Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe

If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert that will make your Halloween party or spooky-themed gathering unforgettable, I’ve got just the thing for you! The Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe is an absolute blast to make and even more fun to eat. These cupcakes become little edible monsters with green faces, chocolate sprinkle hair, and the Bride’s iconic cone hairdo dripping with sweetness. I absolutely love how this turns out because it’s creative, playful, and surprisingly simple once you get the hang of it. Keep reading and I’ll walk you through every step so you can wow your friends or family with these delightfully spooky treats!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Fun and Interactive: Decorating these cupcakes feels like arts and crafts for adults—but you get to eat your masterpiece!
  • Perfect for Halloween Parties: They’re spooky without being scary, making them a hit with kiddos and grown-ups alike.
  • Made with Everyday Ingredients: You don’t need specialty stores; most items are easy to find at any grocery store.
  • Adaptable and Customizable: You can tweak colors, decorations, or flavors to match your style or occasion.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of the Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe comes from some simple yet thoughtful choices in ingredients. The combination of cupcakes, doughnuts, and colorful buttercream brings texture and flavor together beautifully. Plus, the royal icing and candies allow for easy, impressive decoration.

  • Buttercream frosting: Half dyed green for Frankenstein’s face and half dyed brown for the Bride’s hair.
  • Cupcakes: Choose your favorite flavor here; vanilla or chocolate both work well as a base.
  • Mini chocolate-covered doughnuts: These form the “heads” and add a fun twist with their soft, cakey texture.
  • Chocolate sprinkles: Perfect for creating Frankenstein’s hair texture.
  • Finely shredded coconut: Adds a nice texture and contrast when sprinkled on the Bride’s hair.
  • Black licorice: Used for those iconic neck bolts—Twizzlers work great here.
  • Royal icing: Divided into white, black, and red to pipe facial features and details.
  • Brown M&M’s: Pressed into eyes for that classic monster stare.
  • Wafer ice cream cones: These create the Bride’s signature hair cone shape.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love making this Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe my own by switching up flavors and decorations depending on the occasion or who I’m serving. Feel free to get creative, and don’t hesitate to put your own spin on these monsters—it’s part of the fun!

  • Flavor swaps: I once tried chocolate cupcakes with mint buttercream, which gave a cool twist perfect for fall vibes.
  • Diet-friendly tweaks: You can use gluten-free cupcakes or sugar-free frosting to accommodate dietary needs without losing the fun.
  • Color adjustments: Swap the hair colors or eye candies to match different monster themes or party colors.
  • Mini versions: Make smaller cupcakes and use mini doughnuts for bite-sized monster treats that are perfect for kids.

How to Make Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe

Step 1: Create Frankenstein’s Head

Start by spreading a small amount of green buttercream all over the surface of each cupcake. This helps the doughnuts stick better. Next, carefully top each with a mini doughnut. For Frankenstein, you’ll sandwich two doughnuts together using a dab of frosting as glue — trust me, it holds perfectly. Then, generously cover the doughnuts with more green buttercream, smoothing out any gaps.

Sprinkle the tops with chocolate sprinkles to mimic Frankenstein’s signature hair. This step is satisfying and fun—don’t rush it! You want nice, dense coverage for that authentic look.

Step 2: Add Frankenstein’s Face and Neck Bolts

Take two short pieces of black licorice (I like Twizzlers for the perfect thickness) and stick them on the sides of the cupcake, right below where the doughnut “head” starts. These act as the neck bolts and instantly give that Frankenstein vibe.

Now here’s the fun detail work: using your royal icing, pipe on facial features. With the black and red icing, add the mouth, bangs, and scar. For the eyes, pipe two large white dots of royal icing and immediately press in two brown M&M’s while the icing is still wet. The eyes give Frankenstein so much personality — don’t skip this step!

Step 3: Assemble the Bride’s Hair and Face

For the Bride, start by covering the wafer ice cream cones in brown buttercream. While the frosting is still tacky, roll and press the cones into chocolate sprinkles to coat them fully. Then pipe white royal frosting streaks down the cones to mimic the Bride’s iconic hair highlights, and sprinkle some shredded coconut on top for texture and that wild hair effect.

Next, spread a small layer of green buttercream on each cupcake, top with a single doughnut, and cover the doughnut with green buttercream. Carefully place the prepared ice cream cone on top of each doughnut to finish the head shape.

Finally, pipe on a red royal icing mouth and add two white royal icing dots for eyes, again pressing in two brown M&M’s for that cute but spooky stare.

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Pro Tips for Making Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe

  • Use room temperature frosting: It spreads more smoothly and sticks better to the doughnuts and cupcakes.
  • Pipe outlines first: When adding royal icing details, pipe outlines before filling in to keep sharp shapes.
  • Work quickly on the eyes: Press the M&M’s into the wet royal icing before it begins to set for secure placement.
  • Don’t overhandle the doughnuts: They’re delicate; be gentle to avoid squishing or breaking while assembling.

How to Serve Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe

The image shows two cupcakes with green frosting placed on purple cupcake liners. The cupcake on the left is tall and cone-shaped, covered in dark chocolate sprinkles on top, with a small white patch made of coconut flakes on one side; it has two round chocolate pieces as eyes and a small red curved line as a mouth on the green frosting. The cupcake on the right is shorter and rounder, decorated with a row of dark chocolate sprinkles along the top edge to resemble hair, two round chocolate pieces as eyes, a small black curved line as a mouth, and two black licorice pieces sticking out from each side like bolts; it also has a small red zigzag line on the left cheek. Both cupcakes sit on a shiny gold plate filled with small orange jelly beans, arranged on a wooden table with a white marbled background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually stick with chocolate sprinkles and shredded coconut since they add both texture and visual character. If I’m feeling fancy, sometimes I sprinkle edible glitter or use colored sugar crystals for a little extra sparkle on the Bride’s cone hair. It just elevates the fun factor and delights the kids every time!

