Pull Apart Graveyard Cupcakes (Printable)

Chocolate cupcakes with frosting, cookie dirt, and edible tombstones for Halloween

# What You'll 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 tsp baking powder
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
08 - ¼ tsp salt

→ Chocolate Frosting

09 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
11 - ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
12 - 2-3 tbsp milk
13 - 1 tsp 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 (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners.
02 - In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Add half of the dry mixture to the wet, then add milk, then mix in remaining dry ingredients until just combined.
03 - Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each 2/3 full. Bake for 18-20 minutes or 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. Write RIP and spooky messages on rectangular cookies with gel icing pens to make tombstones. Press into cupcakes. Decorate with gummy worms, candy pumpkins, or spooky candy.
07 - Chill briefly before serving to set decorations.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The pull apart design makes serving effortless no cutting or plates needed just grab and go
  • Kids go absolutely wild for the interactive decorating step turning dessert into a creative activity
  • Everything can be prepared ahead leaving you stress free when party time arrives
02 -
  • Completely cool cupcakes before frosting or the buttercream will melt into a gooey mess
  • Crush cookies by hand instead of using a food processor to keep some texture in the dirt
  • Write on tombstone cookies before placing them in the frosting to avoid breaking them
03 -
  • Add a teaspoon of instant coffee to your frosting for a sophisticated mocha twist adults will love
  • Use a small offset spatula to smooth the frosting between cupcakes for that seamless graveyard look

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