Blood Clot and Brain Cupcakes-Happy Friday the 13th for tomorrow!

February 12th, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

Look away if you’re squeamish and if you’re not, peer into my dark mind. As you may know, Halloween is my kind of holiday. Sure, I live in the wrong country for this as we don’t really celebrate it but give me Friday the 13th as an interim measure between the long year that stretches between Halloweens. I love anything dark and ghoulish so I was excited to be able to have a little bit of Halloween in February. Nothing bad has ever happened to me on Friday the 13th (that is one date where I truly do notice if bad things happen).

The brain decoration idea came from the very copied and popular cupcakes book Hey There Cupcake! by Claire Crespo. I thought that I’d make it a touch more grotesque with a blood clot hidden inside the cupcake. I needed a fairly stiff batter, one that would hold a clot so to speak so I turned to the Jam Donut cupcakes I made a while back. The cake itself is quite dense and whilst 4 cups of icing sugar sounds like a freakish amount… ok yes it is and there’s no other way to pitch it.

As with all things Halloween related, I took out my box of tricks and decided to ghoulify an already ghoulish cupcake idea. I would have loved to have some surgeon’s implements for the task but unfortunately my doctor friend Soph lives in another state and I’m sure the local hospital wouldn’t understand my need to borrow brain surgery tools overnight. Of course I could have paid them in one of these cupcakes. I hope that my broken mirror and bloodied knife suffices.

Blood Clot and Brain Cupcakes

An original recipe by Not Quite Nigella adapted from an idea by Claire Crespo

Makes 8

Ingredients

  • 300g (2 cups) self-raising flour
  • 2/3 cup caster sugar
  • 80ml (1/3 cup) vegetable oil
  • 1 large egg
  • 175ml/6 fl oz buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 8 teaspoons good-quality strawberry jam mixed with some red food colouring to make it as bloody looking as possible

1. Preheat oven to 180°C and line a cupcake tray.

2. Sift the flour into a medium bowl, then add a pinch of salt and the caster sugar. In a jug, combine the vegetable oil, egg, buttermilk and vanilla extract. Add to the dry mixture and stir to only just combine. It will be thick and puffy. Place 1/2 tablespoonful of the mixture in each muffin hole and make an indent in the centre. Fill each indent with a heaped tablespoon of the strawberry jam.

3. Cover the jam with the remaining cupcake batter. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.

Brain buttercream

  • 250grams butter softened
  • 4 cups icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • Red and Brown or Black food colouring

Beat butter in a small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy, beat in sifted icing sugar and milk in two batches until fluffy. Add in a couple of drops of red and brown or black food colouring until a grey pink shade is reached. My black powder has a very green tinge so I used red and brown and a small amount of black at the end. Gels are better as you don’t need very much and I find that it’s easier to accidentally use more liquid colour.

To decorate

1. Fit a piping bag with a plain 8mm nozzle and fill bag with brain shaded buttercream.

2. Visually divide the cupcake in two to represent each hemisphere of the brain and pipe squiggly lines on top. You can’t really go wrong as the brain matter squiggles go in all sorts of directions. Fill in any gaps with a dot of buttercream.

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Posted in Cooking and Recipes,Cupcakes,Halloween,Kid friendly,Themes

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81 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Sandie | February 12th, 2009 at 7:16 am | #

    Wow—that first photo made me giggle out loud. I’m intrigued and simultaneously grossed out! ;) Seriously though great job, unexpected even for a Friday the 13th recipe, but perfect nonetheless. I’m definitely remembering these come Halloween.

  • 2. snookydoodle | February 12th, 2009 at 7:22 am | #

    Ha ha awesome! these surely would be ideal for Halloween. I don’t know if I would be able to bite into these brains though :)

  • 3. Ericka | February 12th, 2009 at 7:23 am | #

    These are so beyond awesome! Great job.

  • 4. Katie | February 12th, 2009 at 7:25 am | #

    WOW!! Those are fabulous! I’m so impressed!

