Pull Apart Graveyard Cupcakes (Printable View)
Chocolate cupcakes topped with frosting and cookie decorations create a fun Halloween treat perfect for gatherings.
# What You Need:
→ Cupcakes
01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - ½ cup whole milk
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
07 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - ¼ teaspoon salt
→ Chocolate Frosting
09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
11 - ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
12 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
14 - Pinch of salt
→ Decoration
15 - 6-8 chocolate sandwich cookies
16 - 6-8 rectangular cookies or biscuits
17 - Black, white, and green gel icing pens
18 - Gummy worms, candy pumpkins, or Halloween themed candies
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt separately. Add half the dry mixture to wet, then milk, then remaining dry ingredients until just combined.
03 - Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
04 - Beat butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, mixing slowly. Add vanilla and milk, beating until smooth and spreadable.
05 - Arrange cooled cupcakes close together on a serving tray in a rectangle or mound shape. Generously spread chocolate frosting over all cupcakes, creating a smooth surface.
06 - Crush chocolate sandwich cookies and sprinkle over frosting for dirt effect. Write RIP and spooky messages on rectangular cookies with gel icing pens to create tombstones. Press into cupcakes. Decorate with gummy worms, candy pumpkins, or Halloween candy.
07 - Chill briefly before serving to set decorations.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can assemble everything ahead of time and let guests pull apart their own cupcake from the graveyard
- The decorating is half the fun, making it perfect for a pre-party activity with kids or friends
02 -
- Completely cooled cupcakes are non-negotiable because warm cupcakes will melt your frosting right off
- The frosting needs to be thick enough to hold the crushed cookie dirt or everything slides off when you try to transport
03 -
- If your frosting is too soft, chill it for 15 minutes before spreading to get those smooth graveyard surfaces
- Write tombstone messages on a paper towel first to practice your handwriting before committing to cookie