Graveyard Cupcake Cake
This graveyard Cupcake Cake is a spooky cute Halloween pull apart cupcake cake made with chocolate coffee cupcakes, black vanilla buttercream, Oreo “dirt,” Milano cookie tombstones, and gummy worm “creatures.”
Equipment
- 1 cake board Round or rectangular both work, but you'll need a large cake board if you use all the cupcakes your box mix makes (rectangular was easier for me)
- 1 offset spatula optional, for easy spreading of frosting
- 1 piping bag optional, for easy frosting
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cupcakes
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- Eggs called for on the cake mix box
- Oil called for on the cake mix box
- Strong brewed coffee cooled; use in place of the water for the cake mix
Black Vanilla Buttercream
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 –4 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- Black gel food coloring
Decorations
- 10 –12 Oreo cookies
- 5 –7 Milano cookies
- 8 –12 gummy worms
- Black decorating icing or melted chocolate; optional for writing on tombstones
Instructions
Make the Chocolate Cupcakes
- Preheat the oven according to the temperature listed on the cake mix box. Line standard muffin pans with cupcake liners.
- Prepare the cake batter as directed, using the listed eggs and oil. Replace the water with an equal amount of cooled strong coffee for a richer chocolate flavor.
- Divide the batter between the liners, filling each about two-thirds full.
- Bake according to the package directions, or until the tops spring back lightly and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool the cupcakes in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the Black Vanilla Buttercream
- Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually mix in the powdered sugar, then add the vanilla and 2 tablespoons of cream or milk. Beat until light and fluffy, adding more cream a teaspoon at a time if needed.
- Mix in black gel food coloring until evenly combined. Let the frosting rest for 15–30 minutes to allow the color to deepen, adding more coloring if needed.
Prepare the Tombstones
- Leave the Milano cookies plain, or optionally decorate them with black icing or melted chocolate. Allow any decorations to set before assembling the cupcake cake.
Assemble the Graveyard Cupcake Cake
- Place a large round or rectangular cake board, cookie sheet, or foil-covered piece of cardboard on your work surface.
- Arrange the cooled cupcakes tightly together in an oval, rectangle, or irregular graveyard shape.
- Add frosting to a piping bag with the tip snipped off for easier decorating. Add a small dab of buttercream beneath each cupcake to help secure it to the board.
- Pipe generous swirls over the tops of each cupcake in your cupcake cake. Spread the black buttercream over the cupcakes, filling the small gaps so they look like one connected cake. The frosting can remain slightly textured.
- Crush the Oreos into fine crumbs and sprinkle them generously over the frosting to create the dirt.
- Press the Milano cookie tombstones into individual cupcakes, staggering their placement and angles.
- Arrange the gummy worms over and around the Oreo dirt, allowing some to peek out from beneath the crumbs.
- Chill for 20–30 minutes to help the frosting set, or keep covered at room temperature if serving within a few hours.