    I’ll certainly have to pinch this idea for my next get together. I have some lovely ghoulish friends who would love these!

    Katie xox

  • 5. Rosa | February 12th, 2009 at 7:28 am | #

    Terrific! These cupcakes are very realistic, ugh… Scrumptious nonetheless ;-P!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  • 6. Kathy | February 12th, 2009 at 7:42 am | #

    You did a fabulous job with the frosting! They look so gross but cool =P

  • 7. Barbara | February 12th, 2009 at 8:04 am | #

    You are so creative! I’ve never celebrate Friday the 13th!

  • 8. Jorden | February 12th, 2009 at 8:15 am | #

    How fantastic are those! I am so impressed! I think I would have to shut my eyes while eating them though, I am bit screamish ;)

  • 9. Cakelaw | February 12th, 2009 at 8:27 am | #

    LOL – these definitely look scary! (Although knowing what they actually are, I could sink my fangs into one right now.) Fabulous fun.

  • 10. Esz | February 12th, 2009 at 8:39 am | #

    Those cupcakes look SO much like brains. Hehehe so gory – I love it!

  • 11. Lisa | February 12th, 2009 at 8:43 am | #

    Oh my god, these are GREAT! So creative. I can tell you are a Dexter fan ;)

  • 12. Kathy | February 12th, 2009 at 8:48 am | #

    Forgot to ask, what # Global is that and how do you like it?

  • 13. shez | February 12th, 2009 at 8:57 am | #

    Oh NQN! They look so brain like! I can’t decide whether my reaction is “oooh yum!” or “argH! gross!”

    But I think that’s the point… yes?

  • 14. Minh | February 12th, 2009 at 9:06 am | #

    That’s absolutely brilliant! I read the warning but I think it’s the first time I’ve cringed looking at bloody cupcakes. Love the squiggly brains!

  • 15. Helen | February 12th, 2009 at 9:27 am | #

    Marvellously macabre, altho’ I keep having flashbacks of that scene from Hannibal!

  • 16. Anita | February 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am | #

    That’s very cool. I think my brother-in-law, being a doctor, would also appreciate these cupcakes and the detail you’ve gone to. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to make them.

  • 17. Emily | February 12th, 2009 at 10:05 am | #

    ewwwww! But a very cool idea!

  • 18. Reemski | February 12th, 2009 at 10:11 am | #

    oh, these are great! I love them! Do they taste good?

  • 19. Iron Chef Shellie | February 12th, 2009 at 10:14 am | #

    Gross!! they look so real it’s amazing… and the blot clot… ewwwwww.

    You’ve outdone yourself this time!
    x

  • 20. Maria T | February 12th, 2009 at 10:30 am | #

    I squirmed just looking at them! I’m sure that they taste fabulous but I don’t know if I could bring myself to eat them!

  • 21. lisa (dandysugar) | February 12th, 2009 at 10:36 am | #

    Oh my god, these are fabulous! I love the little touch of blood clot you added! Hehe..I’m a BIG halloween fan. Love these.

  • 22. Y | February 12th, 2009 at 10:54 am | #

    Braaaainssss… Perfect for that special Zombie in your life..

  • 23. Angela | February 12th, 2009 at 10:56 am | #

    Awesome!! The perfect cake for BOYS!! I bet your son has the most amazing birthday parties…

  • 24. the projectivist | February 12th, 2009 at 11:43 am | #

    holy tapdancing Elvis!
    WAAAAAY too realistic for my liking, but i’m sure my 10 year old son would go absolutely mad for them!!

  • 25. Sara | February 12th, 2009 at 11:46 am | #

    These are the cutest things ever! I’ll definitely keep them in mind for Halloween :)

  • 26. anna | February 12th, 2009 at 2:42 pm | #

    Those are great, and the look pretty tasty no matter how gorey!

