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If you’ve been looking for a little spooky inspiration, you’ve definitely come to the right place. Here, you’ll find 80 cupcake ideas for Halloween, from vegan to pumpkin-shaped and theme and everything in between.
Dare you dive in to see more? I double dare you.
80 Cupcake Ideas for Halloween
Experts predict that British folks will spend somewhere in the region of £777 million in 2023, which is a staggering amount of money. There were reported to be 28.2 million households in the UK at the last count, which makes the figure somewhat less staggering: £27.50, on average, per household.
You can save some money this year by making your own snacks, trick or treat goodies, and more. Today, we’re going to focus on cupcake ideas for Halloween, but there are plenty more spooky finds to be found on this site. You’ll find links to those at the bottom of this article.
Pumpkin-Themed Cupcakes for Halloween
The Jack-o’-lantern tradition is actually one of the newer components of the Halloween holiday, thought to have started in America – but not by Americans.
If you think you have an impressive jack-o-lantern, you’ll want to check out the City of Keene in New Hampshire. They hold the Guinness World Record for most lit Jack-o-lanterns on display at 30,581!
- Pumpkin and Maple Cupcakes by Good to Know
- Salted Pumpkin Halloween Cupcakes by Fairtrade
- Pumpkin Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream by Sweet Treats and Savoury Eats
- Evil Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes by Maison Cupcake
- Halloween Treat Tub Cupcakes by Good to Know
Halloween Witch-Themed Cupcakes
For the perfect Halloween cupcakes (or cupcakes for any other occasion/time of year) make sure that you don’t over-mix the batter. When you do this, you essentially beat out all the bubbles and airiness, which will leave you with dense, chewy cupcakes instead of light, airy ones.
If you do end up with cupcakes that are dense or otherwise not right, don’t throw them away. Put something unpleasant in the centre, such as chilli chutney instead of jam, and call it a trick instead of a treat! I’m a genius, right?
- Witch Hat Cupcakes (Cupcake, Buttercream, Fondant) by Good to Know
- Cauldron and Witch Feet Chocolate Cupcake with Green Buttercream by Bake with Stork
- Witch Hat Caramel Cupcakes (Chocolate Cupcake, Caramel Filling, Buttercream, Ice Cream Cone, Cookies) by Pie and Tacos
- Fallen Witch Cupcakes by Betty Crocker
- Ugly Wicked Witch Cupcakes by Booths
Ghost Cupcake Ideas for Halloween
Halloween has deep roots in fortune-telling, magic, and superstition, and some still practice these traditions today. For instance, some people believe that if a young unmarried person walks down the stairs backward at midnight while holding a mirror, the face that appears in the mirror will be their next lover.
Knowing the dating scene today, it won’t be long before that unmarried person gets ghosted by said lover. And, you know, that makes the perfect switch to my next load of treats: ghost cupcakes for Halloween.
- Cupcakes with Lollipop Ghosts by Good to Know
- Halloween Ghost Cupcakes (Choc Chip Cupcake, Dark Cream, Choc Chips) by Waitrose
- Chocolate Ghost Cupcakes with Chocolate Fudge and Vanilla Icing Ghosts by Betty Crocker
- White Chocolate Vanilla Ghost Cupcakes by Good Housekeeping
- Ghostbusters Cupcakes by Sarah Woollard / GBBO
Halloween Character Cupcakes
If you want your Halloween character cupcakes to rise perfectly, there are a few things you need to remember. As previously mentioned, don’t over-mix. You should only fill the pan or muffin/cupcake liners two-thirds of the way. Any higher than that and you risk over-rising and the batter spilling over. There’s nothing wrong with this, of course, but it does ruin the aesthetic.
Paper liners will make it a lot easier for you to get the cupcakes out of the pan or tin. Use orange, purple, black, and other Halloween colours to bring the whole theme together. Finally, and perhaps most importantly: always leave your ingredients on the counter, to come to room temperature, before you start creating.
- Scary Scarecrow Cupcakes by Betty Crocker
- Frankenstein Cupcakes (Cupcake, Buttercream, and Fondant) by Good to Know
- Naturally Green Frankenstein Halloween Cupcakes by Veggie Desserts
- Chocolate Franken-Cupcakes by BBC
- Harry Potter Cupcakes by Good Housekeeping
- Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes by Woman’s Day
- Vampire Cat Cupcakes (Cupcake, Buttercream, and Fondant) by Good to Know
- Mummy, Monster, Frankenstein, and Skeleton Vanilla Cupcakes by BBC Good Food
- Red Velvet Dracula Cupcakes by Good to Know
- Minion Cupcakes by Best Recipes AU
Chocolate Cupcake Ideas for Halloween
Halloween is a fascinating festival, marked by a potpourri of spooky, scary, and surprising things. Did you know that dressing up in costumes and going door-to-door demanding treats was considered weird even back in the Middle Ages?
