Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes

Bake up some spooky AND sweet Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes for your next Halloween bash!

Halloween is my favorite holiday, so of course I love all of the spooky-themed party treats! These Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes are a simple recipe, and the kids will love helping with the decorations! The decadent chocolate cupcake is frosted with rich chocolate frosting, and topped with crushed Oreo "dirt". The addition of a cookie "tombstone", wriggly gummy worms, and a marshmallow ghost create a spooky graveyard scene that makes this the perfect Halloween treat!

Mix up the cupcake batter until all of the ingredients are combined. If you're feeling creative, you can add in additional surprises, like chocolate chips, nuts, or even marshmallows! Use a large scoop to fill cupcake liners about ¾ full and bake according to recipe directions. Once baked, cool completely on a wire rack.

Lay out 12 milano cookies. Use black writing icing to add a "RIP", "EEK", "BOO", or anything else you would want the headstones to say. Set them aside.

Follow the directions below to whip up the decadent chocolate frosting. Add the frosting into a piping bag with a 2D decorating tip. Starting in the center of a cupcake, use a steady, even, and gentle pressure to squeeze frosting in a circular motion to cover the surface of the cupcakes.

Crush Oreos (by hand, with a rolling pin, or by food processor) into fine crumbs. Sprinkle the crumbs over each of the cupcakes for a nice layer of "dirt".

Stick the cookie "tombstones" about halfway into the frosting. This will help to keep them standing upright. Be careful not to touch the icing on the cookies so the lettering doesn't get smudged!

Place a gummy worm on top of the cupcake, in front of the tombstone. You could also press one end of the worm into the frosting and have the worm dangling over the edge of the cupcake. Get creative and have fun!

Last, but certainly not least, carefully place one of the ghost Peeps behind the tombstone to spook the recipient of this spooky cupcake! If you have a hard time keeping the ghosts in place, you can stick a toothpick through the bottom before putting it on the cupcake to give them a little more support.

Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes

Servings: 12 cupcakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Chocolate Cupcake Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 ½ cups flour
• ¾ cups cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cups milk
• ¾ cups warm water
• ¼ cup oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate Cupcake Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350º F.
2. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners or spray with nonstick spray. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add in liquid ingredients and combine well for about 2 minutes until smooth.
5. Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners, filling approximately ⅔ - ¾ full.
6. Bake 14-16 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 ½ cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup cocoa powder
• 3 Tablespoon heavy cream
• Pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Directions:

1. Using a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter until smooth.
2. Add the heavy cream, salt, and vanilla. Mix until combined.
3. Slowly mix in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Increase mixing speed to medium until the frosting is light and fluffy.
   *If mixture is too thick, add in a bit of heavy cream and mix again, or add in more powdered sugar until you get desired consistency.
4. Scoop frosting into a piping bag with a star decorating tip.

Cupcake Decoration Ingredients:

• 12 Milano cookies
• Black gel icing
• 20 Oreo cookies, creme removed
• Mini gummy worms
• Ghost Peeps

Cupcake Decorating Directions:

1. Use the black decorating icing/gel to write RIP, EEK, or BOO on the top of 12 Milano cookies. Set aside.
2. Crush Oreos (by hand, with a rolling pin, or by food processor) into fine crumbs.
3. Generously sprinkle cookie crumbs over the top of the frosted cupcakes to create a layer of "dirt".
4. Place a Milano cookie "tombstone" into the frosting, making sure to keep it standing upright.
5. Lay a gummy worm in front of the tombstone, or press it into the frosting.
6. Press a marshmallow ghost Peep into the frosting, making it peek out from behind the tombstone.

Tips: 

• Storage: Refrigerate cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freeze: Cupcakes can be frozen for up to 3 months! Be sure that the cupcakes are completely cool, unfrosted, and are wrapped well in plastic wrap and then placed in a freezer bag. Before frosting and serving, thaw cupcakes in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours at room temperature.

I'm so excited to make a bunch of Halloween Graveyard Cupcakes for our Halloween parties, and hope you try them for yourself! Not only are they fun and simple to make, but they are SO yummy and the kids love helping with the decorations!! If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear all about it! Please share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!! 

Looking for more Halloween Party inspiration?

Check out this collection of OVER 100 creative Halloween Party ideas!!

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