Boo! These easy ghost cupcakes are simple to decorate and the perfect treat for your Halloween party. My favorite no-fail chocolate cupcake is topped with a swirl of marshmallow frosting and a chocolate face is piped on for spooky cuteness.
So, I’ll admit it. Halloween isn’t my favorite holiday. I’m just not that into the whole dressing up thing and I’m terribly uncreative when it comes to my kids’ costumes. But Halloween-inspired food? Well that’s another story. I can make spooky treats and scary meals all day long.
If you’re hosting a Halloween party you want spooktacular treats that appeal to kids and adults alike. These ghost cupcakes are exactly that. The chocolate cupcake is super moist and comes together in just one bowl. The frosting is a twist on seven-minute frosting made extra thick and marshmallowy thanks to the addition, of well, marshmallows!
Now seven minute icing can be tricky, especially for the novice baker. Be sure to read the tips below before you crack an egg!
Tips for success
- Be sure no egg yolk slips into the frosting as it could prevent it from thickening.
- Make sure your mixing bowl is clean and grease-free, as that may inhibit thickening.
- When heating the frosting over simmering water, be sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water and keep the heat to very low.
- To ensure your frosting is fully cooked, insert a candy thermometer after whipping for 7-8 mins. The thermometer should read 160 degrees.
- Use a whisk attachment to beat the frosting in order to incorporate air and volume after it is taken off the heat.
- Put you hand on the bottom of the bowl after beating it off the heat for 8-10 mins. It should feel room temperature, not warm. If it is still warm, continue beating. The time is simply a guide here, rely on touch and sight to be sure your frosting is light, glossy, and thick.
- Frosted cupcakes can be kept at room temperature for 2-3 days. Don’t refrigerate them as the frosting may weep.
More spooky treats!
Pumpkin Cake Pops
Spooky Spaghetti Mummies
Day of the Dead Cookies
Pumpkin Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting
Spooky Halloween Breakfast
Boo! These easy ghost cupcakes are simple to decorate and the perfect treat for your Halloween party. My favorite no-fail chocolate cupcake is topped with a swirl of marshmallow frosting and a chocolate face is piped on for spooky cuteness.
- 2 cups AP flour
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ cup canola oil
- ½ cup boiling water
- 6 egg whites
- 2 cups sugar
- 2/3 cup light corn syrup
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate, melted
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line 2 - 12 cup muffin tins with cupcake liners.
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Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
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Add buttermilk, eggs, and oil to the dry ingredients and mix well until combined.
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Slowly add in boiling water and mix to combine.
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Fill each lined cup using an ice cream scoop and bake 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Rotate the pans once while baking.
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Cool the cupcakes in the pans for about 5 minutes, then remove them from the pan and finish cooling on a wire rack.
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Place all ingredients except marshmallows in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Be sure the water does not touch the bottom of the pan.
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Beat with an electric mixer until very thick and glossy, at least 7-8 minutes. A candy thermometer inserted into the mixture should read 160 degrees.
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Add in the marshmallows and continue to beat until marshmallows are melted, about 3 mins.
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Remove from heat and beat for an additional 7-8 minutes, until cooled and very thick. The bottom of the bowl should feel room temperature, not warm. If it is still warm, continue beating.
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Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round tip about 2/3 full with marshmallow frosting. Pipe frosting in concentric circles on top of the cupcake, creating a peak.
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Repeat with the remaining cupcakes, refilling the piping bag as needed.
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Place the melted chocolate into another piping bag fitted with a small round pastry tip (#2). Pipe eyes and a mouth on each cupcake.
Special equipment needed: 24 cupcake liners, pastry bags, large round pastry tip, #2 round pastry tip
If you don't have pastry tips, simply cut a wider hole at the end of a pastry bag for the frosting, and just the tip for the chocolate face.
Frosting Tips:
- Be sure no egg yolk slips into the frosting as it could prevent it from thickening.
- Make sure your mixing bowl is clean and grease-free, as that may inhibit thickening.
- When heating the frosting over simmering water, be sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water and keep the heat to very low.
