Theme: Creepy but fun — think edible graveyards with “dirt,” tombstones, and ghostly toppings.
Prep time: 20 minutes
Bake time: 20 minutes
Total time: ~40 minutes
Makes: 12 cupcakes
🕯️ Ingredients
For the cupcakes:
- 1 box chocolate cake mix (or your favorite homemade recipe)
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional, deepens chocolate flavor)
For the frosting:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the toppings (“graveyard décor”):
- Crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (for “dirt”)
- Milano or rectangular cookies (for tombstones)
- Black decorating gel or melted chocolate (to write “RIP”)
- Mini marshmallows or meringue cookies (for ghosts)
- Candy pumpkins, gummy worms, or candy bones
🕸️ Instructions
- Preheat and prepare.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin pan with Halloween-themed cupcake liners. - Make the batter.
In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, eggs, oil, and water. Add the instant coffee (optional). Beat until smooth. - Bake.
Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for 18–22 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before decorating. - Make the frosting.
Beat butter until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add cocoa powder and powdered sugar gradually. Add vanilla and cream, beating until smooth and spreadable. - Frost and decorate.
- Spread or pipe the chocolate frosting on each cupcake.
- Sprinkle crushed cookies over the top to make it look like dirt.
- Write “RIP” on the top half of each Milano cookie using black gel or melted chocolate, and gently stick it into the cupcake as a tombstone.
- Add a mini marshmallow or meringue ghost next to it (use dots of black gel for eyes).
- Scatter a few gummy worms or candy bones for extra spookiness.
💀 Spooky Tips & Variations
- Bloody effect: Drizzle red gel icing or raspberry syrup over the “dirt” for a creepy touch.
- Pumpkin patch twist: Use orange-tinted frosting and top with candy pumpkins and green vines (made with green icing).
- Spiderweb swirl: Use vanilla frosting and pipe chocolate rings on top, then drag a toothpick outward to create a web.