It was part of the ancient Celtic tradition of Souling, where people dressed up in costumes to repel spirits that were believed to roam the earth on the night of Samhain. Nowadays, souling is more about candy than prayers, but the ancient tale lives on.
Speaking of candy… let’s get back to the cupcakes.
- Black Velvet Scary Face Cupcakes by BBC Good Food
- Slime Cupcakes (Black Choc Sponge, Black Buttercream, and White Choc Slime) by Jane’s Patisserie
- Chocolate and Orange Marble Cupcakes with Halloween Modelling Paste by Food Heaven Mag
- Black and Red Blood Sucking Vampire Cupcakes (Black Velvet Cupcake, Black Buttercream, Red White Choc Ganache) by Lights, Camera, Bake
- Popping Candy Chocolate Cupcakes by Whitworths Sugar
- Vegan Oreo Bat Cupcakes by The Little Blog of Vegan
- Chocolate Skeleton Cookie Cupcakes by Good Housekeeping
- Choc-Digestive Bat Cupcakes by Betty Crocker
- Hooting Halloween Owl Chocolate Cupcakes by BBC Good Food
- Chocolate Sponge and Oreo Worm Cupcakes by Good to Know
Cute But Creepy Halloween Cupcake Recipes
If you want to ensure your cupcake ideas for Halloween cook all the way through and evenly, turn them around halfway through cooking. Avoid opening the oven apart from that. Every time you open it, you let some of the heat out and alter the internal temperature. This, in turn, quickly leads to unevenly cooked cakes, cakes that don’t rise properly, and other problems.
It might be Halloween, but the last thing you’ll want is a horror nightmare in the kitchen. Right? One more horror you should avoid is melting frosting. Wait for the cupcakes to cool down completely before attempting to decorate them. That’s a tip you’ll thank me for, I promise!
- Desiccated Coconut Mouse Cupcakes by Good Housekeeping
- Toothy Green Monster Cupcakes by Tesco Real Food
- Black Halloween Cupcakes by My Gorgeous Recipes
- Devil Icing Cupcakes by Good Housekeeping
- Purple and Green Slime Cupcakes by Whitworths Sugar
- Cookie Bat Cupcakes by Good Housekeeping
- Berry Spooky Halloween Cupcakes by Ocado
- Fangs Cupcakes (Sponge with Vanilla Buttercream, Raspberry Jam, and Teeth Sweets) by Good to Know
- Trick or Treat (Sprinkles Centre) Black Chocolate Cupcakes by Baking Mad
- Blackberry Cupcakes with Marshmallow Skulls by Tesco Real Food
Eyeball Cupcake Recipes for Halloween
Halloween is celebrated around the world with different traditions. In Mexico, they celebrate the Day of the Dead, where they remember loved ones who have passed away. In Japan, Halloween is celebrated with the Obon festival, where they honor the spirits of their ancestors.
Here in the UK, we dress up outrageously, eat spooky-themed foods, drink (gallons of) Halloween-themed drinks, and eat the most gruesome-looking stuff you’ve ever seen… just like these eyeball cupcake recipes for Halloween. (Heave.)
- Bloodshot Eye Cupcakes by Best Recipes AU
- Realistic Fondant Eyeballs for Cupcakes by Good to Know
- Chocolate Monster Eyeball Cupcakes by Lakeland
- Your Favourite Cupcakes with Edible Eyes Toppers by The Cake Decorating Company
- Green Monster and Eyeball Buttercream Cupcakes by Waitrose
Gory and Gruesome Halloween Cupcakes
Dressing up in costumes has become a staple of Halloween. From classic witches, ghosts, and vampires to movie-inspired costumes like Harley Quinn and the Joker, there’s no limit to creativity. Get spooky with makeup and accessories like fake blood and fangs or opt for a unique costume like a mobile phone or a toothbrush. The possibilities are endless – as are the possibilities for creepy or spooky-themed cupcakes and other Halloween food.
Just take a look at these cupcakes, for example. They’re disgusting to look at but taste delicious, which makes them both a trick and a treat in one. Get experimental. Take inspiration from these ideas and make something outrageous of your own, so we can feature you and your recipes in our next batch of Halloween-themed cooking and baking ideas.
