Skip to Content

Halloween Piñata Cupcakes

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. View our Privacy Policy.

Halloween Pinata Cupcakes are a chocolate cupcake topped with orange frosting and have a fun surprise inside! Sprinkle filled cupcakes are so fun to bite into.

Halloween Pinata Cupcakes Ingredients

To make these Halloween Cupcakes, you will need the following ingredients (see the recipe card below for exact amounts):

  • all-purpose flour
  • baking powder
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • unsweetened cocoa powder
  • white sugar
  • canola oil: You can substitute vegetable oil.
  • large eggs
  • vanilla extract
  • buttermilk: You can make your own buttermilk with 1/2 cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of distilled white vinegar.
  • Halloween sprinkles
  • unsalted butter
  • powdered sugar
  • heavy whipping cream
  • orange gel food coloring

How to Make Halloween Pinata Cupcakes

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Place 12 cupcake liners in a standard 12-cup muffin pan. Set to the side.
  2. In a medium or small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
  3. In a separate large bowl, whisk the sugar and oil together.
  4. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until just combined, then add the vanilla extract and buttermilk. Whisk everything until mixed.
  5. Fold in the dry ingredients until just mixed. It’s okay if there are some small lumps of flour. The batter should be thick and wet.
  6. Spoon in 3 level tablespoons of batter into each cup of the muffin pan, then bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center cupcakes comes out clean. Set the cupcakes to the side to rest.
  7. In a large bowl, cream the butter with an electric hand mixer.
  8. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and continue mixing at medium speed until the frosting is thick and fluffy.
  9. Add the salt, vanilla, heavy whipping cream, and orange food coloring, and mix until the frosting is smooth. Set aside.
  10. After the cupcakes have cooled, cut 1/2-inch wide and 1-inch deep holes out of the center of the cupcakes with a small knife, reserving the tops of the holes, and fill the cupcakes with about 1 teaspoon of sprinkles.
  11. Cover the sprinkles with the tops of the holes, and cover the tops of the cupcakes with frosting, either with a spoon or by piping it on.
  12. Top the cupcakes with additional sprinkles, optional, and serve at room temperature.

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature: Store on the counter in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.

Refrigerator: If it’s a warm time of the year, I recommend storing in the refrigerator to keep the frosting from melting. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Freezer: Store covered in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw before serving.

Recipe Tips

  • Try not to over-mix the cupcake batter. Some small lumps of flour are okay. Over-mixing can keep the cupcakes from rising while baking.
  • To get an overflow of sprinkles when a cupcake is bitten into, really pack the sprinkles into the cupcake when you are filling it.
  • Use any Halloween colors for the frosting: green, purple, or black for example.

More Halloween Desserts

Halloween Piñata Cupcakes

Halloween Pinata Cupcakes are a chocolate cupcake topped with orange frosting and have a fun surprise inside! Sprinkle filled cupcakes are so fun to bite into.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Halloween
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cupcakes
Calories 488 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup Halloween sprinkles

For the Buttercream Frosting:

  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon orange gel food coloring

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°. Place 12 cupcake liners in a standard 12-cup muffin pan. Set to the side.
  • In a medium or small bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.
  • In a separate large bowl, whisk the sugar and oil together.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, whisking until just combined, then add the vanilla extract and buttermilk. Whisk everything until mixed.
  • Fold in the dry ingredients until just mixed. It’s okay if there are some small lumps of flour. The batter should be thick and wet.
  • Spoon in 3 level tablespoons of batter into each cup of the muffin pan, then bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center cupcakes comes out clean. Set the cupcakes to the side to rest.
  • In a large bowl, cream the butter with an electric hand mixer.
  • Gradually add in the powdered sugar and continue mixing at medium speed until the frosting is thick and fluffy.
  • Add the salt, vanilla, heavy whipping cream, and orange food coloring, and mix until the frosting is smooth. Set aside.
  • After the cupcakes have cooled, cut 1/2-inch wide and 1-inch deep holes out of the center of the cupcakes with a small knife, reserving the tops of the holes, and fill the cupcakes with about 1 teaspoon of sprinkles.
  • Cover the sprinkles with the tops of the holes, and cover the tops of the cupcakes with frosting, either with a spoon or by piping it on.
  • Top the cupcakes with additional sprinkles, optional, and serve at room temperature.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 488kcalCarbohydrates: 69gProtein: 4gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 250mgPotassium: 105mgFiber: 2gSugar: 56gVitamin A: 584IUVitamin C: 0.02mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg

The nutrition information is calculated using online nutrition calculators and may not be accurate. It is provided as a general guide only.

Tried this recipe?Mention @emilyenchantedfood or tag #emilyenchanted!

The recipe and photos contained herein are the property of Emily Enchanted© and may not be copied.

Recipe Rating




Emily Enchanted

Thursday 1st of December 2022

I love this recipe because it has a fun surprise inside and is perfect for serving at Halloween parties.