Side Dishes

These cupcakes shine as the centerpiece, so I tend to pair them with simple sides like a big bowl of fresh fruit or a savory cheese plate if it’s an adult party. For kid-friendly events, carrot sticks and hummus go surprisingly well—the freshness balances the rich sweetness perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I displayed the cupcakes on a platter surrounded by dry ice fog (think spooky mist) for a dramatic Halloween vibe. Another time, I arranged them on a tombstone-shaped cake stand with fake cobwebs and plastic spiders. These little touches make serving the cupcakes so memorable and turn dessert time into an event.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftover Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes (which could happen if you’re sharing with a group), store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They’ll keep well for up to 3 days. The buttercream can soften a bit in the fridge, so I recommend letting them come to room temp before serving to restore that perfect frosting texture.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these cupcakes successfully by wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap and then storing them in a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge. The doughnuts may lose a bit of their original softness, but the flavors still hold up wonderfully.

Reheating

If you want to warm a cupcake slightly, I recommend pulling it out of the fridge and letting it sit for about 30 minutes at room temperature instead of using the microwave, which can melt the frosting and make the doughnuts soggy. This way, the cupcakes feel fresh without compromising texture.

FAQs

  1. Can I use any cupcake flavor for Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe?

    Absolutely! I’ve tried vanilla, chocolate, and even red velvet cupcakes for this recipe—all work wonderfully. Choose your favorite cupcake base or what your guests prefer, since the real magic is in the decorating.

  2. Is it hard to pipe the royal icing details?

    Not at all! I recommend thinning your royal icing slightly with a bit of water if it feels too thick for piping fine lines. Practicing on parchment paper first helps, and remember that the whimsical charm is in the handcrafted imperfections.

  3. Can I make these cupcakes ahead of time?

    Yes, you can prepare the cupcake base and doughnuts a day ahead, but I suggest assembling and decorating on the same day for best freshness and appearance.

  4. What if I don’t have royal icing? Can I use something else?

    If you don’t have royal icing, you can use thickened buttercream for piping, but royal icing works best because it dries firm, holding the shapes better, especially for small details like eyes and scars.

Final Thoughts

This Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe holds a special place in my heart—there’s something about turning ordinary cupcakes and doughnuts into quirky, creepy-cute characters that just lights up any gathering. Whether you’re baking with kids or surprising your friends, you’ll enjoy the smiles and applause these monsters inspire. Give it a try and watch the delight happen, I promise you’ll have as much fun making them as you do eating them!

Print
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Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe

Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes Recipe

4.6 from 109 reviews
  • Author: Emily
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Create spooky and fun Frankenstein and His Bride Cupcakes using green and brown buttercream, mini chocolate doughnuts, licorice, royal icing, and M&M’s. These Halloween-themed cupcakes feature creatively decorated faces and heads, perfect for festive parties or family treats.


Ingredients

Scale

Frostings and Icing

  • 3 cups buttercream frosting, half dyed green and half dyed brown
  • 1 batch royal icing, one-third kept white, one-third dyed black, one-third dyed red

Cupcakes and Doughnuts

  • 12 cupcakes
  • 18 mini chocolate-covered doughnuts (2 per Frankenstein, 1 per Bride)

Decorations

  • Chocolate sprinkles, for decorating hair
  • Finely shredded coconut
  • Black licorice pieces (we used Twizzlers), for neck knobs
  • 24 brown M&M’s, for eyes
  • 6 wafer ice cream cones

Instructions

  1. Assemble Frankenstein’s Head: Working one cupcake at a time, spread a small amount of green buttercream all over the cupcake surface. Top each cupcake with one mini chocolate-covered doughnut. Use a dab of green buttercream as glue to sandwich another doughnut on top. Cover both doughnuts entirely with green buttercream for a smooth finish.
  2. Add Frankenstein’s Hair and Features: Sprinkle chocolate sprinkles over the top frosted doughnut to create hair texture. Place two pieces of black licorice on the sides for neck bolts. Using black and red royal icing, pipe on details like the mouth, bangs, and scar. Pipe two large dots of white royal icing for eyes, then press two brown M&M’s into each dot to complete the eyes.
  3. Prepare the Bride’s Hair: Cover the cone-shaped wafer ice cream cones with brown buttercream. Immediately coat them with chocolate sprinkles. Use white royal icing to pipe white streaks in the hair, then sprinkle with shredded coconut for texture.
  4. Assemble the Bride Cupcakes: Working one cupcake at a time, spread green buttercream all over each cupcake’s surface. Top each with one mini chocolate-covered doughnut and cover it with green buttercream. Carefully place the prepared cone on top of each doughnut to form the Bride’s tall hairdo.
  5. Decorate the Bride’s Face: Using red royal icing, pipe a mouth on the cupcake doughnut. Then pipe two large dots of white royal icing as eyes and press two brown M&M’s into each dot for pupils.

Notes

  • Work on one cupcake at a time to prevent the buttercream from drying.
  • Use a small spatula or knife to spread buttercream smoothly over cupcakes and doughnuts.
  • Royal icing can be made ahead and colored into black, white, and red portions for ease of decorating.
  • If you can’t find mini chocolate doughnuts, cut regular doughnuts into smaller sections.
  • Keep cupcakes refrigerated if not serving immediately to maintain frosting integrity.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cupcake
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 28g
  • Sodium: 180mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5g
  • Carbohydrates: 32g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Cholesterol: 40mg