Scary-Sweet Muffins To Try In South Carolina Coffee Shops This October
October brings crisp air, falling leaves, and the most delicious seasonal treats to South Carolina’s coffee shops. Local bakers get creative with spooky-themed muffins that capture the Halloween spirit perfectly.
I’ve rounded up the most hauntingly delicious muffins you’ll find across the Palmetto State this fall season.
1. Graveyard Chocolate Muffins
Every bite reveals rich chocolate with crushed Oreo ‘dirt’ and cookie headstones poking out of the top. Local bakers add green-tinted coconut ‘moss’ for an extra eerie touch.
The moist interior hides pockets of chocolate chips that melt in your mouth. Some coffee shops even include gummy worms partially hidden in the crumbs for a delightfully creepy surprise.
These popular treats sell out fast at Charleston’s Bakehouse on East Bay Street, where they pipe RIP messages on each cookie tombstone.
2. Bloody Red Velvet Brain Muffins
These show-stoppers feature red velvet batter with a gooey cherry center that ‘bleeds’ when you bite in. Bakers pipe pink cream cheese frosting in swirly brain patterns across the top for a gruesome effect.
The contrast between the bright red interior and the pink ‘brain matter’ frosting makes these treats particularly popular for Halloween parties. Columbia’s Drip Coffee serves these with edible googly eyes for added personality.
Despite their frightening appearance, they taste heavenly with that classic red velvet chocolate flavor and tangy frosting combination.
3. Ghost Meringue Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Floating atop these pumpkin spice muffins are fluffy meringue ghosts with mini chocolate chip eyes. The meringue gets lightly toasted for a marshmallow-like flavor that complements the warm spices perfectly.
Each ghost has its own expression – some look surprised, others mischievous. The contrast between the orange muffin and white ghost creates a festive Halloween color scheme.
Customers at Greenville’s Village Grind rave about how the crisp meringue exterior gives way to a soft, pillowy interior, creating a delightful textural experience alongside the moist pumpkin muffin base.
4. Spider Web Black Sesame Muffins
Dramatic black sesame muffins provide the perfect dark canvas for intricate white chocolate spider webs. The nutty flavor of black sesame offers a sophisticated twist on traditional Halloween treats.
Some coffee shops add a chocolate spider on top to complete the spooky presentation. The contrast between the black muffin and white web design makes these particularly striking on display.
Charleston’s Second State Coffee creates these with a cream cheese filling that adds richness to balance the earthy sesame flavor. Their talented baristas sometimes add edible gold dust to make the webs shimmer.
5. Frankenstein Matcha-Mint Muffins
Square-topped green matcha muffins transform into Frankenstein’s monster with chocolate hair, candy bolt neck pieces, and icing facial features. The mint extract in the batter gives these a refreshing twist on traditional matcha flavor.
The slightly domed top gets flattened and covered with green-tinted white chocolate to create the monster’s distinctive head shape. Kids particularly love the whimsical design and mint chocolate chip combination.
Beaufort’s Common Ground Coffee serves these with chocolate ‘stitches’ around the edges of the green topping, completing the Frankenstein look with impressive attention to detail.
6. Vampire Bite Red Currant Muffins
Innocent-looking vanilla muffins hide a secret – two puncture marks on top reveal bright red currant filling that looks just like fresh vampire bites! White powdered sugar dusting creates a pale, victim-like appearance.
The sweet-tart red currant filling provides a delicious contrast to the subtle vanilla muffin base. Some bakers add almond slivers as ‘fangs’ near the puncture wounds for extra effect.
Columbia’s Indah Coffee decorates these with tiny fondant vampire teeth and occasionally adds edible blood-red gel that drips down the sides for customers who want the full vampire experience.
