Easy Cauldron Cookie Cups

These Cauldron Cookies bring a playful and spooky touch to any Halloween gathering. With a simple chocolate cake mix cookie base shaped like mini cauldrons, filled with creamy green buttercream, and decorated with candy eyes and sprinkles, they are as fun to make as they are to eat. The recipe is easy to follow and perfect for baking with kids, turning dessert time into a festive event filled with creativity.

I remember making these for my niece’s first Halloween party and how much she giggled decorating each cauldron cookie with her own spooky toppings. It quickly became a tradition in our family to bake them every October.

Ingredients

• Devil’s Food cake mix: Makes the cookie cups rich and chocolatey, the perfect base for the cauldron effect. Choose a quality brand for the best flavor
• Eggs: Help bind the dough and give the cookies structure and softness, so they hold their shape well
• Canola or vegetable oil: Adds moisture resulting in tender and chewy cookie cups
• Black food coloring: Optional but recommended to deepen the chocolate color and give the cookie cups their cauldron look
• Butter: Essential for the creamy texture in the buttercream filling
• Powdered sugar: Sweetens the buttercream giving it that velvety smooth finish
• Vanilla: Balances the sweetness in the buttercream for a richer flavor
• Salt: Cuts through sweetness and enhances the other flavors in the filling
• Milk: Thins the buttercream to the perfect piping consistency
• Green food coloring: Transforms the buttercream into a bubbling potion
• Round green sprinkles: Add texture and help create the bubbling effect of a witch’s cauldron
• Halloween sprinkles: Bring that extra spooky flair to decorations
• Candy eyeballs: Add a fun and eerie vibe, perfect for Halloween
• Pretzel sticks: Work great as pretend stirring sticks to complete the cauldron look

Instructions

Sauté the Aromatics:

Not applicable here since this recipe is for cookies

Preheat the oven:

Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease three 12 count mini muffin pans so your cookie cups don’t stick or break apart when cooled

Combine the dough ingredients:

In a large bowl mix the cake mix, eggs, oil, and black food coloring until well blended. The black food coloring is key to getting that dark cauldron shade that makes the cookie cups so visually striking

Portion the dough:

Using a measuring spoon scoop about one half tablespoon of dough into each mini muffin cup. Press the dough gently with your fingers to flatten the surface because you want the cookie cup to have an opening instead of doming up during baking

Bake the cookies:

Place the pans in the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges look set and the centers are slightly soft. Keep an eye on them to avoid overbaking which could result in hard cookie cups

Indent the centers:

As soon as you remove the pans from the oven use a one tablespoon measuring spoon to press a shallow well in the middle of each warm cookie cup. This indentation will become the perfect little cauldron opening to hold the buttercream

Cool the cookie cups:

Allow the cookie cups to cool completely in the pans to firm up before carefully transferring them to a wire rack or plate. This helps them keep their shape and ensures the filling won’t melt when added

Make the buttercream:

While the cookie cups cool, beat softened butter in a large bowl until fluffy and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, mixing well after each addition. Slowly add milk until the frosting reaches a smooth consistency that is easy to pipe. Stir in green food coloring to get your desired shade of spooky potion

Fill the cauldrons:

Once the cookie cups are completely cool, pipe the green buttercream into each indentation filling them generously to resemble bubbling witch’s potions

Decorate the cauldrons:

Sprinkle the tops with round green sprinkles to add fizz and texture. Top with candy eyeballs and Halloween sprinkles to ramp up the scare factor. Break pretzel sticks in half and stick one into each cookie as a fun stirring stick prop

Serve and enjoy:

These cauldron cookies are now ready for your Halloween party or to enjoy as a festive treat. Store leftovers in an airtight container to keep them fresh longer

I’m a big fan of the green buttercream filling because it really brings the cauldron to life. One year, my kids begged to make batches in different colors, turning the kitchen into a mad scientist’s lab full of bubbling potions. It’s moments like those that make baking these cookies so special to me.

Storage tips

Store the decorated cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature up to four days or refrigerate them for up to a week if you want to keep them fresh a little longer. If you want to freeze the cookie cups, store the undecorated cookie cups in a freezer safe container or bag for up to three months. Thaw them at room temperature before filling and decorating. Avoid freezing the decorated cookies because the sprinkles tend to bleed and lose their vibrant color after thawing.

Ingredient substitutions

For a fudgier twist swap the cake mix cookie base for mini brownies which can be homemade or store bought for convenience. Replace the buttercream with cream cheese frosting if you prefer a tangier filling that pairs well with the rich chocolate cookie. If you’re short on time use store bought frosting tinted with food coloring to skip frosting preparation without sacrificing appearance. Try white chocolate ganache instead of buttercream for a smooth, decadent filling that still looks amazing with food coloring added.

Serving suggestions

These cookies shine as a centerpiece at any Halloween party but also work well as treats handed out to kids on Halloween night. Serve on a decorative platter with Halloween themed napkins and cups to enhance the spooky vibe. Pair with a cold glass of milk or warm apple cider to complement the rich chocolate flavor of the cookie cups.

These cauldron cookies are an easy festive treat that kids love and adults enjoy for their creativity. They make a perfect Halloween baking tradition to share with family and friends.

Common Questions About Recipes

→ What gives the cookie cups their chocolate flavor?

The base uses Devil’s Food cake mix, which provides a rich and moist chocolate taste perfect for the cookie cups.

→ How do you create the cauldron shape in the cookies?

After baking, an indentation is pressed into each warm cookie cup using a measuring spoon, forming a well to hold the filling.

→ What ingredients make the green buttercream filling?

The buttercream combines softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, a pinch of salt, milk for consistency, and green food coloring to achieve the classic potion look.

→ Can the cookie cups be decorated differently?

Yes, they are highly customizable. You can change the frosting colors and use various Halloween-themed sprinkles, candy eyes, and pretzel sticks for unique decoration.

→ How should the cookie cups be stored to maintain freshness?

Store the cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or refrigerate them for up to a week. Undecorated cups can be frozen for up to three months.

→ Are there alternatives to the cake mix base?

Yes, you can substitute the cookie cups with mini brownies, either homemade or store-bought, for a richer base.