Halloween baking doesn’t have to be all about pumpkin spice and cute ghosts. You can do some creative baking with some seriously spooky treats that’ll have everyone talking, and these oozing brain cupcakes are the perfect example!

Below, I’ll show you how to whip up some creepy-cool yet delicious treats to impress your party guests!

Why You Should Try This Recipe

There are so many reasons I bet they’ll become your go-to for any spooky occasion:

They’re a cool and unexpected twist, perfect for anyone who likes things a little offbeat. You won’t easily find these brain-themed treats at your local bakery, that’s for sure.
Kids will go bonkers for these creepy-cute cupcakes, and adults will love the creative brain design and its deliciousness. They’re a guaranteed hit for any Halloween party, spooky movie night, or just a fun baking project with the family.
These “brains” are seriously yummy too! You can use your favorite cake recipe and frosting flavor, which is always a good start. No matter what you choose, they’ll be as tasty as they are creepy.
The brain decorating technique is actually way easier than you’d expect. You don’t need to be a pro cake decorator to nail this one.

Make Oozing Brain Cupcakes in 2 Easy Steps

What You’ll Need (Beside the Cupcakes!)

Here are some cake ingredients we need:

Cake pop filling
Strawberry jam: This is our secret weapon for creating the “ooze.”
Brain candy molds: Silicone molds are great because they’re flexible and easy to pop the brains out of.
Candy melts or coating: White chocolate or vanilla candy melts work best for a nice, clean brain color.
Cake pop filling: You can use store-bought or make your own. A simple recipe is to crumble up some cake and mix it with frosting until it’s moldable.
Piping gel
Pink gel food coloring
Pastry brushes

This brain-decorating trick below works with all sorts of cupcake flavors, so feel free to get creative. You can use any of my favorite cupcake recipes, like lemon cupcakes, strawberry cupcakes, or red velvet cupcakes.

Instructions

Step 1: Coloring the Filling and Coating the Mold

Start by adding a few drops of pink gel paste to your cake pop filling. I like to leave it a bit marbled to mimic the look of real brains, but if you prefer a solid color, go ahead and mix it thoroughly until it’s a nice light pink.

Then, grab a microwave-safe bowl and put in a small amount of candy coating. Heat it in 30-second bursts at half power, stirring after each burst, until it’s completely melted. Be careful not to overheat it, or it might burn.

Using a paintbrush, coat the inside of each brain mold cavity with the melted candy coating. Aim for a shell about 1/8″ thick.

Pop it in the fridge for about 5 minutes to let it harden. Then, hold the mold up to the light to check for any thin spots. If you find any, just dab on a bit more coating to reinforce them.

Next, spoon a heaping teaspoon of strawberry jam into each one of those brain cavities. I have always loved this step because of how gruesome the jam can be.

Add some cake pop filling on top, pressing it down gently. Be careful not to let the jam spill out around the edges. Don’t overfill the brain cavities – leave a little space at the top so you can seal them properly.

If your candy coating has hardened, just reheat it as needed. Spread a thin layer over the top of each cavity, making sure it reaches the edges to create a good seal. This will prevent any leaks later on.

Then, place the mold in the freezer for 15 minutes to let it harden completely. Once they’re solid, gently pop the brains out of the mold to avoid ruining the brain pattern.

Let them sit at room temperature for a while to get rid of any condensation before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Adding the Piping Gel

Put some piping gel in a cup and add a tiny drop of pink gel paste to darken it. You really only need a tiny bit to get a good color.

Use a paintbrush to paint a thin layer of the tinted piping gel over the entire brain.

After that, take a paper towel and gently wipe off some of the excess. This creates a cool “bloody brains” effect where the darker piping gel stays in the crevices of the brain, making it look even more realistic.

And now we’re done! You can serve them as they are or place them on top of cupcakes for a truly terrifying treat.

A Few Notes to Keep in Mind

Remember to Cool Your Cupcakes

Before you even think about getting your hands messy with decorating, make sure those cupcakes are completely cool. Piping frosting onto warm cupcakes is a recipe for a melty mess.

If you’re baking at home, I find it’s best to pop them out of the tin and let them cool down on a wire rack. This helps them cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.

The Mold-Free Method

You don’t even need any fancy molds to get these brain cakes. There are actually many more brain cupcake recipes to try out.

One easy way is to simply grab a cupcake corer (or even a small knife if you’re careful!) and cut a little hole in the center of each cooled cupcake. This creates the perfect little cavity to fill with your “brain matter.”

A teaspoon of strawberry jam does the trick nicely for that classic oozy look. Then, whip up some stiff icing mixture by combining the food coloring, icing sugar, and a bit of water in a bowl and mixing it all together until it reaches a nice, stiff consistency.

Finally, pop it in a piping bag and go wild with a squiggly pattern on top.

Strawberry Jam Alternative

If you want to take the “brain goo” up a notch (and who wouldn’t!), try this little twist.

Hollow out the center like before, but this time, fill it with a couple of cherries and a teaspoon of kirsch syrup. Don’t worry if the cherries peek out a bit – they’ll be covered with frosting soon enough.

For the brainy bit, mix up some buttercream (homemade or store-bought, your call!) with some brain-colored food coloring (like pale pink or even a touch of gray).

Pipe it on in a semi-circle pattern, add a line down the middle, and then fill in the gaps with a wiggly line to mimic those brain folds. Just before serving, drizzle a little extra kirsch syrup over the top for a boozy kick.

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Good luck with your spooky creations!