Spooky Halloween Brain Cupcakes Recipe
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Brains! Yes, brain cupcakes make the best Halloween treats. These chocolate Halloween Brain Cupcakes are topped with a rich cream cheese frosting and then covered in edible blood for the ultimate fun recipe for a spooky Halloween dessert.
Halloween is coming and I am ready for all things spooky! For the past few years, I have participated in a group called #HalloweenTreatsWeek where a bunch of food bloggers get together and share yummy treats for spooky season! If you are looking for Halloween party food ideas, make sure that you follow along!
Halloween Brains
Bake up these chocolate cupcakes, top them with the pink-colored cream cheese frosting, and then drizzle on the edible blood for a batch of eerie cupcakes bound to thrill the kids. What kid wouldn’t love to devour bleeding brain cupcakes?
Halloween Brain Cupcakes
Halloween is on the horizon and I’ve got the perfect treat for you to prepare. There are a few steps involved in the cupcake-making process though if you want to simplify your life just a bit you can use store-bought cupcakes or pick up a box mix. But not to worry, I’ve got detailed instructions and walk you through the whole process of how to top the cupcakes regardless of whether you make your own cupcakes or a use store-bought mix.
If you love this recipe for brain cupcakes, you are sure to love these too: Spider Cookies for Halloween, Halloween Monster Burgers, or this Halloween Trash Mix.
Brain Cupcakes
Halloween desserts are super fun to make and these Halloween brains are no exception. Ideal for a Halloween party or just for one of those Halloween treats to snack on while you hand out the candy. Hey, far be it from me not to partake in the festivities.
Ingredients for Halloween Cupcakes
Find the complete ingredients and instructions by scrolling to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe.
Ingredients needed for the Cupcakes:
- Milk – Any type of milk is fine, I used skim milk.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar is used to make the buttermilk.
- Flour – All-purpose flour works well in these cupcakes.
- White Sugar -Granulated white sugar sweetens up this festive treat.
- Cocoa Powder – Look for unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Baking Powder – Baking powder helps the cupcakes rise.
- Salt – Salt enhances the flavor.
- Vegetable Oil – Use vegetable oil or any mild flavored oil like canola or grapeseed.
- Red Food Dye – A touch of red food dye helps give these cupcakes their unique color.
For the Pink Cream Cheese Frosting
- Butter – Unsalted butter, softened, works well but salted is fine too.
- Cream Cheese – Use full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor and texture.
- Powdered Sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar, this is what gives the frosting its sweetness and texture.
- Red Food Dye – Add a few drops of red food dye to create a pink cream cheese frosting.
- Milk – Add a touch of milk if the frosting needs to be thinned out.
For the Edible Blood:
- Dark Corn Syrup – Dark corn syrup gives the edible blood its consistency.
- Water – Add a few tablespoons of water to thin out the blood.
- Brown and Red Food Dye – These dyes create the perfect color for this edible blood recipe.
How to make zombie brain cupcakes
There are a few steps to making this Halloween dessert recipe but you’ll find they are completely worth the effort.
First: Preheat the oven to 350℉ and set up your muffin tin with liners, or silicone cups on a baking sheet.
Second: Make ‘buttermilk’ by mixing the apple cider vinegar with the milk in a small bowl or measuring cup. Lemon Juice also works.
Third: In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients for the cupcakes.
Fourth: Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in all of the wet ingredients, including the dye. Stir well.
Fifth: Pour batter to fill your liners ⅔ of the way up with the batter.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Sixth: Make the cream cheese icing frosting recipe by using a hand mixer, stand mixer, or whatever electric mixer you happen to have, and mixing together all of the ingredients for the pink frosting.
Seventh: Make the edible blood by mixing together the corn syrup, water, and enough drops of red and brown food dye to make a bloody color. You can make the brownish-pink, as shown in the photos, or more red by adding up to a teaspoon of food dye.
Eighth: When the cupcakes are done baking, allow them to cook completely on a wire rack and then frost.
Ninth: Frost the cupcakes by spreading a thin layer over the top, then using a small round tip, draw two straight lines down the middle and multiple squiggly lines on both sides. For added effect, allow these to harden slightly in the fridge and then trace over the frosting with a second layer of lines and squiggles.
Tenth: Add drops of the ‘blood’ to the top of each brain and ‘dig in’! Or devour it like a zombie would!
These keep well in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Preferably in an airtight container, however, they will last well overnight not in a container as long as the cupcake portion is completely covered with a wrapper and frosting.
Love it? Pin it!
