licorice to create a ‘fence’ and an arched ‘gateway.’

Notes

This pull-apart cake is a great centerpiece for a party as it’s easy for guests to serve themselves by simply grabbing a cupcake.
The use of marshmallows to fill the gaps between cupcakes is a clever trick to create a smooth, unified surface for frosting.
The recipe involves many different decorating components, which can be prepared while the cupcakes are cooling.
The article references a ‘Cook’s Note’ that is not provided in the text.

Find it online: https://www.eatswithsoul.com/pull-apart-graveyard-cake/