Graveyard Cupcakes are a perfect Halloween treat! Boxed chocolate cake mix is topped with homemade chocolate frosting and then decorated with spooky toppings! Bring these cupcakes along with my Monster Jello Cookies to your next Halloween party for the ultimate dessert spread!
Add some fun to your next Halloween party with these super simple cupcakes! This recipe is made extra easy by using a boxed cake mix. Homemade chocolate frosting takes this recipe to the next level, creating a chocolate explosion in your mouth! Finally, these cupcakes are decorated with ghosts, worms, and headstones, creating the perfect spooky sweet treat for Halloween.
These cupcakes are so much fun to decorate and super customizable. Graveyard Cupcakes get their name from the headstone cookies on top, of course, but you can add any candy, cookie, or snack to these cupcakes to make them as festive and spooky as possible!
What Are Graveyard Cupcakes?
Graveyard cupcakes have a chocolate cake base, chocolate frosting, and toppings such as Milano cookies, Peeps ghosts, and gummy worms to create a Halloween-themed cupcake. These cupcakes are perfect to bring to Halloween parties, school functions, or even a spooky-themed birthday party! The toppings are Halloween-based, but they can also be enjoyed year-round if you crave some chocolate.
Graveyard Cupcake Ingredients
- Devils Food boxed cake mix– Plus eggs, oil, and water required on the box instructions.
- Butter- Room temperature
- Powdered sugar
- Cocoa powder– Regular or Dutch works.
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Oreo cookies
- Milano cookies
- Black icing– the gel type or the black icing already in a tube works best for writing purposes.
- Gummy worms– Mini gummy worms work best for cupcakes due to the size.
- Ghost peeps
Substitutions and Variations
Cake flavor- I used chocolate cake mix in this recipe to replicate the color of dirt. You can try other flavors of cake if you’re not a huge chocolate fan, like vanilla, strawberry, or lemon.
Frosting- You can use frosting from the can if you’re short on time.
Decorating- These cupcakes can be decorated in any way you’d like- which is the most fun part! I used ingredients like ghost Peeps, gummy worms, and Milano cookies to make headstones. You can include other Halloween candy like mellow creme pumpkins and gummy eyeballs. You can also add toppings that aren’t edible, like spider rings!
Headstones- The classic “RIP” on each headstone is Halloween-themed, making these cupcakes look straight out of a graveyard. You can customize each headstone to say ANYTHING you’d like! If you’re making these for a birthday party, write happy birthday on them!
How To Make Graveyard Cupcakes
Step One: Prepare the cupcakes according to the directions on the back of the box. Once baked, allow to cool completely before frosting.
Step Two: In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Once smooth, add vanilla and mix. After the vanilla is added, slowly incorporate cocoa powder and powdered sugar, alternating and mixing in between. After combined, if the frosting needs to be thinned, add some milk until the desired consistency is reached. Once frosting is mixed, pipe a layer onto each cupcake.
Step Three: Separate the Oreos and remove the cream filling. Add the cookie halves to a gallon sized ziplock bag and smash with a rolling pin or other heavy object, or place in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs appear. Sprinkle the crushed Oreos over each cupcake.
Step Four: Write “RIP” onto each Milano cookie using the black gel or black icing. Press the Milano cookie into each cupcake. Decorate the cupcakes with ghosts, gummy worms, or any other Halloween-themed decorations.
Storage Instructions
Store these cupcakes in an air-tight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. To freeze these cupcakes, place baked, cooled, unfrosted cupcakes in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer and allow to come to room temperature before frosting and decorating.
Graveyard Cupcakes
EQUIPMENT
- Food processor optional
INGREDIENTS
- 1 box Devils Food cupcake mix plus water, oil, and eggs from the box directions
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp. milk
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 16 Oreo cookies
- 12 Milano cookies
- Black writing icing
- Mini gummy worms
- Ghost peeps
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prepare the cupcakes, according to the box directions, and allow them to cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Add the vanilla and mix.
- Add the powdered sugar and cocoa powder, alternating between each ingredient and mix. Add the milk a little at a time to thin out the frosting, as needed.
- Once the frosting is mixed, add to a piping bag with a 1M star tip. Pipe a layer of frosting onto each cupcake.
- Separate the Oreos and remove the creme filling. Add the cookie halves to a gallon storage bag. Crush the cookies using a rolling pin or a heavy object until desired crumble is reached, and sprinkle over top of the frosted cupcakes.
- Take the 12 Milano cookies, and use the black writing icing to write RIP, or other headstone phrases, onto the cookies.
- Press the Milano cookies into the frosting, using a toothpick to prop the headstone up, if needed. Decorate the cupcakes with mini gummy worms, and peeps ghosts.