- Red Velvet Bleeding Cupcakes by A Mummy Too
- Bleeding Brain Cupcakes by The Baking Explorer
- Red Velvet Guts Topping Cupcakes by Baking Mad
- Gruesome Lychee Eyeball Cupcakes by Food Doodles
- Brain Frosting for Cupcakes by Good to Know
Spider-Themed Cupcakes for Halloween
You might want to look away right now if you suffer with arachnophobia, because every single one of these cupcake ideas for Halloween are spider themed. As a spider-hater myself, I feel your pain. Cringe. Double cringe.
If you want to add edible spiders, webs, or other types of decoration to your cupcakes, make sure the cake is cool and the frosting is still a little moist. If you add them once the frosting has hardened a little, they likely won’t stay in place and the look might get ruined.
- Chocolate Cupcakes with White Chocolate Spider Webs by Good Housekeeping
- Spun Sugar Spider Web Cupcakes by Woman’s Day
- Blackcurrant and Liquorice Spider Cupcakes by Only Crumbs Remain
- Hairy Daddy Long Legs Cupcakes by CD Kitchen
- Pumpkin and Orange Spider Cupcakes by Bake with Stork
Graveyard Halloween Cupcake Ideas
You can make almost all these cupcake ideas for Halloween the night before and keep them in an airtight Tupperware tub or similar. As long as it is airtight, the cakes will stay fresh and moist. You can also store them in the same way post-party… if there are any left.
When they taste and look this good, there’s no way they’ll last. That’s the sign of a good cake though, right? Everyone will be clambering for more, so maybe keep a few back just in case.
- Halloween Chocolate Brownie Graveyard Cupcakes by Jessica Gavin / Yummly
- Your Favourite Cupcakes with Graveyard Edible Toppers on Amazon
- Undead Gingerbread Graveyard Cupcake by Good to Know
- Biscoff, Oreo, and Chocolate Buttercream Graveyard Cupcakes by The Baking Explorer
- Graveyard Ginger Cupcakes on Slurrp
Halloween Cupcakes for Adults
Various superstitions are associated with Halloween. Spiders are linked to passed-over loved ones – if you see one on Halloween, that loved one is thinking of you and looking over you. Another superstition is that if you hear footsteps behind you on Halloween night, don’t turn around, as it could be a ghost.
A superstition in my house is that I’ll die if I don’t eat all the cupcakes I made. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it… unless you can think of a better one? Oh, and good luck trying not to eat these immediately after you’ve made them.
- Toffee Apple Crumble Cupcakes by Food Heaven Mag
- Pumpkin Spiced Cupcakes by BBC Good Food
- Ginny Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Amaretto Halloween Cupcake by Craft Gin Club
- Earl Grey Killer Cupcakes by Teapro
- Broken Glass Cupcakes by The Gluten Free Blogger
Vegan Cupcake Ideas for Halloween
Hello, my vegan friends. Don’t worry; I haven’t forgotten about you. These vegan cupcake ideas for Halloween are spooky, vegan and vegetarian-friendly, and can be easily customised for other events and occasions, such as Christmas or birthdays.
If you’re throwing a party or gathering for the spooky occasion, it’s a good idea to cater for everyone, including those who have dietary restrictions. What happens if you forget to ask someone, or someone brings a plus-one with special food or drink requests? You could always cheat and buy some last-minute, of course… I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.
- Vegan Purple Halloween Cupcake Monsters by Feasting on Fruit / Yummly
- Vegan Halloween Skull Chocolate and Raspberry Cupcakes by Addicted to Dates
- Simple Vegan Halloween Cupcakes by The Vegan Chef School
- Customisable Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes by Simply Healthy Vegan
- Harry Potter Sorting Hat Vegan Cupcakes by The Little Blog of Vegan
Cupcake Ideas for Halloween: Others
Des Moines, Iowa has a unique Halloween tradition called “Beggars’ Night.” Young children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door like little beggars to receive treats. It began in 1938 as a way to prevent vandalism and provide a safer Halloween activity for young children.
If you want to give something that’s a little treatier than your average Halloween treat, why not consider these delicious cupcake ideas for Halloween? Tasty, a definite treat, no tricks needed – perfect!
- Halloween Horlicks Pumpkin Cupcakes by Horlicks
- Trick or Treat (Secret Centre) Cupcakes by A Spoonful of Vanilla
- Halloween Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes by Ocado
- Fizzy Fanta Halloween-Themed Cupcakes by B&M
- Easy Shredded Wheat Halloween Cupcakes by Nestle Cereals
Despite its ancient origins, Halloween continues to evolve and change over time. This year, whether you’re dressing up in costume, carving a pumpkin, or just enjoying some spooky treats, take a moment to appreciate the rich history and traditions of this holiday.
I hope that these 80 cupcake ideas for Halloween have helped you find the inspiration you were looking for, but if not, there are other spooky adventures to be had.
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