If you’re looking for a show-stopping Halloween treat that’s as adorable as it is delicious, you’ve got to try my Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe. These cupcakes have this fun, gooey twist that really brings the Halloween spirit to life—and believe me, once you make them, you’ll be the star of every spooky party. Trust me, these aren’t your average cupcakes; the blend of rich chocolate, fluffy frosting, and playful decorations makes them just irresistible!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fun and Festive: These cupcakes are a party hit with their unique ‘melted witch’ look that’s perfect for Halloween.
- Easy to Make: Using a cake mix and pudding mix cuts down prep time, so you can whip these up without stress.
- Rich Chocolate Flavor: The dark chocolate cake combined with mini chips creates a decadent, fudgy base you’ll adore.
- Creative Decoration: With simple ingredients like Oreos, Hershey’s Kisses, and grape gummies, you’ll create cupcakes that look impressive without a ton of effort.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic behind the Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe really comes down to this curated list of ingredients that blend together beautifully for flavor and texture. You’ll appreciate how the pudding and sour cream keep the cupcakes moist, and the whipped cream frosting with food coloring is the perfect spooky touch.
- Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix: I love using this mix because it bakes up super moist and richly chocolatey every time.
- Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding: This gives the cake extra softness and depth of chocolate flavor.
- Eggs: They bind everything together and add structure.
- Sour Cream: It adds tang and moisture, making your cupcakes tender.
- Vegetable Oil: Keeps the cake moist—don’t swap out for butter here, or you’ll change the texture.
- Milk: For a smooth batter consistency.
- Vanilla Extract: Sweetens and rounds out the chocolate flavors.
- Sea Salt: Just a pinch balances all the sweetness.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: These little bits surprise you with melty pockets of chocolate inside.
- Heavy Cream: For whipping up the frosting that’s light but sturdy.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream just enough.
- Instant Vanilla Pudding Powder: Added to stabilize the whipped cream frosting so it holds its shape.
- Green Gel Food Coloring: This is key for achieving that witchy, vibrant frosting color without watery consistency.
- Oreo Thins: They make perfect little ‘hats’ – thin and sturdy enough to hold shape.
- Hershey Kisses: Toppers for the cute witch hats.
- Black Icing or Frosting: To add details like hair and hatbands.
- Grape Gummies: These work brilliantly as the witches’ noses—you’ll see why when you assemble!
- Black and White Paper Straws: Cut into thirds, these act as witch legs poking out of the cupcakes—such a fun detail.
Variations
I’ve had so much fun playing around with this Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe, and honestly, you can really make it your own. Whether you want to tone down the chocolate or make it dairy-free, there’s a tweak for you to enjoy while keeping the Halloween magic alive.
- Dairy-Free Variation: I swapped heavy cream for coconut cream and used a dairy-free chocolate pudding mix once, and it turned out great for my lactose-intolerant friend’s party.
- Flavor Twist: Adding a teaspoon of espresso powder to the batter heightens the chocolate flavor beautifully—my family couldn’t get enough!
- Spicy Kick: For a fun adult twist, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne in the batter; it makes the cupcakes pleasantly warm and cozy.
- Decoration Swap: I once used candy eyeballs and black licorice ‘legs’ instead of grape gummies and straws, which gave a whole new spooky vibe.
How to Make Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe
Step 1: Whip Up the Moist Chocolate Cupcakes
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining cupcake pans with paper liners—24 should do it perfectly. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, instant pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, milk, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix everything thoroughly until the batter is smooth and velvety. Be careful not to overmix—just enough to combine!
Once mixed, gently fold in the mini chocolate chips. They’ll add these delightful pockets of melty chocolate inside each cupcake. Fill the liners about 2/3 full—you want room for the cupcakes to rise but not spill over.
Bake for roughly 20-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. I usually start checking at 20 minutes, since ovens vary, and I don’t want to dry them out. Let them cool completely before the fun decorating step.
Step 2: Make the Witchy Green Whipped Cream Frosting
Pour your heavy cream into a chilled bowl, and whip it on medium-high speed until it starts to thicken. Add the confectioners’ sugar and instant vanilla pudding powder, then keep whipping until you have soft peaks. Now the magic trick: add that green gel food coloring a little at a time, folding it in gently so you don’t deflate the cream.
The result should be a velvety, rich green frosting that’s not too runny—perfect for piping. I learned adding the pudding powder really helps the frosting hold those whimsical witch shapes all night!
Step 3: Assemble the Melted Witch Cupcakes
Now, here’s the fun part! Using a spoon or piping bag, top each cooled cupcake with a generous dollop of green whipped cream, letting it ‘melt’ over the edges to create that melted effect. Next, place one Oreo Thin at a jaunty angle on top like a witch’s hat.
Set a Hershey Kiss on each Oreo Thin as the hat’s tip. Then, use the black icing to pipe a hat band and some sketchy hair strands down the sides of the cupcakes, giving your witches personality. The grape gummies get stuck right below the hat as adorable little noses.
Finish by sticking the short cut straws into the bottoms at angles to look like skinny witch legs sticking out. When I first tried this, my family went crazy for how cute and clever it was!
Pro Tips for Making Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe
- Use Room Temperature Eggs: They blend more easily into the batter, helping your cupcakes bake more evenly.
- Chill the Whipping Bowl: This helps get that perfect fluffy texture for the frosting fast.
