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a hand holding a chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate frosting, dirt crumbs, and sour gummy worms
5 from 3 votes

Halloween Dirt Cupcakes

Homemade Halloween Dirt Cupcakes are as decadent and delicious as they are fun to look at. Everyone loves cupcakes with worms and dirt!
Author Diana
Servings 12 cupcakes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Decorating 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cupcakes

  • ¾ cup (90g) all-purpose flour
  • ⅔ cup (65g) cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs at room temperature
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • ⅓ cup (78ml) vegetable oil
  • ½ cup 120ml milk at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

  • ¼ cup milk chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter softened
  • 4 ounces full-fat cream cheese softened
  • pinch salt
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder

Decorations

Instructions

Make Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C.
  • In a bowl, combine the dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt).
  • In a separate bowl, combine the eggs with sugar, oil, milk and vanilla extract.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, whisk until they’re incorporated but do not over mix.
  • Fill the cupcake liners ¾ of the way full. Bake for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center of a cupcake. Allow cupcakes to cool down in the pan. Be sure they are completely cooled before frosting and decorating.

Make Chocolate Frosting

  • Add the chocolate chips to a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. If needed, microwave again for 15 seconds and stir. Continue with 15 second intervals until the chocolate is smooth.
  • Use a handheld mixer and a large mixing bowl, or your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Cream together the butter and cream cheese on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Then add the melted chocolate and mix to combine.
  • Gradually add the powdered sugar, then gradually add the cocoa powder, mixing well between each addition. Lastly, mix in the vanilla extract and salt, and set the frosting aside.

Decorate

  • Add Oreo cookies to a food processer and pulse until you get fine crumbs that look like dirt. You can also crush the cookies using a ziplock bag and a rolling pin or other heavy object.
  • When the cupcakes are fully cooled, you can decorate! Fill a piping bag fitted with a large star tip with the frosting. Pipe a swirl on each cupcake, then sprinkle with 1 or 2 spoonfuls of Oreo crumbs. Have fun arranging gummy worms on top.

Notes

  1. The cupcake batter will not rise up well if it’s mixed too much. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until no dry spots remain.
  2. Putting frosting on warm cupcakes is a recipe for a melty disaster. Be patient and wait for the cupcakes to cool down completely before starting to decorate. Along the same theme, you may want to keep the candy in the fridge until you’re ready to use it so it doesn’t melt in your hands.
  3. Don’t feel like you have to use a piping bag for these. You can spread the frosting on with a knife or spatula and then cover up any mistakes with Oreo crumbs!
  4. If you want to, you can use a boxed cake mix to make the cupcakes. Simply follow the instructions on the box, then finish with the homemade frosting, dirt, and worms. You could also use store-bought frosting if you prefer. 
  5. Cut the gummy worms in half if you want to make it look like they're crawling out of the dirt. 
  6. Look for other creepy crawly candies, sprinkles, or decorations to add to these cupcakes too. 
  7. This recipe can easily be doubled to make 24 cupcakes if you'd like. 
  8. To Store: Keep frosted cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you plan to store them for more than a day, wait to add the gummy worms until closer to serving time so that they don't melt from the moisture of the frosting. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupcake | Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 136mg | Potassium: 208mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 2mg