Ghost Cupcakes: How to Make Cute and Easy Halloween Treats
A delicious, sweet, and fun Halloween dessert for kids and adults of all ages. You can make ghost cupcakes at home using your favorite box cupcake mix, lollipops and fondant. Don’t have time to bake? You can also used pre-baked cupcakes for this delectable, fall treat as well. This adorable Halloween party idea is easier to make than you may imagine; and a delight to both create and devour.
Easy Halloween Party Treats
Kids love to get their hands messy when it comes to creating ghoulish treats for Halloween. Fortunately, this easy recipe is perfect if the kids want to get involved. There are steps suited for just about any age. So, everyone in the family can help make these cute Halloween treats for your upcoming party or afterschool snacks.
Plus, if you prefer a more hands on approach to parties, this is a great activity for guests. Simply provide pre-baked cupcakes and an assembly line of the ingredients you need to decorate these Halloween treats. Then host a Halloween cupcake decorating party where each party guest can decorate their own dessert.
Keep reading to learn how to decorate your cupcakes for Halloween with this ghostly, cupcake decorating idea.
Halloween Ghost Cupcake Ingredients
This recipe for ghost cupcakes is designed for decorating Halloween cupcakes to look like ghosts. You will start with either pre-made cupcakes. Or you may bake your own fresh, using boxed cake mix. After which, you’ll add festive holiday icing. Finally floating ghosts are placed into the center of the Halloween snack cakes for the perfect party treat.
Here’s what you’ll need to complete this spooktacular, autumn-themed dessert:
- Cupcakes: You will either need white or chocolate cupcake mix or pre-baked white or chocolate cupcakes. You may also choose another flavor based on your personal preference. The cupcakes are decorated after baking to resemble ghosts or ghouls. If using box cake mix to make your own cake, you’ll also need the ingredients listed on the back of the box, including the eggs and vegetable oil.
- Buttercream Frosting: I used vanilla and chocolate buttercream frosting to decorate these delicious, holiday treats. Otherwise the fondant ghosties will peek through bare cake. In addition, frosting is also used to add details, such as the eyes and mouth, to the cupcake ghosts.
- Sprinkles: While optional, sprinkles make everything better! I love using multi-colored, candy sprinkles in fun Halloween shapes for this recipe. You can explore Halloween sprinkle mixes here. Or consider these adorable, pressed sugar ghosts.
- Lollipops: You’ll need lollipops to make the ghost cupcake decorations. I used Dum Dums® lollipops for their round shape and small size. However, you can also use another brand of lollipops at your discretion. Blow Pops would also work for this application.
- White Fondant: White colored fondant is necessary to create the ghost shapes. The fondant will be rolled out onto a flat surface, then cut into a circle before placing over top of the lollipops. When draped over the candy, the fondant resembles floating ghosts.
- Powdered Sugar: To assist with rolling out and cutting the fondant, powdered sugar is placed onto the working surface to prevent the fondant from sticking.
Kitchen Equipment and Tools
In addition to the ingredients necessary to decorate these cupcakes for Halloween, you’ll also need some basic kitchen equipment. If you are using pre-baked cupcakes, then not all of the tools listed below are necessary. However, they are listed in case you want to bake your snack cakes either from scratch or using a box mix.
These are the tools necessary to create and decorate these holiday desserts:
- Large Bowl: To make the cupcakes that you’ll be decorating with the fondant ghosts, you’ll need a large bowl to mix the box cupcake mix.
- Electric Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer: A mixer is necessary to mix the ingredients for the cupcakes.
- Cupcake Pan: You’ll use a cupcake or muffin pan to bake the cupcakes.
- Paper Liners or Muffin Cups: Festive paper liners or muffin cups get filled with cupcake batter to make this holiday Halloween dessert.
- Silicone Mat: I recommend you use a silicone baking mat or other non-stick surface to roll out the fondant you’ll be using to create the ghost cupcake toppers.
- Piping Bag with Large Round Tip: I used a piping bag and decorating tip to decorate the tops of the cakes with icing. However, if desired, you can also use a knife to apply the frosting.
- Small Circle Cookie Cutter: A small cookie cutter is used to cut out the fondant. If you don’t have a small cookie or biscuit cutter on hand, you may also use a drinking glass.
- Rolling Pin: A rolling pin will simplify the process of rolling the fondant out flat, so that it may be cut into shapes. This rolling pin and pastry mat set is perfect for this cake decorating project. However, you may also use the side of a drinking glass in a pinch.
How to Decorate Ghost Cupcakes
You’re going to love decorating your Halloween cupcakes with these adorable cupcake ghost toppers! These fondant decorated cupcakes look professional and are easy to customize, just like my pumpkin cakesicles. Here’s how to make ghost cupcakes for your upcoming Halloween party.
