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Updated on: October 12, 2026
Originally published on: October 12, 2026
Boo! These spooktacular Halloween Ghost Cupcakes are a fun and festive way to celebrate the season. Made with chocolate cupcakes, homemade buttercream, and fondant ghosts, they’re incredibly easy to make!
As you know, Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year. From hauntingly delicious Halloween treats to ghoulishly great DIY Halloween decor, there are so many reasons to love it!
And while it is a fangtastically fun time, it can also be extremely busy trying to get costumes, help with school parties, visit corn mazes, and squeeze in all the other things Fall. So to help, I’ve made this Halloween cupcake recipe super easy!
Spooktacular Halloween Cupcakes
I absolutely adore how these Ghost Cupcakes turned out. And they were eerily easy to make! You know what? You can make them, too! Down below, you will find the recipe and step-by-step instructions to create these spooky-friendly treats.
And guess what? I used a cake mix to ensure that they really are spooktacularly easy to scare up!
Of course, you can always use a homemade cupcake recipe like this vanilla cupcake recipe if you prefer.
Aren’t they just so cute? And all it takes is a few simple ingredients to turn ordinary cupcakes into these little fondant ghosts. So simple!
If you like these ghost cupcakes, you should also check out:
For now, though, let’s talk about how to make these extra cute Halloween Ghost Cupcakes!
If you like these ghost cupcakes, you should also check out:
Halloween Marshmallow Witches
Witches’ Brew Halloween Popcorn
Frankenstein Twinkie Treats
For now, though, let’s talk about how to make these extra cute Halloween ghost cupcakes!
Working with Fondant
Working with Fondant
Okay, so you’ve probably noticed by now that these cupcakes are decorated with fondant. But don’t fear! Fondant may seem scary, but it really isn’t. I think it’s kind of like working with Play-Doh. You simply roll it out flat, then cut out shapes with a fondant knife or cookie cutter.
For these ghost cupcakes, you’ll cut out circles of white fondant and drape them over little peaks of buttercream. The folds help create each ghost’s shape, so there’s no need to make them perfectly even!
Once you get the hang of manipulating it, you’ll come out with the cutest creations! Like these hauntingly delicious Halloween Bat Twinkies, these adorable Finding Dory Waffle Bowls, and this beautiful Holiday Present Piñata Cake!
So, are you ready to see how to make these Spooktacular Ghost Cupcakes?
How to Make Halloween Ghost Cupcakes
There are no tricks here, only treats! These Spooktacular Ghost Cupcakes really are so easy to make, it’s scary.
Start by baking your cupcakes according to the cake mix directions. While they cool, prepare the homemade buttercream. Then comes the fangtastically fun part—turning them into little ghosts!
Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating so the buttercream holds its shape beneath the fondant.
Note: This recipe makes enough frosting and decorations for 12 ghost cupcakes. Check your cake mix box for its cupcake yield. If it makes more than 12, save the extra cupcakes for another treat or increase the frosting and decorations accordingly.
Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services I think you’ll like. This means if you make a purchase from one of these links, I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend items I use and love.
Kitchen Tools You May Need
- fondant tools – rolling pin and knife
- cutting board or fondant cutting mat
- 3-inch cookie cutter
- Counter mixer or hand mixer
- Muffin tin
- Cupcake liners
- Mixing bowls
Halloween Ghost Cupcakes Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these spookily simple Halloween cupcakes and the homemade buttercream.
For the Cupcakes:
- Chocolate cake mix + plus the ingredients called for on the box
For the Frosting:
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tbsp milk
For the Decorations
- 1 – 2 oz. black fondant
- 6 – 8 oz. white fondant
Ghost Cupcake Instructions
Make the Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven according to the cake mix directions.
- Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside.
- Prepare the cake batter, fill the cupcake liners, and bake according to the package directions.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating. You’ll need 12 cupcakes for this recipe.
Prepare the Icing
- In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter until smooth.
- Gradually mix in the confectioners’ sugar, then add the milk.
