Halloween Monster Cupcakes

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C for fan assisted ovens)/Gas Mark 4. Line 2 x 12-hole muffin trays with paper cupcake cases.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir the cake mix, oil, water and eggs gently together, then whisk (by hand or electric mixer) for 2-3 minutes until smooth and creamy. Divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake cases. Bake both trays together in the oven for 18-22 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully transfer the cupcakes to a wire rack to cool completely; about 30 minutes.
3. Divide the icing equally between 3 bowls and use the food colouring pastes or gels to colour each bowl of icing to the desired shade.
4. Fit 3 disposable piping bags with small star or grass/hair piping nozzles (see Tips). Spoon 1 colour of icing into each bag. Pipe the icings onto each cupcake to look like monster’s fur and to give funny features such as spiky hair. Use different combinations of icing to create different monsters! Dot each cupcake with 2-3 candy eyeballs. Use the black writing icing to pipe mouths and eyebrows on some of the cupcakes. Serve immediately or keep in a cool place for up to 2 days.

Tips

• To get the straggly fur effect you’ll need to buy a small piping nozzle with lots of small holes so the icing comes out to look like fur – they are sometimes called multiple opening tips or grass/hair icing nozzles. Look online or buy from a specialist cake decorating shop.
• If you don’t want to use piping bags and nozzles, swirl the different coloured icings on top of the cupcakes, then simply use tubes of writing icing to create scary faces.