30 Halloween Cupcakes For a Spooky Treat

Instead of candy and chocolate bars, why not treat the kids to these adorably spooky Halloween cupcakes?

Halloween is the one day out of the whole year when kids and adults are allowed to devour as many sweets as they can.

So if you’re looking for fun and festive desserts to bake this Halloween, it’s your lucky day!

I have here 30 different cupcake recipes that are almost too enchanting to eat. 

Also, don’t worry – I know it’s a busy time of the year, so I’ve made it a point to feature spooky cupcakes that are so easy, it’s embarrassing!

This year, make Halloween even sweeter and spookier. Ditch the candy and serve these super cute Halloween cupcakes to trick-or-treaters instead.

30 Cute & Spooky Halloween Cupcake Ideas

1. Witch Hat Cupcakes

Let’s start things off with these adorable cupcakes that look complicated to make, but are actually newbie-friendly.

These are classic chocolate cupcakes at the base, frosted with green buttercream (thank you, food color gel), and topped with wickedly cute witches’ hats.

Don’t be fooled. You don’t need any witchcraft knowledge to pull this off.

The hat is just a simple layering of Oreo Thins, Hershey’s Kisses, and some orange buttercream in between.

2. Black Cat Halloween Cupcakes

Black cats are often seen as a bad omen. On these cupcakes, though, they couldn’t be cuter!

This recipe is perfect if there’s no time to bake.

Just get store-bought cupcakes and doll them up with a can of frosting, sprinkles, M&Ms, jelly beans, stick-shaped cookies, chocolate bars, and edible markers.

With just a bit of creativity and imagination, you can transform those ingredients into these beautiful creatures – no magic wand required.

3. Floating Ghost Cupcakes

OMG, how cute are these floating ghosts?! 

Wondering how that floating ghost effect is achieved? It’s simpler than you think.

Just stick a lollipop into the middle of a frosted cupcake and cover it up with white fondant.

You can use either black decorating icing or nonpareils for the eyes.

Neat, huh?

4. Halloween Spider Web Chocolate Cupcakes

These spiderweb cupcakes aren’t only stunning; they taste incredible, too.

At the base are chocolate banana cupcakes so light and fluffy it’s like biting into a cloud.

The flavor combination of chocolate and banana is also absolutely on point. And the melted chocolate is the perfect cherry on top.

The design looks intimidating, but it’s just a matter of piping melted chocolate and using a toothpick to create swirls.

5. Owl Cupcakes

These owl cupcakes are a hoot! Those big eyes are way too cute.

They’re also easily customizable. You can use whatever cupcake and frosting recipe you like or, you know, just get store-bought. No one will judge.

Then, for the eyes, just place two open-faced Oreos on top. Use M&M’s or Reese’s pieces for both the pupils and the beaks.

It’s another fun project that requires minimal effort but yields phenomenal results.

6. Harry Potter Sorting Hat Cupcakes

This one’s for all my fellow Potterheads! Muggles wouldn’t bother taking a second look at these cupcakes, but witches and wizards will know what’s up.

If you’re unfamiliar, the Sorting Hat is one of the most iconic figures in the HP universe. It’s a magical hat used to determine which house Hogwarts students belong to.

And now you can bring that magic home!

Whether you belong to Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, these magical cupcakes will have you under their spell.

7. Oreo Bat Cupcakes

Looking for a fun Halloween activity for the kids? The search is over – these Oreo bat cupcakes are the winner.

Just like most of the recipes on this list, you’re free to use store-bought cupcakes and frosting for this project.

To make the bat design, all you’ll need are Oreo cookies and M&Ms!

The great thing is you can easily customize the bats’ look and make them as adorable or scary as you like.

8. Black Velvet Cupcakes

These gorgeous black velvet cupcakes are silky, soft, and black as sin. They’re wonderfully luscious and taste as good as they look.

Their simple, all-black appearance makes them a shoo-in when it comes to Halloween cupcake ideas.

Jazzing them up with candy pumpkins and orange stars is just a bonus.

9. Monster Cupcakes

These monsters are more charming than terrifying. They’re also extremely tasty.

I love that with just some frosting, food coloring, a piping bag, and piping tips, you can make anything.

There’s no one specific way to go about this – just have fun in creating those monstrous looks.

Get the kids to join in. Monsters don’t have to look perfect!

10. Eerie Eyeball Cupcakes

Large gumdrops for the eyeballs, M&Ms for the pupils, and licorice for the eyelashes – whoever came up with this idea is a genius.