  • 27. deeba | February 12th, 2009 at 3:03 pm | #

    My kids will love you for this…happy Friday the 13th to you! Quite a brainy idea…LOL!!

  • 28. Karen | February 12th, 2009 at 3:26 pm | #

    I forgot it was Fri the 13th…until I read your blog. You are the queen of all that is ghoulish…those cupcakes are truly frightening!

  • 29. Alexandra | February 12th, 2009 at 4:14 pm | #

    Those cupcakes are gory and yet fun at the same time! I love your creativity!

  • 30. Bria | February 12th, 2009 at 7:37 pm | #

    Wow they do look rather gruesome!

    My blogging new years resolution was to be more like you- ie: blog more frequently! It doesn’t seem to be working out though.

  • 31. Pigpigscorner | February 12th, 2009 at 10:10 pm | #

    Umm…great to look at but I don’t think I want that in my mouth..lol. But great creation!

  • 32. Not Quite Nigella | February 12th, 2009 at 10:56 pm | #

    Hi Sandie-hehe that’s exactly the reaction I wanted! :lol: Yes you’ll be the king of the kids come Halloween with these ;)

    Hi snookydoodle-Hehe I wonder what’s wrong with me as I had no hesitation biting into it :lol:

    Hi Ericka-Thankyou so much! :D

    Hi Katie-Ahh brilliant! Maybe for a horror movie night with some ghoulish friends? Muahahhaa! ;)

    Hi Rosa-Hehe thankyou! I was really happy with how the brains came out :P

    Hi Kathy-Hehe thankyou, that was what I was hoping to achieve :)

    Hi Barbara-I’m just a Halloween lover using any excuse to make something ghoulish :lol:

    Hi Jorden-Hehe yes although the good news is that it’s a light buttercream, not a brainy texture. That would be ew!

    Hi Cakelaw-Thanks so much! And sinking your fangs is a most appropriate idea ;)

    Hi Esz-Thankyou so much! I loved doing the brain squiggles :D

    Hi Lisa-Hehe is it obvious? :lol:

    Hi Kathy-It is the Global Utility Flexible Knife 15cm for $110. Not too bad at all I have to say! :)

    Hi shz-Haha that’s exactly the point indeed! ;)

    Hi Minh-Haha I know, I couldn’t just leave it at brains, I had to make it grosser with blood clots :lol: There’s something wrong with me!

    Hi Helen-Oh which scene is that? I think back to Dexter of course being a Dexter maniac.

    Hi Anita-Ah yes very true, they would be great to celebrate becoming a doctor or a brain surgeon! :D

    Hi Emily-Haha thankyou! :lol:

    Hi Reemski-They do indeed! The buttercream is just a regular vanilla buttercream and it’s a jam filled vanilla donut so nowhere near as creepy as it looks.

    Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Hehe I just can’t wait a whole year for Halloween to roll around again :lol:

    Hi Maria-Hehe in a bizarre way I like hearing that that was your reaction. It means that they look realistic! :)

    Hi lisa-Thankyou! I just had to make it doubly gross :lol: Nice to meet a fellow Halloween fan :)

    Hi Y-A Zombie Valentines Day gift perhaps? :P

    Hi Angela-No kids for me so it’s only my grown up boy (husband) and friends that get to eat these :)

    Hi the projectivist-I wonder if this means that I have the maturity of a 10 year old :lol:

    Hi Sara-Thankyou! Yes definitely Halloween material :)

    Hi anna-Thanks so much! Despite the gory look they are quite tasty! :D

    Hi deeba-Happy Friday the 13th! :D LOL at brainy idea ;)

    Hi Karen-Why that is the ultimate compliment, thankyou! :D *flutters eyelashes*

    Hi Alexandra-Thanks so very much! :D

    Hi Bria-Hehe thanks! Ahh cool, I look forward to reading your stories :)

    Hi pigpigscorner-Hehe I didn’t hesitate to eat them. But then again I have tried real brains!

