-
1
Heat oven to 350F.
-
2
Place paper baking cups into 24 muffin pan cups; set aside.
-
3
Combine sugar and 1/4 cup butter in bowl.
-
4
Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
-
5
Add eggs; continue beating until creamy.
-
6
Add sour cream, milk and vanilla.
-
7
Continue beating until well mixed.
-
8
Add all remaining cupcake ingredients; beat at low speed until well mixed.
-
9
Fill prepared muffin cups with about 2 tablespoons batter.
-
10
Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
-
11
Cool completely.
-
12
Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in bowl.
-
13
Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often and gradually adding enough milk for desired spreading consistency.
-
14
Melt chocolate chips and shortening in 1-quart saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, 3-4 minutes or until smooth.
-
15
Place melted chocolate in small heavy-duty resealable plastic food bag; snip tip from one corner to make very small hole.
-
16
Frost 6 cupcakes, using about 1 tablespoon frosting for each cupcake.
-
17
Immediately pipe 3 concentric circles of melted chocolate onto each frosted cupcake.
-
18
Starting at center, draw toothpick 5 or 6 times through chocolate circles to outside edge of frosting to make spider web design.
-
19
Repeat with remaining cupcakes and frosting.
-
20
Let stand until chocolate is firm.