Halloween is always filled with treats, costumes and lots of excited kids! I love finding activities that I can include kids in, especially when they are simple and hands-on. One of my favorite Halloween activities that I have done in my classrooms over the years, that my students always love are these easy Halloween cupcakes for kids to make.
These cupcakes are simple to create quickly on your own and give to kids, but they are so easy and kids love being able to make their own treat. Even with a full class, you can add this cupcake making to your Halloween celebrations in the classroom, or at home.
Embrace the excitement of the celebrations with more Halloween ideas, perfect for large groups and parties. Check out this huge collection of 39 Halloween STEM Activities and even a Free Classroom Halloween Scavenger Hunt. A scavenger hunt for home is also available.
Another fun activity for kindergarten at Halloween, that was a huge success with my kindergarteners last year is a Halloween Kindergarten Craft that parents will be proud to display every year!
Easy Halloween Cupcakes Materials
Cupcakes are a common treat for Halloween parties, but this year leave the decorating for the kids. For this activity you will need the following:
- Cupcakes (Mix and ingredients to make the cupcakes)
- White Icing
- Black Icing
- Piping Bag (Alternatively you can use a sealable baggie and described below).
- Spider Rings or Mini Figures
- Toothpicks
Start by baking your cupcakes. Any kind/flavor will work!
Next, use the white icing to cover each of the cupcakes. Depending on your group doing the decorating, kids can also ice their own cupcake. Popsicle sticks work well with a large group for this step. You can also cover the cupcakes with black, or another color of icing.
Next, use either a small tube of black icing that you can create circles with. Alternatively you can use a baggie and use white icing and add black/dark food coloring to the bag, mix and seal at the top. Cut a small opening at the bottom to create small circles on the cupcakes with.
Easy Halloween Cupcakes for Kids to Make
Create three, or more, thin circles on top of the white icing. Start with one small circle in the middle and larger ones as you work your way to the outside of the cupcake. Avoid making thick circles. Several thin circles turn out much better than a few thick circles that will likely run together.
Next, take a toothpick and gently drag a line in the icing from the middle of the smallest circle straight to the outside of the cupcake through the three circles.
Create as many lines as needed through the circles. At least six lines are best. Remind kids to drag slowly and carefully. As soon as they have made the lines, it will begin to look like a spider web!
It is always a lot of fun to watch and listen as children make them in a classroom because they get excited as the web becomes clear.
Once all of the lines have been made, you’re ready to add your spider! I used spider rings which was a huge hit because the kids wore them after eating their cupcake.
Insert the spider into the center of the web, or set on top of the web to complete your easy Halloween cupcakes kids can make!
If you use a small toy spider, or spider ring, make sure that your group of kids know that the spider is not editable. Make sure they take them off of their cupcake before eating.
Easy Halloween Cupcakes
You can set your cupcakes out to display them, or eat them right away! This is also a great activity to do with kids at home to involve them in a classroom treat for them to take in to school, or for a Halloween party.
The webs don’t need to be perfect. Kids will love seeing something they created and they are so simple to make that they always turn out well.
Cupcake Results
You can choose to add different topping to your spider cupcakes. If you have an older group, you can have children use the icing to create an oval for a spiders body and then lines for their eight legs!
Even if they cupcakes don’t turn out perfectly, they are guaranteed to be tasty and cute! Plus the kids who made them will have learned a new cake decorating technique and be proud to show their work.
If you are using this easy Halloween cupcake idea in a classroom, I find that it works really well as a small group center if you’re working with young kids. However, I have done this activity with a whole class in the older grades with great success and engagement.
Happy Halloween!
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