• Line a muffin tray like you would usually do and set aside. NOTE: For this recipe, I used my Muffin Tray placed on top of a medium perforated baking sheet. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350℉/180℃.

BLACK VELVET CHOCOLATE MUFFINS PREPARATION

• In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (All-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, Cocoa powders and sea salt). Make a well, add the eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil and vanilla bean paste. Mix until combined.
  6.70 oz all-purpose flour, 1/2 Tbsp baking powder, 5.29 oz granulated sugar, 1.40 oz unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/8 tsp sea salt, 3 eggs, 9.35 oz sour cream, 5.82 oz vegetable oil, 1 Tbsp vanilla bean paste, 1.60 oz black cocoa powder
  
• Scoop the batter into each well of your prepared muffin tray (3/4 full).
  

BAKE!

• Bake for 12 minutes at 350℉/180℃. (Every oven heats differently, monitor your Muffins from 10 minutes). It is ready when the toothpick inserted comes out almost clean or with little to no crumbs.
  
• Once your Black Velvet Muffins are out of the oven, demold right away onto your cooling rack. Set aside to while preparing the Oreo Frosting.

OREO CREAM CHEESE FROSTING PREPARATION

• In a mixing bowl, add the softened butter and beat on high until light and fluffy. Mix in the cold cream cheese and vanilla bean paste, beat for about 3 minutes. Then, add the powdered sugar a little at a time on high speed until light and fluffy. Fold the crushed Oreos.
  4 oz butter, 8 oz cream cheese, 1 tsp vanilla bean paste, 10.05 oz powdered sugar, 4 oreos
  
• FOR THE PINK SKULL - Set 1/3 of the frosting into a small bowl and mix in the pink colorant. Transfer it to a piping bag and fill 12 cavities of your skull mold. Place in the freezer for about 1 hour or until the frosting has set.
  1 1/2 tps Food Colorant
  
• FOR THE GREY CUPCAKE - To the 2/3 of remaining frosting, add the black cocoa powder. Mix until combined and transfert to a piping bag with the star tip on.
  2 tsp black cocoa powder
  

ASSEMBLY

• Once your muffins have cooled down, pipe the grey frosting. Add some crushed Oreos and demold one pink skull to place on top of the cupcake.
  
• Once your Black Velvet Skull Cupcakes are ready, serve them with a shovel for dramatic effect. Enjoy! "BONE" Appétit & Happy HALLOWEEN!
• N.B. These cupcakes are best enjoyed the day of. However, you can store the muffins wrapped at room temperature and the frosting in the refrigerator up to 3 days for assembly.