Go Back

Spooky Halloween Cupcakes

These spooky cupcakes are baked with a moist cocoa-infused crumb, topped with dark, fluffy frosting, and decorated with creepy candies and edible webs. They combine rich flavors with colorful, eerie decorations, making them a fun and festive treat for Halloween or any spooky celebration. The process involves mixing, baking, and decorating to create a delightfully chaotic and charming dessert.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Halloween
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour good quality for tender crumb
  • 1/2 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder for deep chocolate flavor
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk or sour cream
  • Black or dark purple food coloring food coloring for eerie look
  • 1 cup unsalted butter for frosting, softened
  • 3-4 cups powdered sugar for frosting
  • Creepy decorations candy eyes, sprinkles, edible webs as desired

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Electric mixer
  • Muffin tin
  • Cupcake liners
  • Cooling rack
  • Decorating spatula

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
  3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Start and finish with the dry ingredients, mixing just until combined after each addition. The batter should be smooth, shiny, and slightly thick.
  4. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Add a few drops of food coloring to the batter and gently swirl to create a spooky, marbled effect if desired.
  5. Bake the cupcakes for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. While baking, you'll smell the rich cocoa aroma filling your kitchen.
  6. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow them to cool in the tin for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a cooling rack and let them cool completely before decorating.
  7. For the frosting, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer until creamy and pale, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing on low speed, then increase to high until the frosting is fluffy and spreadable. Mix in the food coloring until the frosting is a dark, spooky hue.
  8. Generously spread the dark frosting on each cooled cupcake using a spatula or decorating tool, creating a slightly messy, eerie look. Decorate with creepy toppings like candy eyes, sprinkles, or edible webs to complete the haunted effect.
  9. Once decorated, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to two days to keep them fresh and spooky.

Notes

For extra creepiness, add edible googly eyes and create spider webs with edible webbing. Be creative with decorations to make each cupcake uniquely spooky!