Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes: 5 Spooky Treats You’ll Love

Name: Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup granulated sugar; ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 2 large eggs; ½ cup vegetable oil; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup raspberry or strawberry jam; Optional: Fresh raspberries for garnish; 1 cup unsalted butter, softened; 4 cups powdered sugar; ¼ cup heavy cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; Red food coloring (adjust to desired hue); Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.; Substitute buttermilk with 1 cup almond milk + 1 teaspoon vinegar for dairy-free.; Try cherry or blackberry preserves for a different “blood” effect.

Jump to Recipe

If Halloween had a flavor, it would definitely taste like these Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes — rich, chocolatey, and oozing with sweet, “bloody” jam filling. They’re spooky, fun, and ridiculously easy to make. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween bash or just need a treat that will wow your little goblins, these cupcakes are the kind of creepy-cute dessert that disappears faster than you can say “Trick or Treat!”

And the best part? You don’t need to be a baking wizard to pull them off — just a bowl, a whisk, and maybe a mischievous spirit or two.

Why You’ll Love These Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes

Let’s be honest: Halloween baking can feel a little intimidating. Between costumes, candy overload, and the chaos of decorating, who has time for complicated desserts? That’s exactly why I adore these Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes — they look impressive, taste decadent, and come together with simple pantry ingredients.

Here’s why they’ll be your new October obsession:

Easy to Make: No fancy tools, no stress — just mix, bake, and fill.
Family-Friendly Fun: Kids love helping with the “bloody” jam filling (and licking the spoon, of course).
Rich and Moist: The buttermilk and cocoa make these cupcakes melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Perfectly Themed: The jam filling gives that eerie vampire bite effect — equal parts spooky and sweet!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s everything you need to whip up your Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes:

For the Cupcakes:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the “Blood” Filling:

1 cup raspberry or strawberry jam
Optional: Fresh raspberries for garnish

For the Frosting:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Red food coloring (adjust for desired hue)

Substitution Tips:

Flour: Use gluten-free flour if needed — your cupcakes will still be devilishly good.
Buttermilk: No buttermilk? Mix 1 cup of almond milk with 1 teaspoon of vinegar — works like a charm.
Jam: Try cherry or blackberry preserves for a darker, moodier “blood” effect.

How To Make Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with paper liners. The spookier, the better!

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
👉 Pro Tip: Sift the cocoa powder for an extra smooth batter — no lumps, no drama.

Step 3: Combine Wet Ingredients

In another bowl, mix the eggs, vegetable oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until creamy and well-blended.

Step 4: Bring It All Together

Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, stirring gently. Don’t overmix — a few lumps are totally fine (we’re baking, not sculpting).

Step 5: Bake

Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool completely before the fun part.

Step 6: Make the “Blood” Filling

Heat your jam in a small saucepan over low heat until slightly runny. Set it aside to cool a bit — we want spooky, not scorching.

Step 7: Core and Fill

Use a small knife or cupcake corer to remove the center of each cupcake. Spoon in the jam filling so it looks like your cupcakes have been bitten by a very hungry vampire.

Step 8: Make the Frosting

Beat the softened butter until fluffy, then slowly mix in powdered sugar. Add the heavy cream, vanilla, and red food coloring. Adjust the color until it’s blood-red and gloriously gory.

Step 9: Frost Like a Pro

Spread or pipe your frosting on top of each cupcake. Don’t stress perfection — these are meant to look a little wicked!

Step 10: Garnish

Top each cupcake with a fresh raspberry for that finishing “bite” mark. You can even drizzle extra jam over the top for dramatic effect.

Mounia’s Kitchen Tip

If your frosting turns out too thick, add a splash of heavy cream until it’s silky smooth. Too thin? A spoonful of powdered sugar will save the day.
And if your jam filling starts to leak a little? Don’t panic — that’s the spooky charm of these Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes!

These cupcakes actually saved me one Halloween when I realized I’d promised to bring a dessert to a party… and forgot. Fifteen minutes of prep later, I had a dozen “bloody” cupcakes that stole the show. No one guessed they came together so easily.

Close-up of Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes with creamy frosting and dripping red “blood” filling, a spooky Halloween dessert idea. — Sink your teeth into these Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes, filled with “bloody” jam and topped with creamy frosting for the perfect spooky bite!

FAQs About Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes

Can I make these Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes ahead of time?

Absolutely! Bake the cupcakes a day early, store them covered, and fill + frost them the day you plan to serve.

How do I store leftovers?

Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 5. (If they last that long!)

Can I freeze these cupcakes?

Yes! Freeze unfrosted cupcakes for up to 2 months. Just thaw, fill, frost, and they’ll taste freshly made.

Can I use a different filling?

Definitely. Cherry pie filling, strawberry coulis, or even chocolate ganache — whatever satisfies your inner vampire.

Bring Some Bite to Your Halloween

These Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes are more than just dessert — they’re an experience. Moist chocolate cake, gooey red jam, and silky frosting come together in a hauntingly delicious way that’s sure to make your Halloween table unforgettable.

So go ahead — turn up the spooky playlist, grab your mixing bowl, and let these cupcakes be the star of your haunted kitchen. Trust me, they’ll be gone before midnight!

More Spooky & Seasonal Treats You’ll Love

If you had a blast making these Halloween Vampire Bite Cupcakes, don’t stop there! Keep the spooky fun (and deliciousness) going with a few more recipes that are just as festive, cozy, and crowd-pleasing. Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or just craving something sweet after trick-or-treating, these picks are guaranteed to bring smiles (and maybe a few chills).

Here are a few tasty ideas to try next:

Halloween Poke Cake – A colorful and fun dessert that’s every bit as spooky-sweet as your cupcakes.
Cheesy Halloween Breadstick Bones – Buttery, soft breadsticks shaped like bones — perfect for dipping or snacking between scares!
Bloody Red Velvet Popcorn – Crunchy, sweet, and drizzled with “bloody” red velvet flavor. A spooky movie night essential!
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Pudding – When the Halloween buzz settles, this cozy fall dessert will warm you right up.

So go ahead — keep the cauldron bubbling and your oven warm. There’s always room for one more spooky bite (or two)!