Bake White or Chocolate Cupcakes
If you aren’t starting with plain, store bought cupcakes, you’ll first need to bake the cupcakes. I used white cupcake mix. However, you can also use chocolate or another flavor, if desired.
1. Follow the directions on the back of the box for baking.
2. Then allow the cupcakes to cool completely.
Pipe Frosting onto the Desserts
3. Fill a piping bag with vanilla buttercream frosting.
4. Using a large frosting tip, frost each individually, by creating a smooth, flat swirl on each cupcake with the icing.
Add Sprinkles and Lollipops
5. Add the sprinkles to the icing immediately after application. If you love sprinkles, you can also add them to a bowl and dip the iced cakes into the decorations.
6. Next, place an unwrapped lollipop into the center of each iced cupcake. Set aside.
Use Cookie Cutter to Cut Fondant
7. Lightly dust a baking mat or other work surface with powdered sugar.
8. Now, knead the fondant until it softens and becomes pliable.
9. Roll the fondant out onto the work surface, using a rolling pin or the side of a drinking glass.
10. Use a small, round cookie cutter to cut circles into the fondant. They should be large enough to drape over the tops of the lollipops.
TIP: You want to the bottom of the circles to hang relatively close to the base of the cupcake and icing so they resemble ghosts, and the lollipop stick is hidden.
Cut enough fondant circles for each of the chocolate cupcakes that you baked and prepared.
Decorate with Fondant Ghosts
11. Now place a fondant circle so that it is centered over the lollipop. Then shape it to form a ghost cupcake topper.
Repeat with all remaining cupcakes to create the fondant ghosts.
12. Finally, fill a piping bag with a small amount of chocolate buttercream frosting, or similar. Using a small tip, add eyes and a mouth to each of the ghost cupcake toppers.
TIP: You can also cut a small hole in the corner of a Ziploc bag to serve the same purpose to add details to the ghost decorations.
The ghost Halloween cupcakes are now ready to serve and enjoy!
How to Store Halloween Ghost Cupcakes
If you aren’t serving or eating your Halloween cupcakes right away, or you have leftovers, you can store your treats in the refrigerator. Simply place the cupcakes inside an airtight container and keep in the fridge for three to four before discarding.
Alternately, if your frosting doesn’t contain cream cheese, you can also keep your cupcakes on the counter for two to three days. However, you do want to store them in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out.
Make fun ghost cupcakes for a cute and tasty Halloween treat. These floating, ghost cupcake toppers are perfect for your fall party desserts. Add the fondant ghosts to your own fresh baked cakes create from your favorite recipe or cake box mix. Or use store bought cupcakes to save time for those last minute holiday gatherings. If desired, you may also use cornstarch, in lieu of powdered sugar, to dust your working surface when rolling out the fondant. Get creative with your ghost cupcake toppers by using icing to add candy eyes or other elements to the fondant ghosts. If you don't have a piping bag to decorate your Halloween ghost cupcakes, you can fill a Ziploc bag with icing instead. Then simply snip a small hole in the corner to decorate the desserts with frosting. The nutritional content of this recipe may vary as not all of the decorative elements for these cupcakes may be used. It may also differ depending on the type of cupcakes you bake.Ghost Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
18
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 451Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 19mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 61gFiber: 2gSugar: 49gProtein: 3g
Halloween Party Ideas
If you’re looking for more tasty creations for your next Halloween party, then check out these other wonderful, holiday desserts.
- Halloween Bark: These easy Halloween treats are perfect for all your party tricksters. Try this recipe for making Halloween chocolate bark to delight your party guests. Plus learn how to choose the best chocolate for chocolate candy bark, as well as tips on melting and tempering chocolate.
- Gourmet Caramel Apples: This easy gourmet caramel apple recipe is the perfect way to enjoy apples when they’re in season. Serve these candy apples as a tasty snack or party treat when entertaining this fall.
- Halloween Cakesicles: These colorful, pumpkin cakesicles are the fall desserts of dreams. They’re quick to make and even quicker to devour. Perfect for your Halloween parties or autumn gatherings, these popsicle cake pops are made using chocolate box cake mix for a delicious, seasonal fall treat.
- Slime Cupcakes: This spooky Halloween treat is filled with homemade edible slime on the inside similar to that of a cream-filled, Halloween snack cake. So, it’s both a creative and tasty way to scare up some fun with an unexpected surprise for all your party guests.
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies Recipe: Learn how to make pumpkin cheesecake brownies with pecan streusel topping for a delicious fall dessert idea. These tasty brownies are made using box mix and are a delicious treat for anyone who loves pumpkin spice!
This recipe for making Halloween ghost cupcakes originally appeared on Becca Ink.
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