Description

These Cookies & Scream Spider Cupcakes are the perfect spooky treat for Halloween. Featuring moist chocolate cupcakes studded with crushed sandwich cookies and mini chocolate chips, topped with black-tinted vanilla frosting, a whole chocolate sandwich cookie spider body, candy eyes, and licorice legs, they combine fun and deliciousness into a festive dessert that’s sure to delight kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Cake Batter

1 box chocolate cake mix (plus ingredients listed on box)
1 cup crushed chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos)
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Frosting & Decoration

1 can vanilla frosting
Black food coloring gel
12 whole chocolate sandwich cookies (for spider bodies)
Candy eyes
Black licorice laces (cut into 2-inch strips for legs)
Optional: extra crushed cookies for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 12-cup muffin pan with cupcake liners to prepare for baking.
Prepare Batter: Make the chocolate cake batter according to the package instructions. Once mixed, gently fold in the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies and mini chocolate chips to add texture and flavor.
Bake Cupcakes: Evenly divide the batter among the cupcake liners, filling each about two-thirds full. Bake in the preheated oven for 18–22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack, ensuring the frosting doesn’t melt when applied.
Tint Frosting: Mix black food coloring gel into the vanilla frosting until you achieve a dark grey or black color, perfect for the spider theme.
Frost Cupcakes: Spread a generous layer of the tinted frosting over each cooled cupcake, creating a base for the spider decorations.
Assemble Spiders: Place one whole chocolate sandwich cookie on top of each frosted cupcake to act as the spider’s body. Insert eight licorice legs (four on each side) around the cookie into the frosting, then attach two candy eyes to the cookie using small dabs of frosting.
Optional Garnish: For added texture and a “dirt” effect, sprinkle extra crushed cookies over the cupcakes.
Serve: Display your spooky spider cupcakes and enjoy the festive fun!

Notes

You can substitute homemade chocolate cupcakes and frosting if preferred for a fresh-from-scratch version.
For extra creepiness, use red gel icing to add fangs or spider webs on the frosting.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days to preserve freshness.