- Beat until smooth and creamy. The buttercream should be thick enough to hold a peak rather than spread flat.
Add a Peak of Frosting to the Centers of the Cupcakes
- Scoop the buttercream into a piping bag with a small opening cut at the bottom.
- Pipe buttercream into the center of each cupcake, forming a peak that’s about an inch high. This will support the fondant and give each ghost its shape.
Make Fondant Ghosts
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the white fondant so that it’s about ¼ inch thick.
- Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 12 fondant circles. Gather and reroll the scraps as needed.
- Then use the rolling pin to roll out each fondant circle until it’s about 4½ inches in diameter. The circle itself doesn’t have to be perfect!
- Center one rolled-out fondant circle over each buttercream peak and gently drape it over the cupcake. It will fold and curve naturally, and that’s okay. The beauty of these cupcakes is that they don’t need to be uniform
Add Ghost Eyes
- For each cupcake, roll two small balls of black fondant. Flatten each one and give it an oval shape.
- Lightly brush a tiny amount of water onto the back of each black fondant piece.
- Gently press two eyes onto the front of each ghost.
And that’s it! Your hair-raising Halloween Ghost Cupcakes are finished! Aren’t they wickedly adorable?!
Happy Haunting!
Show Me What You’ve Got!
I hope you love these Halloween Ghost Cupcakes! They’re so easy and fun to make! If you do decide to give them a try, let me know. Nothing makes me happier than seeing your own take on my recipes!
Tag me at @bullocksbuzz on Instagram and Facebook or @alainabullock on X (formerly Twitter). Be sure to use #BullocksBuzz so I can see your creation and share it!
More Hauntingly Delicious Halloween Treats
Looking for more easy yet delicious treats like these Halloween Ghost Cupcakes? Then take a peek at these frightfully fantastic Halloween treats!
Printable Recipe Card for Halloween Ghost Cupcakes
Spooktacular Halloween Ghost Cupcakes Recipe
These spooktacular Halloween Ghost Cupcakes are a fun and festive way to celebrate the season. Best of all, they are incredibly easy to make!
Ingredients
- For the Cupcakes
- Chocolate cake mix + all the ingredients to make it
For the Icing
- 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tbsp Milk
For the Ghosts
- 6-8 oz. white fondant
- 1-2 oz black fondant
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to cake mix’s directions.
- Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and set aside
- Prepare the cake batter, fill the cupcake liners, and bake according to the package directions.
- Allow to cool completely before decorating.
- In a mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter until smooth.
- Gradually mix in the confectioners’ sugar, then add the milk.
- Beat until smooth and creamy. The buttercream should be thick enough to hold a peak rather than spread flat.
- Scoop the buttercream into a piping bag with a small opening cut at the bottom.
- Pipe buttercream into the center of each cupcake, forming a peak that’s about an inch high. This will support the fondant and give each ghost its shape.
- Using a rolling pin, roll out the white fondant so that it’s about ¼ inch thick.
- Use a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out 12 fondant circles. Gather and reroll the scraps as needed.
- Then use the rolling pin to roll out each fondant circle until it’s about 4½ inches in diameter. The circle itself doesn’t have to be perfect!
- Center one rolled-out fondant circle over each buttercream peak and gently drape it over the cupcake. It will fold and curve naturally, and that’s okay. The beauty of these cupcakes is that they don’t need to be uniform.
For the Cupcakes
For the Icing
Add a Peak of Frosting to the Center of Each Cupcake
Make the Fondant Ghosts
Make the Eyes
- For each cupcake, roll two small balls of black fondant. Flatten each one and give it an oval shape.
- Lightly brush a tiny amount of water onto the back of each black fondant piece.
- Gently press two eyes onto the front of each ghost.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12 cupcakesServing Size:
1 cupcakeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 589Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 33mgCarbohydrates: 130gFiber: 0gSugar: 124gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information is automatically calculated with ingredients and serving size and may not be accurate. Please always double check with your own nutritional apps as well.