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30 Cute & Spooky Halloween Cupcakes

Make this Halloween extra sweet.

By and
chocolate cupcakes coated in melted chocolate, graham cracker crumbs, toasted meringue frosting, and a graham cracker square
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

We know that Halloween is all about the candy, but that's not the only sweet we'll be eating come October 31 (or, let’s be real, September 1 and even earlier 😉). We’re also baking up some adorable Halloween cupcakes to share with friends and family (and to hoard like we do all the Reese’s in our trick-or-treat bags). With recipes featuring both all your fave candies and tons of fall flavors, with a few tricks and treats in between, these 30 Halloween cupcakes are sure to delight everyone this spooky season.

For all the thrill-seeking bakers out there, you'll love our recipes for our glowing cupcakes, our zombie brain cupcakes, and our blood drip cupcakes. They might just be too spooky to eat (emphasis on the word "might").

Want something a little more fall than fright? Our sweet potato pie cupcakes, our pumpkin spice cupcakes, and our apple cupcakes are a nod to all our favorite seasonal fruits and veggies. This way you can have your produce, and eat cake too—win win!

Love costumes and want to dress up your sweets too? Our Cinderella cupcakes, our owl cupcakes, our campfire cupcakes, and our Sorting Hat cupcakes are all fun places to start.

Looking to scare up even more goodies? Check out our fave Halloween cookies, our best grown-up Halloween party food, and our top Halloween cocktails. If you need help with your Halloween decorations, we've also got great pumpkin carving ideas, plenty of tips on how to decorate your car for trunk-or-treating, and tons of Halloween party decorations that will turn any house into a haunted house. Celebrating the Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos)? Check out all of our favorite Day of the Dead recipes too.

1

“Inside Out” Cupcakes

vanilla cupcakes with a colorful filling and sprinkles
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

If you’re fans of the heartwarming film Inside Out as much as we are (and maybe even planning a themed costume), then you’re in for a real treat. We've taken the whimsical world of Riley's emotions and transformed them into delectable cupcakes. Each cupcake is filled with colored frosting that corresponds with the emotions featured, so you get a delightful surprise in every bite, plus the light and fluffy marshmallow frosting is inspired by what we imagine Cloud Town would taste like.

Get the “Inside Out” Cupcakes recipe.

2

Sorting Hat Cupcakes

sorting hat cupcakes
Parker feierbach

The Sorting Hat knows all, and now it can even put us mere muggles into a Hogwarts house. Grab yourself a Butterbeer hot cocoa and take a bite of your cupcake to discover what house you belong in!

Get the Sorting Hat Cupcakes recipe.

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3

Zombie Brain Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes decorated with green frosting and red gel food coloring to look like zombie brains
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER PHOTOGRAPHY; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Don’t just make plain old cupcakes for your next Halloween bash, make zombie brain cupcakes! They’re nothing more than a moist, chocolate cupcake with rich vanilla frosting, but some neon green food coloring and clever piping turn these into a super-festive, spooky treat.

Get the Zombie Brain Cupcakes recipe.

4

Apple Pie Stuffed Cupcakes

apple pie stuffed cupcakes sprinkled with demerara sugar
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Nothing says fall like a warm apple pie. Unfortunately, we don't always have time to make and chill pie dough. These cupcakes are the perfect compromise!

Get the Apple Pie Stuffed Cupcakes recipe.

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5

Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes

pumpkin spice cupcakes
Parker feierbach

If you're looking for a perfect pumpkin cupcake, look no further. These easy sweets are full of pumpkin spice and topped with a simple cream cheese frosting. We love it topped with some cinnamon sugar, but more pumpkin spice seasoning would also be delicious.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes recipe.

6

S'mores Cupcakes

chocolate cupcakes coated in melted chocolate, graham cracker crumbs, toasted meringue frosting, and a graham cracker square
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Whether you’re sitting around a campfire or standing over your stove, making s’mores is a quintessential fall weather activity. The crunch of the graham cracker, the melty richness of the chocolate, and the toasty and sweet marshmallow all work together to create one of the best treats of all time.

Get the S'mores Cupcakes recipe.

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7

Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce

pavlova cupcakes with raspberry sauce
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Pavlovas have a crispy exterior with a soft, marshmallow-like interior, and these mini ones made into cupcakes are ideal for serving to guests. Dollop with a little whipped cream and raspberry sauce for the perfect bite that, dare we say it? Looks a little bit gore-y, albeit still delicious enough to eat.

Get the Pavlova Cupcakes With Raspberry Sauce recipe.