- To ensure your frosting is fully cooked, insert a candy thermometer after whipping for 7-8 mins. The thermometer should read 160 degrees.
- Use a whisk attachment to beat the frosting in order to incorporate air and volume after it is taken off the heat.
- Put you hand on the bottom of the bowl after beating it off the heat for 8-10 mins. It should feel room temperature, not warm. If it is still warm, continue beating. The time is simply a guide here, rely on touch and sight to be sure your frosting is light, glossy, and thick.
- Frosted cupcakes can be kept at room temperature for 2-3 days. Don't refrigerate them as the frosting may weep.
Update Notes: This post was originally published in October 2016 but was republished with tips in October 2018.
My last inspired Halloween costume…
I don’t know when it happened that I stopped wanting to dress up for Halloween. Sure, I’ve attended my fair share of costume parties over the years, but it’s always a bit begrudgingly. I’ve had very few notable costumes, in fact, the last one I remember with any fondness definitely dates me.
There was an accident in 1997 during a Rangers hockey game when a pane of plexiglass came crashing down on top of Wayne Gretzy’s wife, Janet Jones. She was knocked unconscious and pretty banged up. Gretzy took a lot of flack for returning to the ice to play out the remainder of the game while she was tended to by the doctors.
I was living in the Manhattan at the time and this story was all over the papers and the local television news. My husband and I still bicker about who had the idea that I dress up as Janet Jones for a party he was throwing, (to be clear, it was my idea) but regardless of who the mastermind was, it was the perfect costume. It was easy, topical and it definitely generated a few laughs. I wore a Gretzky jersey, had a little fake blood trickling down my face and we somehow fashioned a pane of plexiglass to attach to my head (which became slightly dangerous as the night progressed).
But that’s when the well went dry….1997.
My kids have never worn a costume that couldn’t be purchased at a Halloween pop-up store and outside of witch hat and a little black lipstick, I can barely recall a time that I’ve worn a Halloween costume since. And that’s just fine with me. I’ve since channeled all of my Halloween creativity into the edible variety. And if you’re a costume-phobe like me, dressing up these spooky little cupcakes might be the closest we get to a costume party this year!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
These are just adorable and love your video! I’m not a big Halloween fan either, possibly because we almost always get our first snow-fall around Halloween. Puts a real damper on the dressing up fun 🙂
Cathy says
I used to hate it if it was cold on Halloween Jennifer. Nothing like snow and a winter coat to spoil the fun!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
These are the cutest and I love the video! You really make it look easy. I love your Janet Jones costume too. Have pictures you can share?
Cathy says
There’s probably a photo somewhere Karen, but no where that I can put my hands on it. I’ll have to do some digging!
rebecca| DisplacedHousewife says
These are too cute and I love this video!!! xo
Cathy says
Thanks Rebecca. Short and sweet on that video.
annie@ciaochowbambina says
These are adorable, Cathy! And I love your video! I’m with you on Halloween! I’ve never loved it…not really as a kid either (now that I think about it). Just the candy, of course!
Cathy says
Yes to candy. No to costumes!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Hilarious Halloween costume Cathy! I am absolutely LOVING these adorable cupcakes!! And of course your video is fabulous!! Love all your photos too! What a great setup for a Halloween party!
Cathy says
Thanks Mary Ann. It’s so much easier to dress up cupcakes for Halloween than kids!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I am 100% with you on the Halloween thing, except I am not a culinary master mind when it comes to spook-tacular treats to make up for my lack of hallows eve enthusiasm. Lucky for me I’ve got you to come up with all the genius ideas! 😉 These ghost cupcakes are absolutely adorable!! My niece and nephew would definitely love these! Pinned! Cheers, friend!
P.s. your Janet Jones costume sounded nothing short of epic!