It’s so easy, but just look how amazing! They’re so captivating I can stare at them for hours.

Tip: place the M&Ms in various places to make the eyeballs seem like they’re looking in different directions.

11. Cute Frankenstein Cupcakes

These cute Halloween cupcakes are too stinking adorable to be scary, but I love, Love, LOVE them anyway.

They feature the kind of Frankenstein monster you just want to cuddle instead of run from. And believe it or not, he’s not difficult to make!

Trust me, intricate cupcake decorating is not my forte. Even so, I manage to make these with ease. And seriously? How can you say no to those big googly eyes?!

12. Halloween Skull Cupcakes

If time is not on your side this Halloween, here’s what you should do: get a bag of Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cup Skulls.

With these spooky and tasty treats, decorating your cupcakes is a breeze.

Just whip up basic chocolate cupcakes, pipe them with purple-dyed frosting, and plop a skull on top.

They look and taste as if you worked on them for hours, but in truth, you hardly worked at all.

13. Bloody Broken Glass Cupcakes

Don’t those glass shards look like the real thing? I was mindblown, too.

But first, let’s talk about that rich chocolate cupcake base. Soft, fluffy, and full of decadent black cocoa flavor. They’re mouth-wateringly delicious.

And don’t worry! That broken glass isn’t going to send anyone to the hospital. It’s a simple mixture of sugar, corn syrup, and water.

It’s still a lot of fun to break, though!

Finish each cupcake off by smearing it with edible blood, and you have some truly spooky cupcakes.

14. Polka Dot Halloween Cupcakes

These polka dot cupcakes are simple yet adorable.

They’re proof that even basic designs can match elaborate ones – you don’t always have to go all out!

These cupcakes are topped with chocolate frosting and dotted with orange M&M’s to get that Halloween-y black and orange color combo.

Feel free to use whatever cupcake and frosting recipes you like best.

Whether you make it from scratch or rely on a boxed mix, that’s totally fine.

15. Witch Cauldron Halloween Cupcakes

Your little ghouls and goblins will go crazy over these witch cauldron Halloween cupcakes. 

This design is pure genius! It’s so easy, but see how amazing they look. 

They’re dark chocolate cupcakes with dyed buttercream frosting – just like many of the cupcakes on this list.

But what makes them iconic is a combo of candy eyes, edible bones, and confetti. 

To make them more realistic, serve them in plastic witch cauldrons. You can get them for cheap on Amazon.

16. Hocus Pocus Cupcakes

If you loved the 1993 Disney film, Hocus Pocus, you’ll definitely appreciate these cupcakes.

The purple, yellow, and orange frostings look exactly like the Sanderson Sisters’ hairstyles!

The base is a dark chocolate cupcake with a peanut butter filling. That in itself is already perfection.

But with just some vanilla buttercream and gel food coloring, you’ll transform the cupcakes into spooktacular treats that’ll remind you of the popular Disney classic. 

17. Halloween Candy Cupcakes

Got way too much Halloween candy from trick-or-treating? Transform them into these insanely delicious cupcakes!

They’re so good, I’m sure the kids won’t mind you using their Halloween candy.

The recipe calls for boxed chocolate cake mix. But you can use any flavor you like.

The key is to top it with so much candy, nobody even notices the cake.

18. Candy Corn Cupcakes

It only takes one look at these candy corn cupcakes to understand why they’re called such. 

If you find the overly sweet taste of candy corn repulsive, don’t worry, these cupcakes taste nothing like it.

They just mimic the candy corn’s colors, but their flavor is way better. These are regular cupcakes made from white cake mix.

The cake batter is split in two and colored with yellow and orange food coloring to achieve that stunning, 2-tone candy corn hue.

Round it out with vanilla buttercream frosting and a piece of candy corn for garnish.

19. Brain Cupcakes

I don’t care that these cupcakes look gruesome — incidentally, making them perfect for Halloween.

But honestly, these easy Halloween cupcakes taste so good that I’d even eat them for Christmas! What makes them so special, you ask?

Two words: RASPBERRY CAKE!

That’s right. These uber-spooky cupcakes are made with light, fruity, melt-in-your-mouth raspberry cake. WITH REAL RASPBERRIES!

They taste so incredible that the cool decorations are really just an afterthought.

20. Chocolate and Vanilla Mummy Cupcakes

These are the only mummies I’m not terrified of. In fact, I think they’re lovable!