If you love this recipe for Halloween brains make sure that you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go
FAQs about this recipe for Halloween brain cupcakes
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Can this recipe be multiplied to make a larger volume? You can double this recipe with similar results, however, this recipe was designed to make a small amount of fake blood to top cupcakes or something similar. This recipe was not designed to make a large quantity of fake blood and the consistency may be altered if multiplying the recipe.
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Are these cupcakes supposed to be chocolate or red velvet? These cupcakes have a slight chocolate taste and are halfway between chocolate and red velvet. If you want them to be more red, add up to a full teaspoon of red food dye
Questions Specifically about the Frosting for these Spooky Cupcakes:
- How do you pipe brain cupcakes? You start by frosting a very thin layer of pink frosting on the cupcake, then make two straight lines, with a medium round piping tip, right down the middle of the cupcake in the same direction right next to each other. After doing the middle lines, using the same round piping tip, draw squiggles on both sides of the lines. These squiggles could appear to be coming from the lines or going in different directions. For a more dramatic, and lifted look, allow this frosting to set, and then draw another line on top of the two lines and trace back over your squiggles with more frosting.
- Help! My frosting is melting, what do I do? If your frosting is too warm or soft to pipe, simply place it in the fridge for 30-60 minutes, and then fill your piping bag and frost your brains.
- How can I make cream cheese frosting better? If you’re looking for more flavor, then add a teaspoon of vanilla, or cocoa powder to the cream cheese. Adding color, such as a few drops of red food, or another color, will also make it better, or at least look better!
- What is the difference between cream cheese frosting and cream cheese icing? Cream cheese frosting uses more powdered sugar and less milk, whereas the opposite is true for cream cheese icing. Cream cheese icing is more ‘wet’ or ‘liquidy’ than frosting.
- What is the difference between buttercream and cream cheese frosting? Both are rich and delicious frosting choices, however, buttercream is sweeter and cream cheese frosting is a bit more tangy.
- What should I do if my frosting isn’t staying in the design I’m making while frosting? If this happens there are 2 things you could do. You can refrigerate the frosting for 30-60 minutes to see if it becomes more stable. Or, you can add more powdered sugar to the frosting to help it become more stable, a ¼ cup at a time.
Questions Specifically About the Edible Blood used on these Fun Brain Cupcakes:
- Do I need to use the edible blood on these cupcakes? No. If you can’t stomach the edible blood, feel free to leave it off.
- How do you make fake blood that you can eat? To make fake blood you can eat, mix together dark corn syrup, water, and red & brown food dye.
- How long does edible fake blood last? The length of time edible fake blood will last will depend on the recipe used. This recipe will last at least 5-7 days refrigerated.
- What ingredient in fake blood is vital? Corn syrup is a must for making fake blood, the consistency helps it to look more realistic. Adding the dyes for color, and the water helps make the blood ‘drip’.
- How do you make homemade blood? There are many ways to make homemade blood, but it can be as simple as mixing together the ingredients above in a small bowl.
- How much blood does each cupcake need? Each cupcake may need up to 5-6 millimeters. This does not need to be exact, you can use a medicine dropper, as shown in the photos, to get an exact amount, or simply drip it off a spoon. The amount of blood does not determine how much ‘zombies’ will love to eat these brains!
Substitutions
Remember that when it comes to making substitutions in recipes, you don’t need to be afraid to get creative and use ingredients that suit your personal taste and dietary preferences. Make it your own!
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If the thought of edible blood doesn’t appeal to you feel free to put a dollop of raspberry jam or strawberry jam for a pop of red.
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Use your favorite vanilla buttercream frosting instead of this cream cheese one and add the food coloring.
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Substitute these chocolate cupcakes for your favorite vanilla cupcakes. If you’re in a bind, store-bought is fine.
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Try canned frosting and add the food coloring if you aren’t up for the task or making your own.
Tips & Tricks
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Add a touch of vanilla extract to the cupcake batter for a slightly sweeter flavor.
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Top these delicious cupcakes with your favorite Halloween-themed cupcake toppers.
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Pick up a batch of fun, spooky Halloween muffin liners.
More Halloween Recipes to Love
I have all sorts of fun ways to celebrate Halloween with Food!
- Bloody Dirty Floats (pictured above)
- Ghostly Pop Tarts
- Rolo Pretzel Eyeballs
- Homemade Caramel Apples
- Spiderweb Ice Cream Pie
- Halloween Snack Board
See ALL of my Halloween Recipes
Halloween cupcakes never looked this good! Perfect for this spooky season, these Halloween Brains are the ideal way to celebrate. Bake some today and watch them disappear.
