40 Halloween Cupcake Ideas for the Spookiest Treat of the Season
These frightening desserts will attract all the goblins and ghouls.
If you're here in search of show-stopping Halloween dessert ideas, you've come to the right place. Whether you're getting ready to host a Halloween party for the whole neighborhood or just need some fall treats to bring to your child's class party, we have dozens of ideas for Halloween cupcakes everyone will love. These boo-tiful treats are sure to be gobbled up before you know it!
Not to worry if you're short on time! Many of these cupcakes can be made with the help of a store-bought mix. All you have to do is the fun part: Add spooky Halloween decorations! From adorable bats made of cookies to sugary spiderwebs, the decorations take these treats to the next level. And there's no need to do it all by yourself. Decorating these fall treats could be a fun Halloween craft for the whole family.
Plus, if you want to add more to your Halloween spread, check out our ideas for Halloween cakes, Halloween cookies, pumpkin recipes, and other seasonal desserts that are perfect for October 31st. It might be the most frightful time of year but it's also the sweetest!
Apple Pie Cupcakes
These seasonal treats made with homemade apple compote, luscious whipped cream, and plenty of fall spices are what Halloween is all about.
Get the Apple Pie Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: 25 Best Fall Cupcakes and Decorating Ideas Filled With Autumn Flavor
Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Ginger Meringue
These fall cupcakes bring together delicious sweet potatoes and fluffy ginger meringue that's toasted to perfection with the help of a kitchen torch.
Get the Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Toasted Ginger Meringue recipe.
Chocolate Pecan Cupcakes
Inside these gorgeous cupcakes is the sweet surprise of a crunchy caramel-pecan filling. Kids and adults alike will love them.
Get the Chocolate Pecan Cupcakes recipe.
Spiderweb Cupcakes
These creepy crawly cupcakes will stand out on any desserts table.
Get the Spiderweb Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: 40 Chic and Spooky Halloween Table Decorations for DIY Lovers
Witch Cupcakes
Hats off to these witchy Halloween chocolate cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting and crafty cupcake liners.
Get the Witch Cupcakes recipe.
Pecan Cupcakes with Spiced Vanilla Frosting
Made with finely ground pecans, cinnamon and nutmeg, these spiced cupcakes are perfect for any fall holiday.
Mummy Cupcakes
Your guests will be dying to unwrap one of these ghoulish treats.
Get the Mummy Cupcakes recipe.
Cookie Bat Cupcakes
For an easy (and edible!) craft idea, make cute bats out of Oreos and peanut butter cups.
Get the Cookie Bat Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: 70 Spooky Halloween Crafts Kids Can Easily DIY for Fun
Chocolate Skeleton Cookie Cupcakes
Putting cookies on cupcakes is definitely a good idea, especially when the cookies are as cute as these skeletons.
White Chocolate Ghost Cupcakes
Boo! Scarily cute ghosts are the perfect toppers for decadent chocolate cupcakes.
Graveyard Cupcakes
Set a spooky scene on top of deep dark chocolate cupcakes.
Get the Graveyard Cupcakes recipe.
RELATED: 33 Easy and Spooky Halloween Cakes That'll Sweeten Up Your Party
Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting
They may look simple on the outside but there's a whole lotta spice on the inside.
Get the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes With Cream Cheese Frosting recipe.
RELATED: 44 Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Recipes to Make This Fall
Sugared Lavender Cupcakes
Turn these pretty cupcakes into terrifying treats with a little black icing to paint on bats, spiders or cats.
Get the Sugared Lavender Cupcakes recipe.
Chocolate Pumpkin Witch Cupcakes
The decadent hazelnut cream cheese frosting on these spooky treats makes them pretty sweet.
Vanilla Cupcakes
What better base for frighteningly fun toppings than our best-ever vanilla cupcakes? Whip these treats up for endless festive possibilities!
Get the Vanilla Cupcakes recipe.
Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes
Carrot, ginger and pineapple cupcakes are perfect for the season —top them with gummy googly eyes instead of dried pineapple for extra spook.
Get the Carrot-Pineapple Cupcakes recipe.
Lemon Cupcakes With Strawberry Frosting
Add a few extra freeze-dried strawberries to the buttercream frosting to turn it blood-thirsty red.
Berry-Stuffed Cupcakes
Use chocolate instead of vanilla cupcakes for a scarier effect.
Get the Berry-Stuffed Cupcakes recipe.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cupcakes
Use a pastry bag to easily pipe the luscious peanut butter filling to simple chocolate cupcakes. It's like your favorite Halloween candy in cupcake form!
Ice Cream Cupcakes
It's the no-bake dessert of your dreams: Three layers of softened ice cream combined with your favorite add-ins (try leftover Halloween candy!) and a silky chocolate topping.
Get the Ice Cream Cupcakes recipe.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Taylor Worden is Delish's Assistant Digital Food Producer, where she creates recipe galleries, recipe updates and more. She was previously a freelance editor on the food team for Good Housekeeping, where she also contributed entertainment and culture pieces as a freelance writer. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in journalism and a lifelong love of writing. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading, testing out a new pasta recipe, or rewatching one of her favorite shows.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
DIY Gwen Stacy Halloween Costume Ideas 2023
'The Last of Us' Halloween Costume Ideas
11 Spider-Verse Halloween Costume Ideas
25 Best Disney Couples Costumes