8

Steamed Blooming Cupcakes

blooming pink cupcakes topped with maraschino cherries
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Steaming might not be your first thought when it comes to making cupcakes, but hear us out: It’s a method worth trying that kids will be obsessed with. While these cupcakes may look complex, they come together surprisingly fast and are a perfect pop of color for your Halloween spread. A dump-and-stir batter + 15 minutes in a steamer basket = blooming sweet easy treats ready to be topped with maraschino cherries.

Get the Steamed Blooming Cupcakes recipe.

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9

Hocus Pocus Cupcakes

cupcake, food, buttercream, cake, icing, dessert, whipped cream, cream, cake decorating, sweetness,
Courtesy of Reynolds

Calling all Hocus Pocus fans! We've got the perfect Halloween project for you. You can re-create your favorite witch's iconic hairstyles with nothing more than white chocolate and some food coloring. Double up and make our Hocus Pocus Jell-O Shots too for the perfect watch party spread.

Get the Hocus Pocus Cupcakes recipe.

10

Blood Drip Cupcakes

blood drip cupcakes
NAOMI ROBINSON

Channel your inner vampire with these deliciously gory cupcakes. The secret? Glass candy and red food-dyed corn syrup! Want something even bigger? Make our vampire poke cake next.

Get the Blood Drip Cupcakes recipe.

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11

Owl Cupcakes

owl cupcakes
Parker feierbach

Use Oreos to turn cupcakes into the cutest little owls. Each one will be more adorable than the last! Have leftover Oreos? Make these super-fun Minion Oreos next!

Get the Owl Cupcakes recipe.

12

Candy Corn Ghost Cupcakes

candy corn cupcakes
Naomi Robinson

Candy corn is ICONIC to Halloween, even if you kind of... hate the mellow creme taste. Mimic the layers, but not the flavor with these adorable cupcakes. Even candy corn-haters will love these guys.

Get the Candy Corn Ghost Cupcakes recipe.

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13

S'mores Pumpkin Cupcakes

thanksgiving cupcakes s'mores pumpkin cupcakes
Lindsay Hunt

Missing summertime s'mores? These pumpkin cupcakes take them fully into fall territory, perfect for Halloween and all season long.

Get the S'mores Pumpkin Cupcakes recipe.

14

Glowing Mini Cupcakes

glowing mini cupcakes
Ethan calabrese

You can use any cupcake recipe for the cake portion here; the key is really in the buttercream. The secret to their eery glow? A Jell-O-tonic water glaze gives these treats their spooky look.

Get the Glowing Mini Cupcakes recipe.

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15

Cheesecake-Stuffed Cupcakes

cheesecake stuffed cupcakes
Parker feierbach

Can't decide between chocolate cake and cheesecake? Now you don't have to! Hot tip: These will work with whatever cake flavor you like, from red velvet to lemon.

Get the Cheesecake-Stuffed Chocolate Cupcakes recipe.

16

Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes

sweet potato pie cupcakes
Parker Feierbach

Sweet potato pie is a given at Thanksgiving, and it can feel a little weird baking it the rest of the year. Not so when you turn it into cupcakes! This easy recipe uses boxed cake mix to make some of the tastiest cupcakes we've ever had, and we're enjoying them all year long.

Get the Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes recipe.

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17

Red Velvet Cupcakes

red velvet cupcakes
BRITTANY CONERLY

The best part of this recipe? The fluffy cream cheese-mascarpone frosting. It's the perfect topping, and is what really makes these the best-ever dead red velvet cupcakes (that, and perfectly chocolate-y cake).

Get the Red Velvet Cupcakes recipe.

18

Fireball Cupcakes

fireball cupcakes
JOHN KOMAR

Goodness gracious, great [cups] of fire! If you love Fireball like we love Fireball, these are the devilishly spicy-sweet dessert for you.

Get the Fireball Cupcakes recipe.

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19

Ice Cream Stuffed Cupcakes

ice cream stuffed cupcakes

We can't stop stuffing cupcakes with all our favorite fillings, and ice cream had to be next on our list. The flavor combos are truly endless here: Chocolate cupcakes with vanilla ice cream is classic, but for Halloween, we're thinking of swapping vanilla for bloody red velvet ice cream.

Get the Ice Cream Stuffed Cupcakes recipe.

20

Cinderella Cupcakes

cinderella cupcakes
Chelsea Lupkin

These cupcakes are simply magical. All the princesses at your Halloween party will love these and our Belle cupcakes.

Get the Cinderella Cupcakes recipe.

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