Halloween Brain Cupcakes
Equipment
Ingredients
- For the Cupcakes
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 ½ cups Flour
- ¾ cup White Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Cocoa Powder
- 1 tablespoon Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ cup Vegetable Oil
- 2 drops - 1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup Butter softened
- ½ cup Cream Cheese
- 3 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1-3 drops Red Food Coloring
- Optional- 1 teaspoon Milk
- For the Edible Blood
- ¼ cup Dark Corn Syrup
- 2 tablespoon Water
- Brown Food Coloring
- Red Food Coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and set up your muffin tin with liners, or silicone cups on a baking sheet.
- Prepare the cupcakes: Make ‘buttermilk’ by mixing the apple cider vinegar in with the milk.
- Mix together all dry ingredients for the cupcakes. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and pour in all of the wet ingredients, including the dye. Stir well.
- Fill your liners ⅔ of the way up with the batter and bake for 20 minutes.
- Prepare the frosting: Make the cream cheese icing by using a hand mixer, or stand mixer, and mixing together all of the ingredients for the frosting.
- Prepare the Edible Blood: Make the edible blood by mixing together the corn syrup, water, and enough drops of red and brown food dye to make a bloody color.
- When the cupcakes are done baking, allow them to cook completely and then frost.
- Frost the cupcakes by spreading a thin layer over the top, then using a round piping tip draw two lines down the middle and multiple squiggly lines on both sides. For added effect, allow these to harden slightly in the fridge and then trace over the frosting with a second layer of lines and squiggles.
- Add drops of the ‘blood’ to the top of each brain and ‘dig in’! Or devour it like a zombie would!
Notes
Nutrition
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Welcome to 2023’s #HalloweenTreatsWeek event!
If you’re new here, Welcome! If you’re a returning haunt, welcome back!
#HalloweenTreatsWeek is a yearly Halloween blogging event that is hosted by Angie from Big Bear’s Wife . You’ll find that this fun and spooky event is an online, week-long event that is filled with some frightfully fun Halloween treats and recipes from some fantastic Halloween-loving bloggers!
For this year’s 6th annual #HalloweenTreatsWeek event we have 18 hauntingly talented bloggers who are sharing their favorite Halloween recipes throughout the week! You can follow the hashtag #HalloweenTreatsWeek on social media to collect all of these frightful recipes to use at your own Halloween parties and events!
Make Sure to check out all of the fun Halloween recipes that we’re sharing this week!
Today’s Halloween Offerings:
- Evil Dragon Deviled Eggs from Big Bear’s Wife
- Chocolate Cherry Skull Cakes from Semi-Homemade Recipes
- Witch Hat Garlic Bread from Cheese Curd In Paradise
- Candy Corn Cookie Cake from The Spiffy Cookie
- Wicked Good Apple Cider Muffins from Our Good Life
- Spooky Spider Decadent Cupcakes from For the Love of Food
- Monster Mash Cereal Cheesecake from Sweet ReciPEAs
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites from It’s Shanaka
- Halloween Brains Cupcakes from An Affair from the Heart
- Breadstick Snakes from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Jack O’Lantern Tostadas from Palatable Pastime
- Witches Broom Cookies from Best Cookie Recipes
- Baked Intestine Pie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Spooky Roasted Potato Skulls from Savory Moments
- Mummy Donuts from The Redhead Baker
- Caramel Apple Bark from Best Dessert Recipes
- Mummy Dogs from Savory Experiments
- Halloween Taco Dip from Jen Around the World
- Easy Spider Cupcakes from Hezzi-D’s Recipe Box
- Creamy Pumpkin Hummus from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
oh these are so cool! your brain design is so easy and quick too. love it!
These are so fun to make and we will definitely be making them again for Halloween
These brain cupcakes are so perfect for Halloween. I was searching for just the right dessert for the spooky night and this is it! Thank you.
Creative cupcakes for Halloween. Awesome color and perfect look of a Halloween Brain. Kids to have fun for sure.
Interesting recipe to try this Halloween. Thanks for sharing.
These cupcakes are such a big hit with kids, and yummy, too! Love the cream cheese frosting.
How clever are these festive cupcakes!? These were easy to make, tasted amazing, and the kids LOVED them!
This would be such a fun idea to make for a Halloween party! 🙂 Loving that frosting.
This recipe is deliciously disgusting! Perfect for upcoming Halloween parties or my kids are going to love to bring them into school for a Halloween treat!
The Spooky Halloween Brain Cupcakes recipe is a total Halloween game-changer! These cupcakes are not only adorable but also incredibly delicious. The chocolate cupcakes are moist and flavorful, and the cream cheese frosting adds the perfect touch of sweetness. The edible blood takes the spookiness to a whole new level, making these cupcakes a hit at any Halloween party. Plus, they’re so much fun to make! A must-try!
This is a perfect dessert for Halloween! I will make this! 😉