Halloween Purple Monster Cupcakes

Name: Halloween Purple Monster Cupcakes
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 190 g Softened butter; 190 g Caster sugar; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract; 3 Medium Eggs; 190 g Self-raising flour; Gel Purple food colouring ((add a little bit at a time until you get your desired colour)); 85 g Softened butter; 350 g Icing sugar; 2-3 Tablespoons Milk; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla extract; Gel Purple food colouring; 6 Tablespoons Edible candy eyes

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Looking for a fun, eye-catching treat for your Halloween party table? These purple monster cupcakes are the perfect addition, with their vibrant purple base and spooky monster eyes on top. These are fun to make and so delicious that both children and adults will love them.

overhead shot of halloween purple monster cupcakes with edible eyes on top

Say hello to yet another spooky (but cute) Halloween cupcake recipe! These purple monster cupcakes are soft and fluffy, made with a buttery vanilla sponge mix and decadent purple frosting, and of course, some edible monster eyes!

The kids in my family went absolutely crazy for these- they were gone in under 10 minutes! Anything spooky-themed is always a hit with them, so these cupcakes are definitely going to become a Halloween tradition. I already know I'll be baking them again next year!

The recipe is super simple to follow but for those who are new to baking or prefer more detailed instructions, I've included a post below with everything you need to know. I hope you find it helpful. For those more experienced in the kitchen, feel free to use the 'jump to recipe' button to go straight to the recipe card. Enjoy!

Ingredients

To create these fun Halloween monster cupcakes, you'll need a few simple ingredients. Most of these are kitchen staples, so you might already have them on hand!

Butter: Unsalted or salted, whatever you prefer. Make sure it's soft before you start baking so it's easier to mix in with the sugar.
Caster sugar: This is also known as superfine sugar. As the name suggests, it has a finer texture than granulated sugar, resulting in a smoother cupcake.
Vanilla extract: Just a teaspoon for flavour.
Eggs: 3 medium eggs will bind all of the ingredients together and help provide structure.
Self-raising flour: This is essentially just plain/all-purpose flour that has raising agents already added to it. If you only have plain/all-purpose flour to hand, just add 2 teaspoons of baking powder to the recipe separately.
Purple food colouring: You'll need enough to colour the cake mix and the frosting. I recommend gel or paste colours for a more vibrant result. I really like PME pastes.
Milk: For the frosting, and to loosen the cake batter if needed.
Icing sugar: To make the frosting.
Edible candy eyes: These are a key ingredient to make these cupcakes look like monsters! I used Cake Decor's 'spooky eyes' and a few of their regular edible eyes.

Equipment

Cupcake tin: Or a muffin tin, with 12 holes. I prefer to use a muffin tin as it gives the cupcakes a better shape.
Cupcake cases: I think purple looks best with the frosting but you can also use black, orange, or Halloween-themed ones!
Mixing bowls: A large one for the cake mix and a medium-sized one for the frosting.
Utensils: You'll need a wooden spoon for mixing, a teaspoon for measuring the vanilla and dividing the cake mix, and a toothpick or butter knife to check the cakes are ready.
Cooling rack: To let your cakes breathe after they come out of the oven. Nobody likes a soggy-bottomed cupcake!
Piping bag and nozzle: To pipe the frosting on. Alternatively, you can just spread it on with a spoon.

halloween purple monster cupcakes on a plate

How to Make Purple Monster Cupcakes step by step

Step 1: Start by preheating your oven to 160°C (or 140°C if you're using a fan oven) and lining your cupcake tin with 12 cupcake cases.

Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, cream together 190g of softened butter and 190g of caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Then stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Step 3: Add 190g of self-raising flour and 3 eggs to the bowl, a little bit at a time, until smooth. The batter should be fairly thick but you can add a small splash of milk to help loosen it a bit if you need to.

Step 4: Stir some purple food colouring into the cake mix. I recommend starting with a small amount and adding more as needed until you get the shade that you're looking for.

Step 5: Divide the cupcake batter evenly between your 12 cases, filling them about ⅔ full. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Once baked, remove your cupcakes from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: While the cupcakes are cooling, prepare your purple frosting. Add 85g of softened butter to a bowl and stir in 350g of icing sugar, a little bit at a time. Use up to 3 tablespoons of milk to loosen the icing as needed.

Step 7: Stir in some purple food colouring, starting with a little and adding more until it reaches your desired shade. If the frosting is too thick, add more milk and if it's too runny, add more icing sugar.

Step 8: Once the cupcakes are completely cool, it's time to decorate them! Using a piping bag fitted with a small open star nozzle, pipe small stars all over your purple cupcakes. Top with edible candy eyes and enjoy!

Top Tips

For a vibrant purple colour, I recommend using gel food colouring instead of liquid. Gel colourings are more concentrated and won't affect the consistency of your batter or frosting as much.
Use a muffin tin for the best cupcake shape. The deeper holes help the cakes to rise upwards rather than outwards.
If you don't have edible candy eyes, you can make your own by piping a small dot of milk chocolate onto white chocolate buttons.

FAQs

Can I make these cupcakes in advance?

Yes. These will last for up to 5 days in an airtight container so they're perfect for prepping ahead of your Halloween party. They keep well in or out of the fridge.

Can I freeze purple monster cupcakes?

You sure can! Freeze your slices in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can also freeze them on a baking tray until they're solid then pop them into a freezer bag. To defrost them, let them sit out at room temperature for an hour or so. Do not refreeze.

Can I make them gluten-free?

Yes, just replace the self-raising flour with a gluten-free self-raising flour blend. One with xanthan gum will work best, as this will prevent the cakes from becoming crumbly.

pile of purple monster cupcakes for halloween

More Halloween cupcakes:

I hope you like these purple monster cupcakes! If you make them for Halloween, let me know how you get on by leaving a comment and rating below. Enjoy!