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Moist vanilla muffins meet a dark twist in these Bloody Raspberry Muffins. Each one hides a frozen raspberry heart that bursts open as it bakes, leaving a trail of sweet scarlet filling. Topped with whipped cream and shards of red sugar “glass,” they’re hauntingly beautiful and dangerously good — the kind of dessert that makes people gasp before they take a bite.
The Secret Behind the Blood
Let me tell you the secret behind these Bloody Raspberry Muffins: It’s all about balance — a soft, buttery crumb meets a tangy raspberry center that bursts with flavor in every bite. The dramatic “broken glass” caramel adds just the right spooky crunch, while the frozen raspberry inserts melt as they bake, creating a naturally “bloody” surprise inside. And that whipped cream topping? The final touch that makes these muffins unforgettable.
Serve them alongside the Pumpkin Breads for a cozy touch or pair with the Bloody Dip for a sweet-and-savory Halloween spread that’s bound to steal the show.
Ingredients That Make Them Bleed Red
Every bite of these spooky muffins comes alive thanks to a few key ingredients that strike the perfect balance between sweet and sinister.
- Raspberries: Fresh or frozen, they create that dramatic “bloody” center — tangy, bright, and naturally red.
- Butter: Adds richness and keeps the muffin crumb soft, tender, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
- Heavy Cream: Whipped to airy perfection for that hauntingly smooth topping.
- Sugar: The magic behind the caramel “glass” — sweet, crisp, and dangerously beautiful when shattered.
Note: Find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the Recipe Card.
How to Make It
Soft, sweet, and a little dramatic — here’s how to bring these Bloody Raspberry Muffins to life.
- Make the Raspberry Insert
Cook raspberries with sugar and water until they break down into a thick coulis. Freeze part of it in small molds to use as the “bloody heart” and chill the rest for later.
- Prepare the Muffin Batter
Beat eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, then mix in butter. Add the flour and milk in turns until smooth and creamy.
- Fill the Muffins
Pour batter halfway into each muffin liner, place a frozen raspberry cube in the center, then top with more batter.
- Bake
Bake until golden and slightly firm on top. The raspberry center will melt into a soft, sweet surprise.
- Whip the Cream
Whip cold cream until it thickens, then add powdered sugar, vanilla, and a touch of red food coloring for a bloody swirl.
- Make the Broken Glass
Melt sugar in a pan without stirring until amber, then mix in red food coloring. Spread thinly, let cool, and break into shards.
- Assemble. Pipe the whipped cream over cooled muffins, drizzle with raspberry coulis, and top with the red caramel shards for the perfect gory finish.
- Chill and Serve
Refrigerate until ready to serve — they’re hauntingly beautiful, deliciously soft, and perfectly dramatic.
Want to see how it all comes together? You can See It In Action and follow the full step-by-step.
Light, sweet, and hauntingly beautiful.
Serve them with Chocolate Spider Cake for a dramatic dessert duo, or add Swiss Meringue Ghosts, Cinnamon Cheesecake Swirl Pumpkin Bars, and Red Velvet Monster Cake Pops to your table for a Halloween lineup that’s spooky, sweet, and impossible to resist.
FAQS
Yes! Fresh raspberries work just as well. Just reduce the cooking time slightly since they release less water than frozen ones.
Absolutely. The muffins will still look beautiful with the natural red from the raspberry coulis — just a little less spooky.
Keep them covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The whipped cream topping holds up beautifully when chilled.
You can melt clear isomalt instead — it’s easier to handle and won’t burn as quickly.
See It In Action: Step-By-Step
Bloody Raspberry Muffins Recipe
Ingredients
Raspberry Insert
- 1¼ cups frozen raspberries
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1½ tbsp water
Muffin Batter
- 2 large eggs
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup milk
- 7 tbsp butter softened
- 2 tsp baking powder
Whipped Cream Topping
- 1¼ cups heavy cream
- 1½ tbsp powdered sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp red food colouring
Broken Glass
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ tsp red food colouring
Instructions
Raspberry Insert
- In a small saucepan, combine raspberries, sugar, and water.
- Cook over medium heat for 5–8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until raspberries break down.
- Divide the coulis: pour ⅔ into small silicone moulds or an ice cube tray and freeze at least 1 hour (this will be your insert).
- Keep the remaining coulis refrigerated — you’ll drizzle it at the end for a “bloody” effect.
Muffin Batter
- Preheat oven to 220°C (425°F).
- In a large bowl, beat eggs with sugar until light and foamy.
- Mix in softened butter.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder.
- Alternate adding flour mixture and milk into the egg mixture, stirring until smooth.
- Line a muffin tin and fill each liner halfway with batter.
- Place one frozen raspberry insert cube into the centre of each muffin
- Cover with a little more batter, filling each about ¾ full.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Cool completely.
Whipped Cream Topping
- In a bowl, whip cold cream until it begins to thicken.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and red food colouring.
- Continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Transfer to a piping bag with a fluted tip and refrigerate until ready to use.
Broken Glass
- In a small saucepan, melt sugar over medium heat (do not stir).
- Once amber in colour, remove from heat and quickly stir in food colouring.
- Pour onto parchment or silicone mat and spread thinly.
- Let cool completely, then break into shards to resemble broken glass.
Assembly
- Pipe whipped cream on top of each cooled muffin.
- Drizzle reserved raspberry coulis over the cream for a bloody effect.
- Decorate with shards of red caramel “broken glass".
- Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- Freeze the raspberry inserts completely. That’s what keeps the “bloody” center from oozing out too soon.
- Don’t overfill your liners. About ¾ full is the sweet spot for tall, even muffins.
- Keep ingredients at room temp. It helps the batter mix smoothly for a tender crumb.
- Whip the cream when it’s ice cold. It’ll hold those creepy swirls beautifully.
- Handle the caramel glass fast. Once it cools, it turns brittle — spread it right away.
- Add the “blood” and shards at the end. For the best spooky effect, decorate just before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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