Halloween Monster Cupcakes

This morning as we took the kids on a walk around the neighborhood, we spotted the first few houses all decked out with giant spiderwebs, ghosts hanging from trees, and witches guarding front doors on their broomsticks. It definitely made me start getting in the spirit of things — which is perfect timing since today’s cupcakes are the official kickoff to Halloween season here on the blog! Since it’s a holiday dedicated to sweets, I think any Halloween bash should have one showstopping dessert — and as these DIY Monster Cupcakes prove, “showstopping” can also be incredibly easy. Each of these designs starts with store-bought or homemade cupcakes, an easy frosting application and some versatile gummy eyeballs. Click through for the DIY details on these delicious little monsters!

*photos by Molly Winters

Furry Monster Cupcakes

• unfrosted cupcakes
• disposable pastry bag (or a ziploc with a hole snipped in the tip)
• “grass” decorating tip (like Wilton’s 233)
• 3 colors of frosting (I dyed vanilla buttercream with food coloring to create exactly the shades I wanted)
• gummy eyeballs

click to next slide for instructions

Furry Monster Cupcakes (cont.)

1. Fit the decorating tip into the bag and fill with frosting. Start from the center of each cupcake and use firm, even pressure to quickly “pull” the frosting from the center to the edge to create a furry texture. When you get to the edge, lift up to stop the flow of icing.
2. Continue around the entire cupcake, then go over with a second coat of “fur” to fill in any gaps.
3. Before the frosting dries, stick gummy eyeballs into the center of each cupcake.

Googly-Eyed Monster Cupcakes

• white or vanilla cupcakes
• chocolate frosting
• gummy eyeballs
• candy corn

click to next slide for instructions

Googly-Eyed Monster Cupcakes (cont.)

1. Use a knife or spatula to frost cupcakes with a smooth layer of chocolate frosting. To smooth out any bumps, run your knife under hot water, dry, then go over the frosting while the knife is still warm.
2. Use gummy eyeballs and candy corn to create silly monster faces on the cupcakes. This is a great activity for small kids since it’s so easy!

Monster Eyeball Cupcakes

• chocolate cupcakes
• white frosting
• red frosting
• ziploc bag
• gummy eyeballs

click to next slide for instructions

Monster Eyeball Cupcakes (cont.)

1. Use a knife or spatula to frost cupcakes with a smooth layer of white frosting. To smooth out any bumps, run your knife under hot water, dry, then go over the frosting while the knife is still warm.
2. Place a gummy eyeball in the center of each cupcake.
3. Fill a ziploc bag with red frosting, and snip the tiniest hole possible in the tip. Carefully draw squiggly lines to create “veins” around the eyeball.

Whether you create just one design or make them all, there’s no doubt that your monster cupcake display will be a smash hit at this year’s Halloween bash!