A Halloween cupcake should be more than just delicious—it should be spooky, festive, and fun to decorate! These chocolate cupcakes are soft, moist, and rich, topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting and finished with a creepy-cool cobweb design. They’re easy enough for beginners, fun for kids, and eye-catching enough for any Halloween party dessert table.
Whether you’re baking for a classroom celebration or looking for a themed treat to make with your family, this Halloween cupcake is the perfect seasonal bake.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 🎃 Perfect for Halloween parties and school events
- 🍫 Rich chocolate flavor with a light crumb
- 🧁 Tangy cream cheese frosting balances the sweetness
- 🕷️ Simple decorating technique using a piping bag and toothpick
- 👩🍳 Easy enough for beginners but impressive enough for guests
- A great alternative to Pumpkin Cupcakes, Spider Web Brownies, or Monster Cookies
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
- 125g (4½ oz) plain flour
- 25g (1 oz) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 150g (5 oz) caster sugar
- 150g (5 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 8 tbsp whole milk
For the Cream Cheese Icing
- 50g (2 oz) cream cheese
- 25g (1 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 125g (4 oz) icing sugar, sifted
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Cobweb Icing
- 25g (1 oz) icing sugar
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp warm water (adjust for thickness)
Instructions
1. Make the Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) or Gas Mark 4. Line a muffin tin with 9 paper cases.
- In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder.
- Add sugar and softened butter. Beat until well combined and slightly fluffy.
- Whisk in the egg and milk until the batter is smooth and thick.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake cases.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack completely before decorating.
2. Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a bowl, beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Gradually add sifted icing sugar and vanilla extract.
- Mix until light and fluffy.
- Spoon or pipe a layer of frosting onto each cooled cupcake, leaving a small border around the edge.
3. Decorate with Chocolate Cobweb
- Sift icing sugar and cocoa powder into a bowl. Stir in warm water to form a smooth icing.
- Transfer to a piping bag with a fine nozzle or a sandwich bag with the corner snipped off.
- Pipe 3 concentric circles on each cupcake.
- Drag a toothpick from the center outward through the circles at intervals to create the cobweb effect.
- Let the icing set for 15–20 minutes before serving.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 9 cupcakes
Nutrition Facts (per cupcake, approx.)
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 18g
- Sugar: 27g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 3g
Tips & Variations
- 👻 Want to freeze? Freeze un-iced cupcakes for up to 1 month. Wrap tightly.
- 🧁 More servings? Double the recipe for 18 cupcakes.
- 🧒 Let the kids help! They’ll love dragging the toothpick to make cobwebs.
- 🎨 Add color: Tint the cream cheese frosting orange or purple for extra flair.
Chocolate Halloween Cupcake with Cobweb Icing
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- – Electric mixer or whisk
- – Muffin tin + paper cases
- – Piping bag or sandwich bag
- – Toothpick
Ingredients
- **Cupcakes**
- – 125g plain flour
- – 25g cocoa powder
- – 1½ tsp baking powder
- – 150g caster sugar
- – 150g unsalted butter softened
- – 1 egg
- – 8 tbsp milk
- **Cream Cheese Frosting**
- – 50g cream cheese
- – 25g butter
- – 125g icing sugar
- – ½ tsp vanilla extract
- **Cobweb Icing**
- – 25g icing sugar
- – 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- – 2 tbsp warm water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Line muffin tin with 9 cases.
- Mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, sugar, and butter.
- Add egg and milk. Beat until smooth.
- Divide into cases. Bake 20–25 mins. Cool completely.
- Make frosting: Mix cream cheese, butter, icing sugar, and vanilla.
- Frost cupcakes, leaving a border.
- Mix cobweb icing and pipe 3 circles.
- Drag toothpick from center to edge to form cobweb.
- Let set 15–20 minutes before serving.
Notes
– Double the recipe for a crowd.
FAQs
Can I make these Halloween cupcakes the night before?
Yes! Bake and frost them a day ahead. Decorate with cobwebs closer to serving time for the best look.
Can I use a chocolate frosting instead?
You can! But the cobweb effect works best on a white base like cream cheese or vanilla buttercream.
What if I don’t have piping bags?
Use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to pipe the cobweb icing.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a festive treat that’s simple, fun, and full of chocolatey goodness, these Halloween cupcakes check every box. They’re spooky, sweet, and great for making memories in the kitchen. Whether you’re baking with little monsters or just planning a fang-tastic party spread, this cobweb-topped cupcake will steal the show.