Cathy says
Ha, you’re funny Chey. Your recipes are always so creative, I have no doubt that you’d kill it with Halloween treats!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I’m not the biggest fan of Halloween either. It’s not that I don’t like it, I do. It’s just not the top of my list. But, like you, I love all the food things that go along with it 🙂 Of course, right 😉 ? That Halloween breakfast that you made last year looks super cute! Your kids must have loved that! I can’t imagine you attaching some sort of plexiglass to your head. That must have been hilarious 😀 Despite not being the biggest fan of Halloween, I still was thinking of maaaaaybe putting on some face makeup but we shall see 😉 So funny, those little pumpkins that you have in your pics, I have the same ones that will make an appearance in my Halloween cupcakes, lol. I love yours with the marshmallow frosting and those little faces are adorable! Looking forward to seeing your mummy main course!
Cathy says
Looking forward to your cupcakes Dawn! Now that I’ve made all my Halloween food, guess it’s time to figure out the boys costumes.
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says
At least you make great Halloween foods! I kind of skip over the holiday and go right to Thanksgiving. 🙂 I have no idea how you make so many ridiculously cute desserts. I’m not sure if I want to eat those cupcakes or hug them.
Cathy says
Thanks Annemarie! It’s easy to skip right to Thanksgiving…those are my favorite foods for sure.
Alida | Simply Delicious says
Love, love LOVE these Cathy! They are just darling. And love your video too!
Cathy says
Thanks Alida. Love that these are super simple to decorate.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I love these ghost cupcakes!!!! adorable!
Cathy says
Thanks Alice!
Nancy Bodin says
I’m making the frosting as I’m writing you. I have a problem, I followed the instructions but it is not thickening up??
Cathy says
I’m sorry you had issues with the frosting thickening Nancy. A couple of things to consider: be sure you don’t have any egg yolk in the mix and that your heat isn’t too high. Depending on the speed/power of your beaters, it may take a few minutes longer to thicken. The frosting will also continue to thicken as it cools, especially after the addition of the marshmallows. Hopefully it worked out for you!
Nancy Bodin says
Thanks for replying but I mixed it even longer but it didn’t thicken for me. So I went with my buttercream frosting! Do you know if I can freeze the frosting, I don’t want to waste it. Its delicious! I think I was in too much of a hurry to get them frosted because it was for my friends birthday! She loved them anyways! They are very good! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I will be making them again! =)
Cathy says
So sorry it didn’t thicken for you. Sometimes if you have some grease or butter left in your bowl it will prevent it from thickening too. I’ve never frozen it as it’s never lasted that long 😉 in our house. Not sure how it would do in the freezer, but worth a try!
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
Super cute and fantastic video! Your piping is just gorgeous! That is something I’ve never even come close to mastering. Unfortunately my ghosts would probably look like stroke victims 😛 In any event, I love these adorable cupcakes! I’m sure I would eat way more than I should 😉
Cathy says
Thanks Kathleen! I’m sure yours would be perfectly adorable. And you could always eat the mistakes 😉
The Sweet Nerd, Cindy says
Awesome video! This one is a keeper. Mmmmm, that marshmallow frosting is billowy and perfect. Keep ’em coming. I love the fact that the decoration is built into the frosting. So smart and easy with kids. Love all your halloween treats. So scrumptious!
Cathy says
Thanks Cindy! My Halloween treats have nothing on your knock-em-dead Halloween creations!
heidi says
epic fail on my end, the frosting was way too runny. It tried and tried to fix it, at first it did get better but still not good enough, then all went down hill. After Horus of working on this frosting, I give up. I’m def not a baker so this may have been easy for someone else and I could have messed up somewhere. These are just so cute, I’m so disappointed.
Cathy says
I’m so sorry you had an issue with the frosting. I just updated this post with tips that you should find helpful for next time. The culprit is most likely that it wasn’t cooked long enough and you can use a candy thermometer to make sure it reaches 160 degrees before you remove it from the heat.
anka says
I`m sorry to report that I ended up with a runny frosting too. I followed all the instructions except that I used melted butter instead of corn syrup (which I did not have). I would love to see a video of this frosting recipe, perhaps there’s something else I’m missing.
Cathy says
Butter is NOT a substitute for corn syrup and fat, even in trace amounts, will inhibit the egg whites from becoming thick and foamy. Never add butter to this frosting as it will never whip properly.