Sweet Jack-o'-Lanterns

There's no trick to making these Halloween-flavored cupcakes. By using a convenient cake mix, you can turn them out in a jiffy. Simplify them even more with canned frosting.

SERVINGS

12

CATEGORY

Dessert

METHOD

Baked

PREP

50 min.

COOK

15 min.

TOTAL

65 min.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix or cake mix of your choice
  • 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 2/3 to 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons orange paste food coloring
  • 12 gumdrops
  • 12 black jujubes

DIRECTIONS

Prepare and bake cake according to package directions for cupcakes. Fill 24 greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
    For frosting, in a small bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, butter and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Stir in food coloring. Cut a thin slice off the top of each cupcake. Spread frosting on 12 cupcakes. Invert remaining cupcakes and place on top; frost top and sides.
    For stems, place one gumdrop on each pumpkin. Cut jujubes into thin slices; use a bottom slice for each mouth.
    From remaining slices, cut one large triangle and two smaller ones. Position two small triangles and a large triangle on each cupcake for eyes and nose. Yield: 1 dozen.

Printed from tasteofhome.com Oct 7, 2008

Copyright Reiman Media Group, Inc © 2008