If you're looking for a spooky yet cute treat, these Eyeball Cupcakes are just the thing! Bright sprinkles, dark chocolate frosting, and gummy eyes make an awesome Halloween dessert that's perfect for parties. Plus, using a box cake mix keeps it easy, and everyone will be totally impressed!
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Halloween has always been one of my favorite times to bake fun treats. When our kids were younger, I went all out making themed desserts for school parties and trick-or-treat events. Some of their favorites were peanut butter eyeballs and spider web brownies.
Now that our children are grown and we're empty nesters, I still reach for the spooky candy and sprinkles this time of year. It's a tradition I refuse to let go of.
This year, I decided to bake something fun with a bit of spookiness. I took a white cake mix and added Halloween sprinkles for color. A swirl of dark chocolate buttercream with black cocoa powder gave them a spooky vibe.
The final touch was gummy eyeballs I found at Walmart in the seasonal aisle. "Eye" can't believe how cute these cupcakes turned out! Make them for holiday parties, and they will disappear faster than you can blink.
Why You'll Love Eyeball Cupcakes
If you are baking for a holiday party, a classroom celebration, or just for fun, these eyeball cupcakes are a great treat.
- Spooky and fun! These cupcakes look like they are staring right back at you, making them perfect for Halloween parties.
- Easy to make. You'll start with a boxed cake mix, so there's no need for fancy steps or equipment. Just mix, bake, and decorate.
- Dark and delicious. Black cocoa powder gives the frosting a rich chocolate flavor and a spooky dark color that complements the sweet funfetti cake.
- Kid and adult approved. Whether you are baking for little ones or keeping traditions alive now that the kids are grown, these cupcakes bring smiles to everyone.
Main Ingredients
A sugary gummy eyeball on top of cupcakes makes them pop at parties! Using a store-bought cake mix with homemade frosting is an easy way to get these treats baked in a hurry. Find the complete list of ingredients and instructions in the recipe card below.
- Cake Mix: Any flavor will work, but I prefer using a white cake mix and adding colorful sprinkles for a funfetti touch.
- Instant Pudding Mix: Gives the cupcakes a delicious, moist texture.
- Dark Chocolate Frosting: I enjoy making my own frosting when I make a cake mix. However, canned frosting is a quick and easy choice if you want to save time.
- Pantry Ingredients: You will need vegetable oil, eggs, and milk to make the cake mix.
- Halloween Sprinkles: I found a jar of eyeball sprinkles at Walmart. They had a fun mix of colors, so I used them in the batter and on the frosting.
- Gummy Eyeballs: Gummies are easy to work with because you can push a lollipop stick into the bottom to give them some height. I bought these at Walmart, but you can find other varieties at craft stores as well.
How To Make This Eyeball Cupcake Recipe
Spooky treats are so fun to make this time of year. Add these Halloween eyeball cupcakes to your haunted parties and watch everyone give them a second look.
- Mix the dry cake mix, pudding mix, milk, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Once combined, gently stir in your choice of sprinkles.
- Spoon the batter evenly into cupcake liners in a muffin tin. Bake and cool.
- Spoon the homemade frosting into a piping bag fitted with a 1M icing tip. Add small or large swirls to each cooled cupcake. If you like, add a rim of bright sprinkles.
- Press a short lollipop stick into the bottom of the gummy eyes, then press two eyeballs into each frosted treat.
Cupcake Variations
- Use your favorite boxed cake mix flavor. Red velvet or dark chocolate cake would be delicious with the dark chocolate frosting.
- Make bloody eyeball cupcakes. Press the eyeballs into vanilla buttercream, then pipe red gel down the sides of the frosting.
- Add a sweet surprise. Fill the centers of the cupcakes with seedless raspberry jelly or strawberry chia jam.
Storing and Freezing Suggestions
Counter. Once the cupcakes are frosted and decorated, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Freezer. Wrap unfrosted cupcakes in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer bag, then freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight before adding frosting and decorations.
BruCrew Tips
- Make it colorful. Stir sprinkles into the cake batter, and add some on top to give your dessert a pop of color.
- Use black cocoa powder. It gives the frosting that deep, almost black color without needing food coloring.
- Add the eyeballs just before serving. The gummies dry out and get hard when the candy is added too soon.
- Make your own eyes. If you can't find gummy eyeballs, use large candy eyes instead. Press them into mini powdered donuts or on the front of a large marshmallow cut in half.
More Easy Halloween Cupcakes
- Oreo Bats
- Cauldron Cupcakes
- Pudding Filled Dirt Cupcakes
- Ghost Brownie Cupcakes
- Owl Cupcakes
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Recipe
Eyeball Cupcakes
If you're looking for a spooky yet cute treat, these Eyeball Cupcakes are just the thing! The mix of bright sprinkles, dark chocolate frosting, and gummy eyes makes the perfect Halloween dessert for parties. A box cake mix makes them easy to prepare and sure to impress everyone.
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 ounce) white cake mix
- 1 (3.4 ounce) instant white chocolate pudding mix
- 1 cup milk
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup colorful sprinkles
- Dark Chocolate Frosting
- 48 gummy eyeballs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Place 24 paper liners in a cupcake pan.
- Mix the cake mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, and oil in a large mixing bowl. Once combined, stir in the sprinkles.
- Spoon the batter evenly into the paper liners. Bake 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
- Remove and place the cupcakes on a wire rack to cool completely.
- Fit a piping bag with icing tip 1M, then fill the bag with chocolate frosting. Add a swirl of frosting to each cupcake. Add a rim of sprinkles if desired.
- Press short lollipop sticks into the bottoms of the gummy eyes. Press two eyes into the tops of each cupcake.
Notes
- Make it colorful. Stir sprinkles into the cake batter, and add some on top to give your dessert a pop of color.
- Use black cocoa powder. It gives the frosting that deep, almost black color without needing food coloring.
- Add the eyeballs just before serving. The gummies dry out and get hard when the candy is added too soon.
- Make your own eyes. If you can't find gummy eyeballs, use large candy eyes instead. Press them into mini powdered donuts or on the front of a large marshmallow cut in half.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 128Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 105mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 0gSugar: 10gProtein: 2g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
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