Cute Halloween Cupcakes for Kids
These are the cutest Halloween cupcakes that my kids absolutely love and yours will also!
With cute googly eyes and bright neon colors, these furry monster, spooky witch, and holiday pumpkin cupcakes make the perfect treat for kids or a Halloween party dessert!
They can easily be made with a box cake mix (I used chocolate fudge) or with my delicious homemade chocolate cupcakes recipe - yum!
The cute furry monster cupcakes are decorated with neon purple buttercream frosting and candy eyeball sprinkles; which, according to my kids, make them a "little scary".
The witch cupcakes are also a little spooky and remind me of the Wicked Witch of the West from the movie The Wizard of Oz. They are decorated with neon green buttercream frosting, candy eyeball sprinkles, and a hat made of Oreos and Hershey kisses.
Of course, you can't have Halloween without pumpkins! With neon orange frosting, a pretzel stick stem, and green vines, the pumpkin-decorated cupcakes just may be the cutest of them all!
Be sure to check out my Desserts page for more delicious holiday treats both you and your kids will love; like my Homemade Pumpkin Pie and award-winning Pumpkin Cupcakes - yum!
Also, if you prefer a quicker and easier Halloween cupcake recipe, you'll have to try my Easy Halloween Cupcakes with simple neon buttercream swirls and festive sprinkles!
Why You'll Love These Cute Halloween Cupcakes
My kids LOVE these cupcakes and here are some reasons why yours will also:
- Fun to make with kids
- Can be made with a box cake mix in any flavor
- Topped with delicious homemade buttercream frosting
- Vibrant neon Halloween colors
- Cute monster, witch, and pumpkin designs
- Perfect for Halloween Parties
- Not too scary
- 100% kid-tested and approved!
Ingredients for Cute Halloween Cupcakes
This Halloween cupcake recipe uses basic ingredients you probably already have on hand or can easily find at your local grocery store. (The exact measurements are in the recipe card below.)
For the Cupcakes:
- Box cake mix - in any flavor you want (I used chocolate fudge). If you prefer to make them from scratch instead, be sure to try my delicious homemade chocolate cupcake recipe!
For the Buttercream Frosting:
- Butter - be sure to soften before using or your frosting could turn out lumpy. Either let it sit at room temperature for 1-2 hours or microwave on 1% power for 30-second increments until your finger leaves an indentation when pressed. Be careful not to let it melt!
- Confectioner's (powdered) sugar - used for sweetness, structure, and pipe-ability. Be careful not to confuse this with granulated sugar.
- Milk - slightly thins the frosting so it's spreadable.
- Pure vanilla extract - for a delicious vanilla flavor.
- Salt - helps offset the sweetness of the frosting.
How to Make and Decorate Monster, Witch, and Pumpkin Halloween Cupcakes
Here are the steps and process images for how to make these cute Halloween cupcakes. (More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)
- Prepare and bake the cupcakes following the directions on your box cake mix or according to your recipe.
- Then, make homemade buttercream using a handheld mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
- Divide the frosting evenly into three separate bowls. Then, color each bowl with one of the three Halloween gel food colors - neon green, orange, and purple.
For the Monster Cupcakes:
- Spoon purple buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton grass tip #233.
- Start out by making a blob of buttercream in the middle of the cupcake. Then, working your way from the bottom of the blob to the top, pipe strands of fur for the monster.
- Finish by placing 2 candy eyeball sprinkles onto the monster's face.
For the Witch Cupcakes:
- Spoon green buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip.
- Pipe a swirl on top of the cupcake by starting along the outside edge and then circling towards the center until the desired height is reached.
- Add 2 candy eyeball sprinkles to the side of the frosting swirl.
- Switch to a Wilton grass tip #233, and pipe the witch's hair on top.
- Finish by forming the witch's hat on top with half an Oreo cookie and one Hershey's kisses candy. (I used the Halloween Oreos with orange cream centers.)
For the Pumpkin Cupcakes:
- Spoon orange buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip.
- Pipe a swirl on top of the cupcake slowly to add a slightly ruffled effect. Start along the outside edge and then circle towards the center until the desired height is reached.
- Place a pretzel stick into the center of the swirl leaving about a ½ inch sticking out for the stem.
