Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes

Soft chocolate cupcakes topped with “dirt” (Oreo crumbs), a candy pumpkin, and curly green buttercream vines—adorable and easy for parties.

← Halloween Recipes Home makes ~24 45–60 min

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix (plus water, oil, and eggs as package directs)
1 tub chocolate frosting (or 2–2½ cups homemade)
1–1½ cups Oreo crumbs (about 18 cookies, finely crushed)
24 candy pumpkins (mellowcreme style)
Green icing for vines (or tinted buttercream; small round piping tip #2–3)
Optional: chocolate sprinkles for extra “soil,” pinch of salt in frosting to balance sweetness

Cake-mix yield is typically 24 standard cupcakes; bake times vary slightly by brand—see Step 3.

Prep: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two 12-cup muffin tins with paper liners. Lightly crush Oreos into fine crumbs and pour into a shallow bowl.
Batter: Mix the cake batter per box directions until smooth (30–45 seconds after combining). For level tops, let the batter rest 2–3 minutes to reduce bubbles.
Fill & bake: Divide batter among liners, filling each about 2/3 full (≈3 Tbsp). Bake 18–22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean and tops spring back. Cool in pan 5–10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely (30–40 minutes).
Frost & soil: Spread or pipe a layer of chocolate frosting on each cupcake. Dip the frosted tops into the Oreo crumbs, pressing gently so the crumbs adhere and look like soil.
Decorate: Press one candy pumpkin onto each cupcake. Pipe green vines and little leaves curling around the pumpkin. Wipe the piping tip occasionally for crisp lines.
Set & serve: Let cupcakes stand 10–15 minutes so the frosting firms slightly. Serve the same day or refrigerate up to 2 days; bring to room temp before serving.

Make-ahead: Bake cupcakes a day early, cool, and store airtight. Frost/decorate the day of for best texture.

Mini patch: Use mini cupcakes (yield 48); bake 10–12 minutes and use mini pumpkins or pumpkin-shaped sprinkles.
Leaf detail: Add a tiny dot of green then pull away to form a leaf tip.
Less sweet: Mix 1 Tbsp cocoa into the Oreo crumbs for deeper “soil.”