Dig into these hauntingly delightful Halloween cupcakes! These graveyard-inspired goodies will have your taste buds screaming for more. From tombstone-shaped cookies to eerie bone candies, I’ve crafted a confectionary cemetery that’s to die for.
This cupcake recipe is ALLLLL about the decorations. The base can be made with either a cake mix hack OR a homemade chocolate cupcake!
Why You’ll Love These Graveyard Cupcakes
- Super Simple: These are practically no-fail when it comes to decorating. Any imperfections only help add to the affect.
- Easy to Customize: I included a few ways to add your own customizations to the cupcakes below.
- Party Favorite: We take these to almost all of our spooky parties and they are met with rave reviews.
Two new obsessions: Halloween recipes and CHOCOLATE. In an effort to combine the two I decided it was time for Death By Chocolate Cupcakes, or Graveyard Cupcakes. This decadent chocolate cupcake recipe is incredibly rich and delicious all on its own. Top with cookie crumbs for a faux dirt and easy headstones made of cookies!
Be prepared to have all of your chocolate dreams come true. These cupcakes are packed with flavor and the simple design is perfect for even a novice baker (trust me, I’m terrible at cake decorating!).
Decorations For Halloween Cupcakes
These are SO easy. Below is a list of ingredients to decorate, some optional.
- Cupcakes: Like I mentioned above, you can make these using a cake mix or a classic chocolate cupcake recipe. Either will work beautifully for the base.
- Chocolate Frosting: Again, this is going to be hidden so you can use canned frosting or homemade frosting. Both taste delicious in their own way.
- Oval Shaped Cookies: I use Milano cookies. They are shaped perfectly and inexpensive.
- Candy Melts: Optional, but a fun addition. I used white candy melts for the ghosts, with black for the eyes, and a combination of white with a few black for the gravestones.
- Chocolate Sandwich Cookies: Oreo’s basically. These are blended to provide the most amazing edible “dirt” for the graveyard.
- Gummy Worms: Tell me that sour gummy worms aren’t the cutest splash of color?! It’s my favorite candy, and I always have it on hand, so it was a no-brainer to add in!
- Sprinkles: Halloween sprinkles come in all shapes and forms! I ordered some bone sprinkles, but just couldn’t wait and made my own using melted candy melts. I posted it on Instagram.
How To Make Headstone Halloween Cupcakes
- FROST: Add a generous dollop of chocolate frosting to the baked and cooled cupcakes. Spread into an even layer making sure to cover up to the edges.
- DIP: Turn the frosted cupcake upside down and press into the blended cookie pieces to coat completely. Make sure to cover all of the top, even the edges, to create the “dirt.”
- HEADSTONES: Melt a mixture of white and black candy melts, about a 3:1 ratio white to black, according to the package directions. Dip half of an oval cookie in the mixture and set aside to set. Repeat with however many headstones you want on your cupcakes.
- GHOSTS: Melt white candy melts according to the package directions. I used about half a bag for a dozen cupcakes. Dip half of an oval cookie in the mixture and set aside to set. Repeat with however many ghosts you want on your cupcakes.
- BLACK: Once the chocolate on the cookies has firmed, melt a small handful of black candy melts in a ziptop sandwich bag. Snip a very small slit in the bottom corner and write the lettering onto the headstones. Some great phrases are “RIP,” “BOO,” or “BYE.” Once done, carefully pipe two circles onto each white cookie to create the ghost eyes.
- ASSEMBLE: Add the cookies to each cupcake, pressing directly into the top of each frosted cupcake. Add additional decorations, like sprinkles or gummy worms.
Helpful Tools
- Cupcake Liners: I’m a big fan of neutral cupcake liner (affiliate) colors. I feel like the star of the show should be the cake itself, but you can find dozens of color options (affiliate).
- Scoop: I’m obsessed with my cookie scoop (affiliate). I use it for cookies BUT I also use it to evenly fill cupcake liners. This ensures perfect sized cupcakes every single time.
- Airtight Container: Extend the life of your cupcakes by keeping them stored in a large airtight container (affiliate).
- Halloween Sprinkles: This set (affiliate)is one of my favorites if I want a spooky vibe. These (affiliate) give a more happy whimsical vibe. And this set of candy bones (affiliate) is perfect for the graveyard!
Recipe Notes:
Absolutely! Store-bought cupcakes work well; focus on the spooky decorations for the graveyard effect.
Ideally, decorate the cupcakes on the day of the event to keep the decorations fresh and intact.
Basic tools like piping bags, decorating tips, and food-safe markers will help bring your graveyard cupcakes to life.
Store the cupcakes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
You can try spider-web cupcakes, monster-themed cupcakes, or witch hat cupcakes for more Halloween fun.
Yes, you can create chocolate trees by piping melted chocolate onto wax paper and refrigerating until set.
Yes, you can prepare the decorations a day ahead and assemble the cupcakes closer to the event.
More Fun Halloween Treats
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Halloween Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 12 baked chocolate cupcakes
- 1½ cups chocolate frosting
- 24 chocolate sandwich cookies crushed fine
- 12 oval shaped cookies like milano's
- white and black candy melts
- halloween sprinkles optional
- gummy worms optional
Instructions
- Add a generous dollop of chocolate frosting to the baked and cooled cupcakes, about 2 tablespoons. Spread into an even layer making sure to cover up to the edges.
- Turn the frosted cupcake upside down and press into the blended cookie pieces to coat completely. Make sure to cover all of the top, even the edges, to create the “dirt.”
Headstones
- Melt a mixture of white and black candy melts, about a 3:1 ratio white to black, according to the package directions.
- Dip half of an oval cookie in the mixture and set aside to set. Repeat with however many headstones you want on your cupcakes.
Ghosts
- Melt white candy melts according to the package directions. I used about half a bag for a dozen cupcakes. Dip half of an oval cookie in the mixture and set aside to set. Repeat with however many ghosts you want on your cupcakes.
- Once the chocolate on the cookies has firmed, melt a small handful of black candy melts in a zip top sandwich bag. Snip a very small slit in the bottom corner and write the lettering onto the headstones. Some great phrases are “RIP,” “BOO,” or “BYE.” Once done, carefully pipe two circles onto each white cookie to create the ghost eyes.
Assembly
- Add the cookies to each cupcake, pressing directly into the top of each frosted cupcake. Add additional decorations, like sprinkles or gummy worms.
Nutrition
Equipment
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Comments & Reviews
Amy says
Love it! They look so yummy! I did something similar a few years ago and it was a big hit.
summerscraps says
I love all of your Halloween treats!! This looks so cute and yummy!
Yvonne @ TriedandTasty says
How can you go wrong with a name like “death by chocolate”?? PINNING!
Kami says
How on earth did you make these SO adorable?!?! I love these. I can’t wait to try them out for our Halloween party.
Debra says
These are completely adorable! Yum!
Jill @ BeingSpiffy says
So are any of these delectable cupcakes going to be at your house on Tuesday? 😉
Amber @ Dessert Now, Dinner Later! says
You can never have too much chocolate! Pinned!
Nora (Buttercream Fanatic) says
Death by chocolate is by far the best way to go. These are awfully cute!
Ashlee says
adorable as always! Thanks for the link back, I love the idea of filling the cupcake with ganache, truffle filled cupcake!!! Mmmmm