Broken Glass & Blood Cupcakes

I made these for Halloween, and they definitely lived up to the creep factor! I combined parts of two separate recipes based on what I had in the house.

yield: 24 cupcakes

ingredients

for cupcakes

1 box red velvet cake mix

1 ¼C milk

4 eggs

2/3C butter, melted

for glass

1 ½C granulated sugar

3/4C water

for cream cheese frosting
8oz cream cheese, softened
½C butter, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
⅛ tsp salt
4C powdered sugar
1C white chocolate chips, melted

for blood

½ tsp red gel food coloring
⅛ tsp brown gel food coloring
6 tbs powdered sugar
1 tbs water
1 tbs maraschino cherry syrup

directions

1. for cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Combine cupcake ingredients in a large bowl, mixing until smooth.
3. Line muffin tin with cupcake liners (or grease if you aren't using cupcake liners).
4. Fill cupcake liners ⅔ full.
5. Bake for 20-22 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool completely.
7. for glass: Cover a rimmed baking sheet with wax paper.
8. Spray the wax paper liberally with nonstick spray.
9. Add sugar and water into a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat.
10. Stir occasionally and leave to bubble until sugar reduces and reaches 270°F.
11. Remove pan from heat.
12. Quickly pour sugar mixture onto baking sheet.
13. Tilt baking sheet to spread sugar mixture over wax paper.
14. Let harden while you finish cupcakes.
15. When glass is hard, break into shards.
16. for blood: In a small bowl, combine blood ingredients.
17. Whisk together until smooth. 
18. Set aside.
19. for cream cheese frosting: In bowl of a stand mixer, beat together cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and salt on medium speed until well combined.
20. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until smooth.
21. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until smooth.
22. Add melted white chocolate to stand mixer bowl.
23. Beat on low speed until completely combined.
24. Raise speed to medium-high and beat for 4 minutes.
25. Pipe or spread frosting onto cooled cupcakes.
26. for assembly: Place 1-3 shards of glass into the frosting on each cupcake, with part of the shard slightly inserted into the top of the cupcake.
27. Drizzle blood over frosting and glass shards to desired level of bloodiness.
28. Enjoy!