Spooky Ghost Meringue Cupcakes

Ingredients

- 12 servings +

• 1 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
• ½ cup Dutch-process dark cocoa powder, sifted, unsweetened
• 1 cup granulated sugar, for cupcake batter
• 1 tsp baking powder, for rise
• ½ tsp baking soda & fine sea salt, for texture and balance
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• ½ cup whole milk or buttermilk, room temperature
• ¼ cup vegetable oil, keeps crumb tender
• ½ cup boiling water or hot brewed coffee, blooms the cocoa
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, for chocolate batter
• 3 large egg whites, room temperature, for Italian meringue
• 1 cup granulated sugar, for meringue syrup
• ⅓ cup water, for syrup
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar, stabilizes meringue
• 2 tbsp melted dark chocolate or decorating icing, for painting faces