Bat Cupcakes

Name: Bat Cupcakes
Prep time: 60 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 1 box chocolate cake mix; ½ cup salted butter, (softened); 3 large eggs; ¼ cup sour cream; 1 cup milk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup salted butter, (softened); ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; ½ cup hot water or heated heavy cream; 2 cups powdered sugar; 4 ounces semi-sweet baking bar, (melted and cooled); 1 package regular Oreos ((you will not need the full package, but it’s best to have extras in case of breakage)); 1 package mini Oreo cookies; 20 pairs candy eyeballs

These bat cupcakes feature moist chocolate cupcakes topped with a spooky edible bat that would make cute Halloween treats.

Jump to Recipe

Table of Contents

Bat Cupcakes Ingredients
How To Make This Bat Cupcakes Recipe
How To Serve
Storage
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE

These cute bat cupcakes would be an adorably frightful addition to your fun Halloween festivities. Made with moist cake, and topped with a spooky bat decoration, these critters will be a hit.

a close up shot of Bat Cupcakes on a wooden stand

Bat Cupcakes Ingredients

Bat Cupcakes raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

For the Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box of chocolate cake mix
½ cup salted butter, softened
3 large eggs
¼ cup sour cream
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Frosting

1 cup salted butter, softened
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup hot water or heated heavy cream
2 cups powdered sugar
4-ounce semi-sweet baking bar, melted and cooled

For the Decorations

1 package of regular Oreos (you will not need the full package, but it’s best to have extras in case of breakage)
1 package of mini Oreo cookies
20 pairs of candy eyeballs

PRO TIP:

It is best to have an abundance of Oreo cookies as they sometimes break when cutting them into two pieces.

SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS

EYES: The tiny size of candy eyeballs looks best for the bats. However, larger eyeballs can be fun to add quirky character.

CAKE MIX: Use any chocolate cake recipe and any chocolate frosting recipe that you’d like. For a swirled frosting like we’ve used here, you will need a medium stiffness in the frosting consistency.

FOOD COLORING: You could add black food coloring to the frosting for extra Halloween fun.

How To Make This Bat Cupcakes Recipe

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line standard-size muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake ingredients: cake mix, butter, eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 1 minute and then on medium-high speed for two additional minutes.

chocolate cake ingredients blended in a bowl

STEP THREE: Fill the cupcake liners about halfway full.

cupcake liners filled with cake mixture in a cupcake pan

STEP FOUR: Bake for 15 minutes and then cool completely.

PRO TIP:

Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cupcakes as the suggested baking time approaches.

STEP FIVE: Meanwhile, prepare the frosting. Chop the chocolate baking bar into small pieces. Use a double boiler or 30-second increments in the microwave to melt the chocolate. Stir until fully melted and set it aside to cool. The chocolate should not cool long enough to re-harden, just cool down so that it is not hot to the touch.

STEP SIX: Use a whisk to stir together the cocoa powder and hot water (or hot cream) until smooth and shiny.

cocoa powder and hot water stirred in a bowl

STEP SEVEN: In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the softened butter, cooled chocolate bar, cocoa powder mixture, and powdered sugar. Beat until fully combined and fluffy.

butter, chocolate bar, cocoa powder mixture, and powdered sugar folded in a bowl

STEP EIGHT: Fill a piping bag with the prepared frosting and fit with piping tip #1M (or an open star piping tip). Pipe swirls of frosting on top of the cupcakes.

frosting swirled on top of each cupcake in a cupcake pan

STEP NINE: To make a bat topper, cut an Oreo cookie in half – a swift, strong chop with a sharp knife works best for a clean cut.

PRO TIP:

A little crumbling adds character to the bat wings, so don’t worry too much about having perfect halves.

STEP TEN: Separate the cookie from the cream filling.

STEP ELEVEN: Place two Oreo cookie halves side by side to form the “wings” of the bat.

split an oreo and put the halves side by side

STEP TWELVE: Twist one half from a mini Oreo. Using the half that still has the cream filling on it, press the mini Oreo over the center point where the “bat wings” meet. The cream filling will serve as the glue to hold the bat together.