  • 33. Blond Duck | February 12th, 2009 at 11:18 pm | #

    At first I was like like, brains for Valentines day? :) I think I’m a little too superstitious to celebrate Friday the 13th!

  • 34. Tina | February 12th, 2009 at 11:38 pm | #

    I’m in awe… amazing work! I love the close up clot shot :)

    Did you know we have another Friday the 13th next month?

  • 35. reddoorread | February 12th, 2009 at 11:48 pm | #

    these make me feel a little bit ill! ooh, fantastic job.

    also, great to see a departure from all the valentine’s day blog cookery that is going on. although i do love heart shaped delights too but these are so wickedly dark.

  • 36. Sophie | February 13th, 2009 at 4:40 am | #

    Thse look very brainy, well done!!! I thought they looked groovy bloody,;…:)Wow, what an idea!

  • 37. grace | February 13th, 2009 at 8:22 am | #

    that’s disgusting.

    i love it.
    oddly enough, friday the 13th and valentine’s day evoke the same feelings from me… :)

  • 38. Fiona | February 13th, 2009 at 8:29 am | #

    ew they’re AWESOME!

  • 39. Johanna | February 13th, 2009 at 11:26 am | #

    You really know how to bring about a cringe in the most amusing and creative way – happy Friday 13th!

  • 40. Kevin | February 13th, 2009 at 3:17 pm | #

    Absolutely amazing looking brain cupcakes!!

  • 41. Helen | February 13th, 2009 at 9:42 pm | #

    Re: Hannibal – If you can’t remember the scene you presumably haven’t seen the movie. It’s in the sequel to Silence of the Lambs – I won’t spoil it for you!

  • 42. Carolyn | February 13th, 2009 at 9:45 pm | #

    amazingly gruesomely best looking brain cupcakes!! So eeew but so cool :)

  • 43. Not Quite Nigella | February 13th, 2009 at 10:17 pm | #

    Hi Blond Duck-Haha but have you noticed that bad stuff rarely happens on Friday the 13th? :P

    Hi Tina-Thankyou so much! :) Yes my husband told me that. I wish I had time to do something then too :P

    Hi reddoorred-Hehe that’s the reaction I wanted. I’ve got a Valentines Day item tomorrow but for now I’m enjoying the dark ;)

    Hi Sophie-hehe thankyou so much! :lol:

    Hi grace-why thankyou! Haha so you might give someone a brain cupcake for valentines day?

    Hi Fiona-Thanks so much! :D

    Hi Johanna-Thankyou very much! Happy Friday the 13th to you too! :D

    Hi Kevin-Thankyou! Very kind of you to say :D

    Hi Helen-Oh hang on, is that the really gory scene with Ray Liotta’s brain? Oh yes I had suppressed that one but thanks for reminding me :lol:

    Hi Carolyn-Thankyou very much! I tried to get just that reaction :D

  • 44. Amanda | February 13th, 2009 at 11:22 pm | #

    Eeew!! Disgustingly delicious! :)

  • 45. Veggie Wedgie | February 14th, 2009 at 2:19 am | #

    how cool!!

  • 46. clumbsycookie | February 14th, 2009 at 4:55 am | #

    I would eat my brains out!

  • 47. stephchows | February 14th, 2009 at 6:47 am | #

    Oh my! hahaha, I don’t think I could eat one but they are fantastic!

  • 48. cakebrain | February 14th, 2009 at 8:56 am | #

    Oh geez,
    hahaha! this would make an awesome image for my blog! it looks squeamishly delicious!

  • 49. Not Quite Nigella | February 15th, 2009 at 7:44 pm | #

    Hi Amanda-Hehe why thankyou! :)

    Hi Veggie Wedgie-Thanks! :D

    Hi clumbsycookie-Hehe it’s for the Zombie in us all ;)

    Hi stephchows-Hehe thankfully they smell like regular cupcakes, not brain-like at all (however brains smell!)