- Lastly, switch to a Wilton round tip #4 and pipe green vines coming out from the pretzel stem.
- Serve these cute cupcakes as holiday treats for kids or Halloween party desserts. Enjoy!
Baking Equipment and Tools Used for Making these Cute Halloween Cupcakes
- Mixing bowls - used for mixing the cupcake batter and also for coloring the buttercream frosting.
- Standard 12-cup muffin pan - I lined my pan with green, orange, and purple cupcake liners.
- Electric mixer - A stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment is best for making homemade buttercream but a handheld mixer will work as well.
- Piping bags and tips - I used the following Wilton piping tips for these cute Halloween cupcakes: open star tip 1M, grass tip #233, and round tip #4.
Storage
Place any leftover cupcakes in an airtight container and then store them at room temperature for up to 3 days.
You can also make these cupcakes ahead of time and freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter at room temperature for 1 hour.
Other Recipes You'll Love!
- Easy Halloween Cupcakes
- Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
- Homemade Pumpkin Pie
- Moist Blueberry Muffins
- Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
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Also, be sure to check out my how-to video in the recipe card below!
Cute Halloween Cupcakes for Kids
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes
- 12 cupcake liners
- 1 box cake mix (I used chocolate fudge) or use my delicious homemade chocolate cupcakes recipe!
For the Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened; 1 cup = 2 sticks)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups confectioner's (powdered) sugar (4 cups = 1 pound)
- 2 Tablespoons whole milk
- gel food colors (neon green, orange, and purple)
For Decorating the Cupcakes
- piping bags
- Wilton piping tip 1M
- Wilton piping grass tip #233
- Wilton piping round tip #4
- Candy eyeball sprinkles
- Hershey's kisses
- Oreo cookies (I used the Halloween Oreos with orange cream centers.)
- pretzel sticks
Instructions
Make the Cupcakes
- Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners.
- Prepare and bake the cupcakes following the directions on your box cake mix or according to your recipe.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make and Prepare the Buttercream Frosting
- Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat softened butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
- Mix in vanilla extract and salt, until combined.
- Turn the mixer down to low speed and slowly add powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until completely incorporated.
- Add milk and mix just until incorporated.
- Scrape the sides of the bowl down and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes, until frosting is smooth and creamy - don't overmix or it could separate.
- Divide frosting evenly into 3 separate bowls. Color each bowl with one of the Halloween neon gel food colors - green, orange, and purple.
Decorate the Monster Cupcakes
- Spoon purple buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton grass tip #233.
- First, make a blob of buttercream in the middle of the cupcake. Then, working your way from the bottom of the blob to the top, pipe strands of fur for the monster.
- Finish by placing 2 candy eyeball sprinkles on the monster's face.
Decorate the Witch Cupcakes
- Spoon green buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip.
- Pipe a swirl on top of the cupcake by starting along the outside edge and then circling towards the center until the desired height is reached.
- Switch to a Wilton grass tip #233, and pipe the witch's hair starting from the top of the buttercream swirl.
- Place half of an Oreo cookie on top. Add a little buttercream onto the bottom of a Hershey's kiss candy and place on top of the Oreo cookie to form the witch's hat.
- Finish by placing 2 candy eyeball sprinkles on the witch's face.
Decorate the Pumpkin Cupcakes
- Spoon orange buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a Wilton 1M tip.
- Pipe a swirl on top of the cupcake slowly to add a slightly ruffled effect. Start along the outside edge and then circle towards the center until the desired height is reached.
- Place a pretzel stick into the center of the swirl leaving about a ½ inch sticking out for the stem.
- Lastly, switch to a Wilton round tip #4 and pipe green vines coming out from the pretzel stem.
- Serve these cute cupcakes as holiday treats for kids or Halloween party desserts. Enjoy!
Notes
Storage
Place leftover cupcakes in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 3 days.VIDEO
Nutrition
*Nutritional facts are calculated by third party sources and are not always accurate. If you are on a special diet, we highly recommend you calculate these values personally.
Jennifer
These Halloween cupcakes are SO cute! The witch and monster cupcakes with eyes are adorable! I love the pumpkin cupcakes too! My kids are going to LOVE these!
Ranch Style Kitchen
Thank you so much! I hope they love them too!