Halloween Cupcake Decorating Ideas

Spider Web Cupcakes

Use orange frosting and squeeze chocolate frosting in a circle, then use the back of a knife to connect the web.

Cut licorice gumdrops for a spider.

Wicked Witch

-Frost cupcakes with green icing

-Press on some M & M's for eyes

-Press on a candy corn nose

-Use licorice lace for hair and eyebrows.

Black Cat Cupcakes

-Prepare a white frosting or use ready-to-spread.

-Tint it orange, using 1 to 2 drops each red and yellow food coloring.

-Frost the cupcakes.

-For each cat, slice a 1-inch black gumdrop into 3 pieces.

-Use small rounded end slice for head, and largest slice for body; cut tail and ears from third slice.

Witches Cat Decoration

-For ears bend hollow licorice twists; bend in half, insert in cupcake.

-Eyes are a black jellybean, halved lengthwise.

-Add a red gumdrop nose, licorice strips for whiskers.

Hooty Owl:

Eye outlines are "peel" cut from 2 orange jellied fruit slices.

His owlish eyes are orange pumpkin candies; snip of candy orange slice makes beak.

Little Good Witch:

Use licorice twist for hat and curls. Make hat crown like the cat's ears, but larger) Add bit of jellied fruit slice for mouth, halved licorice drop for eyes, a candy coated licorice stick for nose.

Vanilla Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 cups flour

Mix thoroughly in order given. Pour half full into cupcake liners. Bake 375 15 to 20 min. Makes 18 cupcakes.

Chocolate Cupcakes

• 3/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 2/3 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups sifted flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 1 1/4 tsp soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/3 cup water

Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixer bowl. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. add alternately with water to creamed mixture. Blend just until combined. Fill paper lined muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 min. Cool. Frost.

Easy Buttercream Icing

• 2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 stick 4 oz softened butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tbsp milk

Mix the vanilla with the milk. Sift the powdered sugar, and add gradually to the butter, then add the milk. Beat until the icing is smooth and of a soft spreading consistency.