Description
These Easy Halloween Cupcakes are festive and fun, featuring rich chocolate cupcakes topped with a vibrant swirl of homemade buttercream frosting in neon Halloween colors. Perfect for any spooky celebration, they are decorated with Halloween-themed sprinkles and can be made quickly using a boxed cake mix or a homemade chocolate cupcake recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Cupcakes
- 12 cupcake liners
- 1 box cake mix (triple chocolate fudge recommended) or homemade chocolate cupcake batter
Buttercream Frosting
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups confectioner’s (powdered) sugar (1 pound)
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- Gel food colors (neon green, orange, and purple)
Decoration
- 3 piping bags
- Wilton 1M piping tip
- Halloween-themed sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepare Cupcake Batter: Use a boxed chocolate cake mix according to package instructions or prepare your own chocolate cupcake batter from a reliable homemade recipe. Line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners.
- Bake Cupcakes: Pour the batter evenly into the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make Buttercream Frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat 1 cup softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually add 4 cups powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons whole milk, beating until smooth and fluffy. Adjust the consistency with additional milk or powdered sugar as needed.
- Color the Frosting: Divide the buttercream evenly into three separate bowls. Add gel food coloring to each bowl to create neon green, orange, and purple frosting colors. Mix well to achieve vibrant hues.
- Prepare Piping Bags: Fit each piping bag with a Wilton 1M piping tip. Fill each bag with one of the colored frostings.
- Pipe the Frosting: On each cooled cupcake, pipe a swirl of buttercream icing using the different colors in the piping bags for a fun, multi-colored Halloween look.
- Add Sprinkles: Decorate the frosted cupcakes with Halloween-themed sprinkles while the frosting is still soft for best adhesion.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow the frosting to set slightly before serving. Store cupcakes at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Notes
- Use neon gel food colors for vibrant Halloween-themed frosting colors.
- You can substitute the cake mix with a homemade chocolate cupcake recipe if preferred.
- Ensure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
- Buttercream frosting can be made ahead and stored refrigerated; bring to room temperature before piping.
- For added fun, mix different Halloween sprinkles like candy eyes, bats, and pumpkins.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