They’re almost too heartbreaking to eat. But once you take a bite, it’ll be impossible not to take another. 

You really can’t go wrong with the chocolate cupcake and white frosting combination. It’s such a basic pairing, but it works like a charm.

21. Graveyard Cupcakes

It’s crazy how these cupcakes look just like actual dirt! The print-out tombstones and gummy worms complete the graveyard look.

They may not look appetizing, but they perfectly fit the theme.

I love how something as simple as crushed up Oreos can transform regular cupcakes and make them look like a memorial park.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering – yes, they’re delicious. Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, for the win.

22. Reese’s Cup Werewolf Cupcakes

Can you believe these cute, toothy werewolf cupcakes only call for two ingredients?

Yep, all you’ll need are Reese’s peanut butter cups and candy melts.

You can make your werewolves smooth or furry – it’s totally up to you. 

And since they’re purely made of peanut butter cups and melted chocolate, expect nothing but deliciousness from these treats.

As a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter, this one’s a personal favorite.

23. Skeleton Cupcakes

Is it just me, or do those cupcakes give off a seriously groovy vibe? If you’re looking for charming Halloween cupcake ideas, you can’t beat these guys.

They’ll put a smile on everyone’s face.

They’re also one of my favorite types of desserts — they have a lot of stuff rolled into one. There are the yummy chocolate cupcakes, of course.

But the skeletons themselves are tasty, too. Their ribs are yogurt-covered pretzels, and their heads are squishy marshmallows!

24. Candy Apple Cupcakes

These delicious cupcakes taste just like candy apples. But they take the form of cupcakes!

Yes, they’ll take a little longer to make than some. But come on, how cute are they?

The cupcakes are light and fluffy and have that perfect, spiced apple flavor. 

What makes them even more exceptional, however, is the caramel mousse and red mirror glaze.

25. Popcorn Cupcakes

Whether you serve them on movie night, Halloween, or just a random Saturday, these popcorn cupcakes will be a huge hit.

First of all, how cute are they? I think I’ve used the adjective about 10 times now, but how else can you describe these sweets?

They look like movie popcorn, but they’re actually vanilla cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting. 

Now, for the fun part: snip mini marshmallows to give them that popped kernel look.

Stick them onto the frosting and spray some spots with yellow color mist, and voila.

26. Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

These pumpkin cupcakes are the ultimate autumn sweets.

They’re light and fluffy, and the combination of sweet pumpkin puree and fall spices is just on point.

It’s not too sweet, not too spicy – just pure perfection. Honestly, they’re fantastic on their own.

But with cream cheese frosting on top, they’ll become simply irresistible.

27. Marshmallow-Filled S’Mores Cupcakes

Give those cute little trick-or-treaters a treat they won’t soon forget. These marshmallow-filled s’mores are a cozy autumn delight.

With layers of chocolate cupcake, marshmallow filling, milk chocolate frosting, and a toasted marshmallow on top, this dessert is what campfire dreams are made of.

You’d think they’d be too sweet, but they’re not! When combined, dark chocolate and marshmallows create a wonderful balance of flavors.

28. Little Shop of Horrors Cupcakes

Want to ensure your Halloween cupcake decorations are out of this world? You can’t go wrong with these Little Shop of Horrors cupcakes.

They are as spooktacular as it gets.

They’re your basic chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting, but they’re also so much more than that.

A little creative frosting and strawberry placement makes them look just like the plants from the Little Shop of Horrors. Your guests will love them!

29. Zombie Brain Halloween Cupcakes

Don’t let these super gross treats fool you. They are 110% scrum-diddly-umptious!

They just LOOK like something you wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole.

They aren’t actually cupcakes. Instead, they’re bite-sized brownies covered in green zombie brains. (i.e. – candy melts, food coloring, and chocolate)

And don’t worry. If the look of them turns off the adults in the room, the kids will DEVOUR them.

30. Jack-O-Lantern Cupcakes

Let’s end this round-up with a bang, shall we?

Who needs to carve pumpkins when you can easily make these Jack-O-Lantern cupcakes? After all, edible Jack-O-Lanterns are my favorite kind!

Each from-scratch cupcake is infused with pumpkin and cinnamon for that festive fall flavor. Then, you’ll top them off with rich cream cheese icing.

To complete the look, draw on your Jack-O-Lantern faces with black decorating icing. It’s simple, but it gets the job done.