STEP THIRTEEN: Use a toothpick or small piping tip to dab two dots of frosting on the mini Oreo “bat face.”

STEP FOURTEEN: Place two candy eyes on the dots of frosting.

eyeballs candy placed on the dots of frosting

STEP FIFTEEN: Carefully place each assembled bat onto the top of each cupcake.

place assembled bat on top of the frosting in a cupcake pan

How To Serve

Easy Halloween bat cupcakes would make a fun addition to any Halloween party for kids or grown-ups alike. Our pumpkin dip or mini pumpkin pies would be tasty recipes to add to your party menu as well.

For more easy recipes to celebrate this scary holiday, our Halloween sugar cookies and gingerbread men sugar cookies in ghost costumes would both be perfect.

MORE CUPCAKE RECIPES

Cupcake Recipes

Storm Trooper Cupcakes

Cupcake Recipes

Bunny Butt Cupcakes

Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: Store the homemade cupcakes in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can also freeze these sweet treats for up to 3 months.

a close up shot of Bat Cupcakes in a cupcake pan in a cupcake pan

These delicious chocolate cupcakes are so cute and so easy to make with a boxed cake mix as a base. With an edible bat topper, they add plenty of spooky fun to your Halloween celebrations.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze these cupcakes?

These easy cupcakes will freeze well in an airtight container for up to three months.

How do I achieve moist cupcakes?

To ensure your cupcakes are moist, make sure not to overbake them. Storing them in an airtight container will also ensure they maintain their moisture.

How can I stop my cupcakes from sticking to the liner?

To avoid the cupcake sticking to your cupcake liner, you can spray the inside of your liner with baking spray or purchase non-stick liners. These usually are specifically labeled as non-stick.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Bat Cupcakes

No ratings yet

These bat cupcakes feature moist chocolate cupcakes topped with a spooky edible bat that would make cute Halloween treats.

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 15

Total Time 1 15

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes

1 box chocolate cake mix
½ cup salted butter, softened
3 large eggs
¼ cup sour cream
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting

1 cup salted butter, softened
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup hot water or heated heavy cream
2 cups powdered sugar
4 ounces semi-sweet baking bar, melted and cooled

Decorations

1 package regular Oreos (you will not need the full package, but it’s best to have extras in case of breakage)
1 package mini Oreo cookies
20 pairs candy eyeballs

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line standard-size muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake ingredients: cake mix, butter, eggs, sour cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed for 1 minute and then on medium-high speed for two additional minutes.
Fill the cupcake liners about halfway full.
Bake for 15 minutes and then cool completely.
Meanwhile, prepare the frosting. Chop the chocolate baking bar into small pieces. Use a double boiler or 30-second increments in the microwave to melt the chocolate. Stir until fully melted and set it aside to cool. The chocolate should not cool long enough to re-harden, just cool down so that it is not hot to the touch.
Use a whisk to stir together the cocoa powder and hot water (or hot cream) until smooth and shiny.
In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat together the softened butter, cooled chocolate bar, cocoa powder mixture, and powdered sugar. Beat until fully combined and fluffy.
Fill a piping bag with the prepared frosting and fit with piping tip #1M (or an open star piping tip). Pipe swirls of frosting on top of the cupcakes.
To make a bat topper, cut an Oreo cookie in half – a swift, strong chop with a sharp knife works best for a clean cut.
Separate the cookie from the cream filling.
Place two Oreo cookie halves side by side to form the “wings” of the bat.
Twist one half from a mini Oreo. Using the half that still has the cream filling on it, press the mini Oreo over the center point where the “bat wings” meet. The cream filling will serve as the glue to hold the bat together.
Use a toothpick or small piping tip to dab two dots of frosting on the mini Oreo “bat face.”
Place two candy eyes on the dots of frosting.
Carefully place each assembled bat onto the top of each cupcake.

Notes

It is best to have an abundance of Oreo cookies as they sometimes break when cutting them into two pieces.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your cupcakes as the suggested baking time approaches.
A little crumbling adds character to the bat wings, so don’t worry too much about having perfect halves.

Nutrition

Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb

Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!