Description

These Halloween Cupcakes are a festive and fun dessert perfect for spooky celebrations. Made with a choice of chocolate or vanilla cake mix and decorated with vibrant orange and black frosting, spooky sprinkles, candy eyes, and mini chocolate chips, they’re sure to delight kids and adults alike. Easy to prepare and customize, these cupcakes bring a creative autumn twist with optional cinnamon and whimsical decorations for a memorable Halloween treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake

1 box chocolate or vanilla cake mix (plus ingredients listed on the box)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional, for a fall flavor twist)
12–15 cupcake liners

Frosting & Decorations

1 1/2 cups buttercream or cream cheese frosting
Orange food coloring
Black food coloring
Halloween-themed sprinkles
Candy eyes
Mini chocolate chips or small candies for decoration

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven according to the cake mix package instructions. Line a muffin tin with 12 to 15 cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
Mix Batter: Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box, adding the optional ground cinnamon for a warm, fall-inspired flavor if desired. Mix thoroughly until smooth.
Fill Liners: Divide the cake batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full to allow room for rising during baking.
Bake: Bake the cupcakes as per the package instructions, typically between 18 and 22 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean when fully baked.
Cool: Remove the cupcakes from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating to prevent frosting from melting.
Prepare Frosting: Divide the frosting into two separate bowls. Tint one bowl with orange food coloring and the other with black food coloring until the desired vibrant colors are achieved.
Decorate: Transfer the colored frosting into piping bags fitted with star or round tips, or use a spatula. Frost each cupcake and decorate with Halloween sprinkles, candy eyes, mini chocolate chips, or small candies to create spooky or festive designs.

Notes

Get creative with toppings — try crushed cookies to resemble “dirt,” pretzels shaped as “witches’ brooms,” or marshmallows as little ghost shapes.
Kids love helping decorate these festive cupcakes, making it a fun family activity.
Use cream cheese frosting for a tangier flavor or buttercream for something sweeter and classic.
Store decorated cupcakes in an airtight container to keep them fresh.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American