- Freeze Cupcakes Before Decorating: I learned freezing them for 15 minutes helps the frosting hold shape better without melting.
- Don’t Overbake: Cupcakes dry out fast, so start checking early and pull them out as soon as a toothpick is almost clean.
How to Serve Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe

Garnishes
I usually keep garnishes simple but thematic: grape gummies for noses bring a chewy pop, and using black icing to add quirky facial features turns each cupcake into a whimsical character. If you want to amp up the spooky factor, edible glitter or tiny candy spiders can be a fun addition too.
Side Dishes
These cupcakes are sweet enough to stand on their own, but if you want to offer a balanced Halloween spread, I love pairing them with a crisp apple cider or a fresh berry salad to contrast the chocolate richness.
Creative Ways to Present
I once showcased these on a tiered black serving tray with faux cobwebs and mini pumpkins scattered around—it was a huge hit! You can also wrap each cupcake in mini cauldron liners or set them up with tiny witch broomsticks for an extra playful vibe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After decorating, I store leftover cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge. They stay fresh for about 3 days, but I recommend enjoying them sooner to keep the frosting looking its best. Bringing them to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving really revives their flavor and texture.
Freezing
If you want to make these ahead, freeze the plain cupcakes (without frosting) in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and frost just before serving for best results. Freezing decorated cupcakes usually softens the frosting, so I don’t recommend that.
Reheating
Reheating chocolate cupcakes can be delicate, so I gently warm leftover cupcakes (without frosting) in the microwave for about 10 seconds—not more! Then, add frosting or enjoy as is. The whipped cream topping isn’t great for reheating, so it’s best to frost freshly or just before serving.
FAQs
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Can I make Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe without a cake mix?
Absolutely! While the cake mix saves time and ensures consistent results, you can use your favorite scratch chocolate cake recipe instead. Just make sure to add the pudding mix and sour cream to keep the cupcakes moist and fudgy, which is key for this recipe’s texture.
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How do I keep the green whipped cream frosting from melting?
Using instant pudding powder in the whipped cream helps stabilize it so it holds its shape longer. Also, chill your mixing bowl and utensils beforehand and keep the cupcakes refrigerated until serving. Avoid making them too far in advance for best frosting texture.
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Can I use different decorations if I can’t find some ingredients?
Definitely! The fun of the Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe is how customizable it is. If you can’t find Oreo Thins, regular Oreos or ginger snaps can work. Swap grape gummies for jelly beans or small candy noses. Use any dark-colored straws or licorice for legs.
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Is this recipe kid-friendly?
Yes! Kids love helping decorate the witches, and the fun shapes make it very kid-appealing. Just supervise with scissors or small decorating tools. The mild sweetness also is great for all ages.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe turns out every time, and honestly, it’s become my go-to Halloween dessert. The rich, fudgy chocolate base combined with the playful, ‘melted’ decoration is such a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re baking with kids or bringing a dessert to a party, you’ll enjoy how simple it is yet so impressive in the end. Give it a go—you’ll soon be crafting your own creepy-cute witches that everyone will rave about!
Print
Melted Witch Cupcakes Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 22 min
- Total Time: 52 min
- Yield: 24 cupcakes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Melted Witch Cupcakes are a fun and festive Halloween treat combining rich dark chocolate fudge cake with creamy pudding frosting, decorated creatively with Oreo hats, Hershey Kisses, gummy grapes, and black icing for a whimsical witch design that’s easy to assemble and perfect for spooky celebrations.
Ingredients
Cupcake Batter
- 1 Box Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
- 3.9 oz package Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1½ cup mini chocolate chips
Frosting
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup instant vanilla pudding powder
- 1 tsp green gel food coloring
Decorations
- 24 Oreo Thins
- 24 Hershey Kisses
- Black icing or frosting
- 48 grape gummies
- 8 black and white paper straws (cut into thirds)
Instructions
- Prepare the Cupcake Batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Duncan Hines Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix, Jell-O Instant Chocolate Fudge Pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, vegetable oil, milk, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Mix until smooth and uniform in texture, then fold in the mini chocolate chips gently.
- Bake the Cupcakes: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners, then fill each about 2/3 full with the batter. Bake for approximately 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the Frosting: In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add the confectioners’ sugar and instant vanilla pudding powder while continuing to whip. Add green gel food coloring to achieve a vibrant green witchy color, and whip until stiff peaks form.
- Decorate the Cupcakes: Using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, pipe the green frosting generously onto each cooled cupcake to resemble melted witch hair. Place one Oreo Thin on top of each frosted cupcake as the witch’s hat base.
- Add the Witch Hats: Place one Hershey Kiss on top of each Oreo Thin to complete the witch’s hat. Use black icing or frosting to draw hat bands on the Oreo hats as desired.
- Finish with Details: Position two grape gummies as eyes on the frosting for each cupcake. Insert a piece of the cut paper straw into the frosting to act as the witch’s broomstick handle, completing the whimsical design.
Notes
- These Melted Witch Cupcakes are fun, cute, and delicious!
- They’re easy to build and the perfect way to bring the Halloween spirit to life at your party.
- The green gel food coloring creates vibrant frosting that enhances the witch theme.
- Use paper straws for a kid-friendly, decorative touch as broomsticks.
- Make sure cupcakes are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cupcake
- Calories: 344 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 278 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 63 mg