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Cupcakes have always been a big hit at our house. They are easy to make and easy to eat. No need for forks or knives or other utensils! Following are several different Halloween Cupcake Recipes made using a store-bought cake mix. Very easy and delicious!

Tombstone Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 2 (16 ounce) packages vanilla frosting
• 3/4 cup chocolate sandwich cookie crumbs
• 24 chocolate covered graham cracker cookies

Directions

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool.
2. In a medium bowl stir 1 package of frosting with the cookie crumbs. Frost cooled cupcakes.
3. Fill a pastry bag, fitted with a plain tip, with remaining white frosting. Write R.I.P. on each chocolate covered graham cracker cookie. Stand a decorated cookie on top of each cupcake so that it looks like a tombstone. Place the cupcakes on a large cookie sheet that has been covered with green paper. Place paper ghosts and bats randomly through the graveyard. Serve!

Spider Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 1 pound black shoestring licorice
• 1 (16 ounce) can white frosting
• 48 pieces candy corn
• 48 cinnamon red hot candies
• 1/4 cup orange decorator sugar

Directions

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool.
2. Cut licorice into 3 inch sections. Working with one or two cupcakes at a time, so the frosting doesn't set before decorating, frost the cupcakes with the white frosting. Insert licorice pieces into the outer edges of the cupcakes to make the legs of the spider, 3 legs on each side (4 takes up too much space). Place two pieces of candy corn on the front of the cupcake for fangs and use two red hots as eyes. Sprinkle with decorator sugar. Repeat with remaining cupcakes.

Bat Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting
• 1 (11.5 ounce) package fudge stripe cookies
• 1 (6 ounce) bag milk chocolate candy kisses, unwrapped
• 1 tablespoon red gel icing

Directions

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool. Frost cupcakes with chocolate frosting.
2. Break the cookies in half, and press two halves into the top of each cupcake for wings, stripes facing the frosting. Place a chocolate kiss in front of the cookies with the point facing forward for the body. Make two beady little eyes with the red gel icing towards the point of the kiss. Let the fun begin!

Brain Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared buttercream frosting
• food coloring

Instructions

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool.
2. Spread a coat of light orange icing (use food coloring drops of yellow, pink and a touch of green mixed into buttercream frosting until you have a hue you like) on cupcakes.
3. Use a pastry bag fitted with a number 10 round tip to top them with fat zigzags. It works best to first pipe two zigzags down the middle and then fill in the sides.

Monster Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package cake mix
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared chocolate frosting
• 3.4-ounce box of vanilla-flavored instant pudding
• 1 cup of green melting candy
• 24 large marshmallows
• M&M's Minis
• green Tic Tac mints
• green food coloring
• black gel
• skewers

Instructions

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool.
2. Prepare a 3.4-ounce box of vanilla-flavored instant pudding. Stir in drops of green food coloring until you have a shade you like, then place it in the refrigerator to chill.
3. Microwave 1 cup of green melting candy for 1 minute at 50 percent power, then stir. If necessary, heat in 15-second intervals until completely melted. One at a time, spear 24 large marshmallows with a skewer and roll them in the melted candy, coating the sides. Set them on a waxed-paper-lined baking sheet, add M&M's Minis for eyes, and place them in the refrigerator to chill.
4. With a small serrated knife, remove a 1-inch-wide chunk from the center of each cupcake. Fill each hole with a tablespoon or so of the pudding, then spread chocolate frosting around each pudding hole.
5. Cover each pool of pudding with a chilled marshmallow. Add black gel facial features and 2 green Tic Tac mints for bolts.
6. Top each monster head with a bit of frosting and muss with your finger or a fork. Keep the cupcakes chilled until serving time.

Mummy Cupcakes

Yield: 2 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package chocolate cake mix
• 1 (16 ounce) container prepared cream cheese frosting
• M&M's Minis
• black gel

Instructions

1. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions for cupcakes. Cool.
2. Using a flat ribbon tip attachment on a piping bag, pipe a layers back and forth to create the mummy's wrapped look, leaving a section open at the top half of the cupcake for the eyes.
3. Use two M&M's Minis to create eyes and use a small amount of black gel to make pupils.