Easy Halloween Ghost Cupcakes
Halloween ghost cupcakes are a fun and easy addition to any spooky Halloween dessert table.
Each cupcake is decorated with colorful layers of yellow and orange buttercream, then topped with a tall white frosting ghost and candy eyes.
Although these cupcakes look impressive, they are simple enough for beginner bakers to make and decorate.
Serve them at a classroom party, Halloween movie night or family gathering.
Kids can help add the candy eyes, making these treats an enjoyable baking project as well as a festive dessert.
With homemade cupcakes, colorful frosting and adorable ghost decorations, they are sure to be a hit.
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How to Make Ghost Cupcakes
- You will bake soft and fluffy vanilla cupcakes tinted with hints of yellow and orange to resemble candy corn.
- While they cool, whip up a creamy buttercream frosting and divide it into three bowls — coloring two portions in orange and yellow for the base, and keeping one white for the ghostly swirl.
- Using piping bags, layer the icing in candy corn colors, finishing with a tall swirl of white frosting on top.
- Finish them off with candy eyes for a cute ghost face and you’re done!
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Yes. Bake the cupcakes up to one day in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Decorate them the day you plan to serve them for the freshest appearance.
A boxed vanilla or white cake mix works well. Prepare and bake the cupcakes according to the package directions, allow them to cool and then decorate them with the three frosting colors.
Use a large round piping tip to create a smooth, tall ghost shape. Hold the piping bag straight above the cupcake and gradually lift it as you squeeze.
Use a thick buttercream and avoid adding too much heavy cream. If the frosting feels soft, chill it briefly before piping. Keep the decorated cupcakes away from heat and direct sunlight.
Use mini chocolate chips, small pieces of chocolate or dots of black decorating gel to make the eyes. You can also pipe a small mouth beneath them for a spookier expression.
Tips for Decorating Halloween Ghost Cupcakes
- Let the cupcakes cool completely before adding the frosting. Buttercream will soften and slide off a warm cupcake.
- Use gel food coloring for brighter colors without thinning the frosting.
- Keep the frosting fairly thick so the ghost holds its shape.
- A large round piping tip works best for the white ghost, while a closed star tip creates texture in the yellow and orange layers.
- Press the candy eyes gently into the frosting immediately after piping it.
- If the frosting becomes too soft, refrigerate it for 10–15 minutes before decorating.
- Use a boxed vanilla or white cake mix when you need a quicker option.
Easy Ghost Cupcake Ideas and Variations
- You can use chocolate cupcakes instead of vanilla for a darker Halloween look. Pumpkin Cupcakes and funfetti cupcakes would also work well with the ghost decorations.
- For an even simpler version, skip the yellow and orange layers and pipe only the white ghost frosting onto each cupcake. Add candy eyes and a small mouth with black decorating gel.
- You can also change the frosting colors to purple, green or black to match the rest of your Halloween party decorations.
USA Pan Bakeware Muffin Pan, 12-Well, Aluminized Steel
Bake Choice Non-stick 200pcs Standard Cupcake Liners for Baking, Natural, Food-grade Cupcake Wrapper, Greaseproof Parchment Muffin Liners16 Inch Piping Bags Disposable, 50 Pcs Large Pastry Bags, Icing Bags, Cake Decorating Bags, Decorating Bags Large Piping Bags, Frosting BagsKasmoire 9 Pcs Round Piping Tip,Macaron Piping Tip,Cake and Cookie Decorating Plain Tube SetAmericolor Soft Gel Paste Food Color, 0.75 Ounce, Electric OrangeWilton Icing Colors, 1-Ounce, Golden YellowBetty Crocker Gel Icing, Black, 0.67 ozCandy Eyes Sprinkles for Cake Decorating Edible, Halloween Eyeball Sprinkles for Cookie Baking Ice Cream Brownie Cupcake Toppings
Planning a spooky celebration? Add these cupcakes to your favorite Halloween recipes or serve them alongside a few easy no-bake Halloween treats for a dessert table with plenty of kid-friendly options.
Halloween Ghost Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 1 ⅓ c. All-purpose flour
- 1 ¼ tsp. Baking powder
- ½ tsp. Kosher salt
- 6 tbsp. Unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 c. Sugar
- 1 large egg plus 1 egg white at room temperature
- 1 ½ tsp. Pure vanilla extract
- ½ c. Skim milk
- 2 drops yellow food coloring
- 2 drops orange food coloring
For the Frosting:
- 1 c. Unsalted butter softened
- 4 c. Powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp. Pure vanilla extract
- 4 tbsp. Heavy cream
- ½ tsp. Kosher salt
- 1 drop yellow food coloring
- 1 drop orange food coloring
- Candy eyes for garnish
Instructions
Bake the Cupcakes
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and add cupcake liners to pan, set aside.
- Add flour, baking powder and salt to a large bowl, mix well.
- In a separate large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer, cream butter and sugar until it becomes light and fluffy.
- Beat egg into mixture until well combined, then beat in egg white and add the vanilla.
- Mix well.
- Alternating, add the flour and milk as you continue to blend ingredients.
- Divide the batter evenly into cupcake liners, each cup should be 3⁄4 full.
- Bake until the tops are golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack for cooling.
Make the Frosting
- Beat butter in a large bowl using a hand or stand mixer until slightly whipped.
- Add 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time and mix on low until blended. Increase speed to high and continue beating. Repeat with the remaining powdered sugar.
- Beat in 2 tbsp of heavy cream and the vanilla extract until combined. You can add in heavy cream if needed for desired consistency. Add salt and mix to combine.
- Evenly divide the frosting into 3 separate bowls, color one bowl with the yellow food coloring drops and the other with the orange drops.
- Fill 3 pastry bags with each color. Use a closed star tip for the yellow and orange, use a round tip for the white pastry bag.
- Pipe 3 layers with each pastry bag of frosting onto the cooled cupcakes, finish by adding the candy eyes to each cupcake.
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