Spider Web Halloween Cupcakes
A spooky spiderweb cupcake that’ll be the hit of your Halloween party! Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get new recipes from me too! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Pizzazzerie.
Hi my fabulous Halloween hostesses! I’m super excited to share my spider web Halloween cupcakes with all of you! Did YOU know that white cotton candy happens to look a lot like a spider web? Well well, it absolutely does which makes it a super easy and clever way to make spider web cupcakes for Halloween this year.
Halloween Spiderweb Cupcakes
You might be wondering, “where will I find white cotton candy this time of year?” but do not fret! You can sometimes find it at dollar stores year-round or you can buy it online for cheap! I bought mine here and just used the small tub which made a dozen cupcakes (or more depending on how much of it you use on each cupcake).
It really couldn’t be easier! Or tastier! You simply build the cotton candy up as tall as you like. It sticks to itself so you can make it whatever shape web you’d like. Little plastic spiders stick right on giving it the perfect “spider web” look. If you would prefer the cupcake to be 100% edible, then you can pipe little spiders in dark chocolate on parchment paper, peel off, and stick right on. There are a few tutorials I found online if you’d rather go this route (one here and one here).
Cute, right? I just love these! Serve up a cupcake tray of these at your Halloween party or make them with the kids for a fun afternoon treat. If you want to get colorful, colored cotton candy for “pink spider webs” or other colors would be a whimsical twist! If you prefer more cotton candy and less cupcake, try serving it up traditional style like these adorable purple spider webs by my friend Mariah of Giggles Galore! However you put your twist on the cotton candy spider web idea, it’s definitely one you should try this Halloween!
Spider Web Halloween Cupcakes
Ingredients
For the Cupcakes:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
For the Frosting:
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons milk
For the Web:
- 2 containers of white cotton candy
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Line cupcake pan with liners (makes 24).
- Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of mixer 2 minutes.
- Carefully stir in boiling water. Fill each cupcake liner 2/3 full.
- Bake 22 to 25 minutes for cupcakes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
For the Frosting:
- Cream butter in electric mixer fit with paddle attachment for 2 minutes.
- Add powdered sugar to butter 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla and milk and beat for 2 minutes.
- If you want a thicker consistency, add more powdered sugar.
- Pipe onto cooled cupcakes.
For the Web:
- Loosely set cotton candy on top of white frosting. Garnish with spiders!
Notes
Here is a pinnable image if you’d rather save it over on Pinterest!
Check out a few more Halloween party ideas here:
Great idea to use cotton candy! It looks great. I am definitely going to try this at my Halloween party!
Thanks Carla!
Cute idea! Question, how long does the cotton candy stay on the cupcake? I have used cotton candy on top of frosting in the past and it didn’t stay too long before the sugar dissolved it. Just trying to figure out feasibility for my Halloween party. Thanks in advance.
Hi Steph! This was about an hour shoot and it was all still there and in tact, but I guess if you are in a super humid environment or it is a hot day – it might start to crystallize. My best suggestion would be to get everything else ready for the party and add the cotton candy at the end! :)
LOVE this idea! Totally can’t wait to do this!
Thank you!
These are spectacular!
Thank you!
Courtney, these are so darling! I just made cotton candy cupcakes using cotton candy, and now I’m hooked on making desserts with cotton candy! This is so fun and creative!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth!
Super cute and so fun! I am definitely trying this! Thanks for sharing.
Very clever, these look great! Using cotton candy as spiderwebs is such a cool idea. This idea will definitely be used this Halloween. Thanks!
Nancy at Hungry Enough To Eat Six
I am making these for a “girlfriends” dinner next week. I ordered the white cotton candy which is very inexpensive but the shipping is $10. It will be worth it though!
I’ve featured these cupcakes on my blog, hoping that you don’t mind, but if you do, please contact me and I’ll remove it. All the best.
I made these and you should wait until your going to serve them before you put the cotton candy on top of icing. Because the moisture from the icing deflated the cotton candy within a few minutes.
How did you get the frosting so white? I think it adds to the affect! I am planning on making these for my sons Schools Halloween Carnival! Thanks for such a cute idea!
You can use shortening instead of butter (the white shortening) but if you want to use butter (tastes better) then grab Wilton White Coloring from somewhere like Michaels, in the baking aisle! A few drops will do!
I bought some cotton candy but it wasn’t fluffy like yours. You said you bought yours and didn’t make it ? I want to make these for a party I’m having. I don’t have time to do it at the last minute any other suggestions ? Such a cute idea.
Thanks
Hi camille, I bought the cotton candy online. It was pretty fluffy. You could try to fluff it up by separating it a bit, but perhaps it was the brand you bought. I’m not terribly certain without seeing it. You could always check out a few other halloween cupcake ideas here: https://pizzazzerie.com/holidays/9-easy-cute-halloween-cupcakes/
Used green and blue cotton candy as “sea foam “ for a mermaid party
Super excited to try these Spider Web Halloween Cupcakes, seems amazing and unique . Thanks for sharing this one with us , will love to try this one.
Super excited to try these Spider Web Halloween Cupcakes , seems amazing and unique. Thank you for sharing this with us, will love to try this one.