Sweet Jack-o’-Lanterns

Name: Sweet Jack-o'-Lanterns
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 1 dozen.
Ingredients: 1 package yellow cake mix or cake mix of your choice (regular size); 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar; 3 tablespoons butter, softened; 2/3 to 3/4 cup whole milk; 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons orange paste food coloring; 12 gumdrops; 12 black jujubes

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.

Ingredients

1 package yellow cake mix or cake mix of your choice (regular size)
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons butter, softened
2/3 to 3/4 cup whole 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 inserted in the center 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.

Originally published as Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns in Country Woman September/October 2005

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susan.white

Oct 5, 2015

We love these
Oceanblue1952

Oct 7, 2008

I think these are great, I am going to re-create using mini cupcakes as I think the larger ones might be a bit to much for the smaller children. Thanks for the idea
lachelle222

Oct 7, 2008

I just love this idea, I signed up to bring cupcakes to my daughter 2nd grade class party this month...thank-you!ehyoung
piegram

Oct 7, 2008

I am going to make these for our annual Halloween cakewalk. We live in a very small town and the kids look forward to this every year.
piegram

Oct 7, 2008

Neat, the kids will love these