    Hi cakebrain-Oh yes, it totally fits your blog name doesn’t it! :lol:

  • 50. FFichiban | February 16th, 2009 at 7:25 pm | #

    OOhh yummm I would feel like a zombie eating these babies mmmmm

  • 51. Not Quite Nigella | February 16th, 2009 at 10:04 pm | #

    Hi Ffichiban-Ahh that is a good thing no? Everyone needs a zombie moment every now and then? :lol:

  • 52. JustAGirl | February 17th, 2009 at 4:06 am | #

    ZOMG! I am so sad I didn’t see these *before* Friday… ‘cuz I turned 40 and had a “Friday the 40th” party – come as your favorite slasher! Gah! Would have been perfect! But in another few years… muahahahaha! Brilliant! Just brilliant.

  • 53. Not Quite Nigella | February 18th, 2009 at 12:01 pm | #

    Hi JustAGirl-lol that sounds like a brilliant party idea! LOVE it! :lol: Thanks so much :)

  • 54. bettybloos | February 25th, 2009 at 11:55 pm | #

    These cakes look very nice! And did you realise that in March there is another friday the 13th??
    Time for another frigtening food idea!

  • 55. Not Quite Nigella | February 26th, 2009 at 8:27 pm | #

    Hi bettybloos-Thankyou! Hehe yes I know, very cool although I don’t know if I’ll have time to do another :lol:

  • 56. PCKat | April 6th, 2009 at 7:01 am | #

    Gotta tell you,

    My father-in-law was just air lifted to a hospital across the state w/a blood clot in his brain. Looking for info on the condition and found this site. Needed the laugh so bad. Thank you. Don’t stop. If we stop smiling, we die inside

  • 57. Not Quite Nigella | April 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm | #

    Hi PCKat-Thankyou for your lovely comment, it’s very true indeed. I hope your Father in Law is ok! :)

  • 58. Sacha | April 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 am | #

    Wonderful! Appealing to my latent zombie.

    :)

  • 59. Not Quite Nigella | October 2nd, 2009 at 6:34 am | #

    Hi Sacha-Thankyou so much! Perhaps we all have a bit of latent zombie in us :)

  • 60. ROBIN | November 5th, 2009 at 4:53 am | #

    omg.. awesome.. love them! care to exchange blogs? robin

  • 61. CCATT | July 7th, 2010 at 1:25 pm | #

    HI. i stumbled across your blog and I’m in love with these brain cupcakes. Your site is amazing and I’m loving checking it out. I have a site called Cute Cupcakes. All The Time. and we are featuring your site and these brain cupcakes tomorrow for our Wacky Wednesday feature. These are awesome! I totally love the strawberry filling. It adds the perfect touch! I hope you’ll check out your feature on our site tomorrow. It will post this evening at 12:01.

  • 62. Jaimie | November 2nd, 2010 at 12:51 am | #

    I absolutely LOVE this idea! I just had a halloween party of my own, and used your idea! Everyone loved them! So, thank you for posting this and sharing something great with everyone. I have a picture of mine if you want to see them. The icing wasn’t as perfected as yours, though. lol

  • 63. willywonka | December 3rd, 2010 at 11:27 am | #

    kewl but how the heck do you get the jelly in there?

  • 64. Audrey | April 22nd, 2011 at 1:07 pm | #

    OK…so I am late in finding this recipe. I do believe; however, I have found the appropriate birthday cupcake for me. I will be celebrating it at the National Haunters Convention so it is very apropo.

    Thanks!

  • 65. Arty | July 20th, 2011 at 12:44 am | #

    WOAH!
    These look great, and I bet they taste good too.

    My boyfriend is hosting a zombie photoshoot in a few months and now I can make the perfect cupcakes!

    Thank you for sharing this awesome recipe. :D

  • 66. Party Halloween | September 15th, 2011 at 5:17 am | #

    Awesome! I’d love to use this recipe in a Halloween party ebook I’m compiling. Can I use one of your images, with credit?

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